Music

New Smiths Demos Surface

by Anne T. Donahue

Good news, Smiths fans: for you, this season just keeps on giving. Rolling Stone has reported that a new compilation of Smiths demos and instrumentals have found their way to record stores and online, with MP3s from the original vinyl bootleg, The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals, popping up in a forum on a Morrissey fansite.

And while the untrained ear (or fair-weather fan) may not be able to pick up the differences, tracks like “Ask” and “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” boast different sounds and phrasing that’s topped only by the unfinished instrumental tracks. Evidently, both vocal-free song showcase the mean guitar skills of Johnny Marr – but also hint at what could have possibly been a fifth Smiths album. If only certain musicians weren’t so temperamental.