Will It Take Strength To Be Gentle & Kind? – The Smiths Project
As the shear volume of blabbering I’v done over my quickly fading Christmas vacation can attest to, music affects me. I’m not an overly emotional teenager and I harbour no desire to scribble Superchunk lyrics on my forearm but the insatiable need to always be listening, reacting and emoting to music that I had while I was prone to both these descriptions still resides within my ever so-ungraciously aging body. Am I lacking more mature, non-Note Tote and Bic pen related outlets to express my love for this ever present aspect of my life? Perhaps, but what am I doing here?
And therein lies the issue. If I am to use writing as my outlet to express my love, I cannot be an ignorant doofus. Sure, keeping up with emerging bands allows one to wander the streets with an inflated sense of self- worth but authenticity resides in an understanding of the past. Of course, as a child of the grunge age, I own a relatively strong but not quite-encyclopedic knowledge of those particularly flannel infested early 90s years but for any of the multitude of my reasons that hold less weight than I consume of vegetables after 2am, I never sought out anything older. There is the odd exception (Neil Young & Minor Threat come to mind), but in general, my knowledge of music history is as underdeveloped as Charles Barkley’s abs.
As this bothers me and I have rediscovered my desire to type away my hours here, I am herein embarking on a project that may not solve this issue, may not be entertaining to read about and may possibly destroy me.
For the entire month of January, I will attempt to listen only to the Smiths.
A few details:
- Only Smiths records, compilations, live recordings and singles – no Morrissey, other bands covering them, side projects or guest appearances
- This applies only to when I have the choice of music to listen to. I will not barge into a party and throw on Cemetery Gates or yell at a receptionist until the lobby music is switched to There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
- There is only one exception: Motivation to sweat. While I am in the throes of exercise, I need more than my internal drive to push me to totally slay the treadmill. I will take my liberty to choose whatever Kittens song I need.
Of course, I will use this site to post updates on my mental status and allow you insight into the degree that dreariness descends upon my heart. I will offer my favourite songs of the day, the lyrics that bum me out the most and a rating of my despondency.
Danger ahead. Stay Tuned.
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