However, in less dramatic and truer terms, Smudge never stopped drawing breath. An average of at least 3.75 shows a year since 2001, new songs, THREE albums in 2010 and live appearances in four time zones across two hemispheres, with recordin...g slated for January 2011, the Sydney/Maitland-based trio enters its 19th year firing on all cylinders.This Smudge Is True, a “best of” compilation chosen by the band is the latest Smudge release featuring material from right across the band’s career. Down About It, Mike Love Not War, The Out Door Type and Ingrown are amongst the 27 tracks. Clocking in at less than an hour, TSIT is rounded out with a 34 page booklet with extensive liner notes, track by track commentary by the band and never-before published photos. The “classic” Don’t Wanna Be GW McLennan cover was also carefully reconstructed to grace the package.
It’s 2010 companions are re-issues of two albums from iconic UK label Fire (European home of Giant Sand, ESG, Jad Fair and Bardo Pond amongst a stellar cast). Currently the only official edition, 1998’s Real McCoy, Wrong Sinatra features two exclusive and very limited demo recordings from the sessions alongside live favourites Hot Potato, 18 In A Week and Breadcrumb Trail. Manilow, the album that started it all, features the inclusion of a complete live recording of a 1994 show from the European tour with old buddies The Lemonheads and Superchunk.
Smudge embarked on their second European tour – 16 years after the first – in mid-2010 and are now set to hit the road for their first Australian tour since 1999 through October.
"Manilow is a wonderful sequence of tuneful vignettes. Its brisk, domestic, cute and as we would have said at the time "slack" somehow, too. " 4/5 UNCUT July 2010