Green Day - 39/Smooth (Reissue)

120-gram LP
Includes two 7" records
All original artwork
NO digital copy included


Audio Quality: 4/5
Song Quality: 3/5
Packaging: 5/5


Both looking at and listening to this record, it's hard to believe that this band wound up turning into one of the biggest names in modern rock. It was certainly an unlikely transformation, but over the span of many years and albums, they did manage to grown into arguably the most mature and sophisticated name in pop-punk history. An impressive feat, especially upon listening to this record, which is less of an album and more of a collection of EPs from the earliest days of Green Day's existence. This is also the first in a series of Green Day vinyl reissues, which will eventually span their entire discography. I picked up this with some serious skepticism, but I found it for an absolute steal (if you're ever in Ventura, CA, you must stop by Salzer's) and couldn't say no. I also couldn't say no to Kerplunk!, so expect that review to follow. But let's go ahead and get to the tunes.

So the songs on this record are not great. That's all there is to it. They're extremely basic and juvenile 3-chord punk songs, and their lack of musical maturity reveals itself in their musicianship, their lyrics, and their mostly forgettable melodies. A few songs reveal some pop-punk greatness, such as "The Judge's Daughter," "Going To Pasalacqua," and "Disappearing Boy." And, though it's definitely a sub-par song, listening to "16" clearly reveals a band trying to figure out their own sound, which is pretty fascinating to hear nearly 20 years later. And that retrospective look is what makes this record enjoyable and fascinating to hear. In my opinion, the greatest stuff in the package is on the 1,000 Hours EP and the Slappy EP, which are included as bonus 7"s. The songs are fun, and the concise batch of 4 gives you a real feel for what it was like to know Green Day way back when. Sweet Children style. And what's probably the highlight of the whole set is the cover of Operation Ivy's Knowledge that concludes Side B of the Slappy EP. They are still known to perform this track live today, though much more similarly to the original than the fun and hokey version found here. Their first proper full-length, Kerplunk!, is a much better example of how their catchy, marketable punk went on to influence countless bands in the years to come. However, if you're a serious fan and you want the story from the very beginning, no matter how painful it might be at times, look no further than here.

For an album that surely must have been made for virtually no budget at all, this record sounds pretty damn good! I know, I was surprised too. It's not an audiophile listening experience by any means, but considering what it is, you really couldn't ask for more. A very nice and quiet pressing, with the performances clear and separated, while in-your-face enough to maintain the punk rock spirit with which they were recorded. Don't expect a big sonic spectrum or beautiful and articulate vocals here, though I doubt you did. The integrity of the performances are intact and they sound just as good if not a little better than the CD version of this collection, which is alternately titled 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours. No tracks are sonic highlights per se, but for people who were concerned about the quality of these reissues, I'm tempted to say that if they got this one right, it's likely that the others will follow suit nicely. The 7" EPs that are included play back at 45rpm and also sound pretty good, though I did here some slight distortion once or twice. Nothing that should discourage you from this purchase though.

For serious Green Day fans, this package is where it's at. The 39/Smooth LP, 1,000 Hours EP, and Slappy EP all come with all their original packaging intact, all the way down to the formerly xeroxed inserts featuring all the lyrics and credits scrawled on a piece of looseleaf by the band. This means that the 12" LP is in a generic white paper sleeve and comes with an insert containing lyrics and album credits on one side and artwork (pictured to the right) on the other. The 7"s just sit within their printed sleeves, with 1,000 Hours containing an additional lyrical insert. Choosing to reissue this set with the original 7" EPs intact was a very thoughtful move on the band/label's part, and it really does make me happy to own an album that I was never really that wild about. Yes, the LP only weighs 120-grams, but don't let that discourage you. The sound is still nice and it just make the whole thing seem even more genuine. More like an amazing find on eBay than a newly released album. Even for Green Day fans without a record player, having and holding this piece of the band's history is probably a must. Plus it's only about $20. We win.


These reissues are coming out faster than I can review them (I have Kerplunk! and Dookie already waiting in line), but again, if this album is any indication, you can feel comfortable picking up your favorite Green Day album on vinyl when they get to it. Because, by the end of the year, you will be able to have them all. Let's just see how many I wind up with. Bets???

Buy the LP at Amazon.com
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