2011 (album)

2011 represents the eleventh studio release from the American rock group The Smithereens, which debuted on April 5, 2011, through eOne Music.

This album was their first collection of entirely new original songs since 1999's God Save The Smithereens, arriving after an eight-year interval during which the band produced four albums comprised solely of cover versions between 2007 and 2009. The album’s cover art pays homage to their 1989 record 11. The primary singles launched were "Sorry" and "One Look at You".

Background

From 2007 until 2009, The Smithereens focused on releasing four cover albums, including tributes dedicated to the Beatles and The Who's Tommy. Drummer Dennis Diken mentioned that their label, E1, provided financial backing for these tribute projects. Nevertheless, lead vocalist Pat DiNizio stressed the band's intention to move back toward creating original compositions. To obtain funding for a fresh album featuring original material, DiNizio negotiated with E1, resulting in an agreement to support both a new original album and the Tommy tribute simultaneously.

The group crafted demos in a rehearsal space located in New York, utilizing DiNizio’s four-track cassette recorder. They reunited with producer Don Dixon, who had helmed three of their previous albums but had not collaborated with them since 1994's A Date with The Smithereens. Due to constraints on studio availability, recording sessions proceeded swiftly; foundational tracks were laid down at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium studio in North Carolina during October 2010, while overdubs were completed at DiNizio’s residence in New Jersey from December 2010 through January 2011. Final mixing and mastering wrapped up by February 2011.

The choice of the album title 2011 serves as a nod to their well-known 11 while clearly positioning this release in the current era, as highlighted by music journalist Tris McCall.

Critical reception

Mark Deming of AllMusic characterized the record as "a return to form," emphasizing that producer Don Dixon—who contributed to the band’s acclaimed mid-1980s albums—helped revive their classic guitar-driven pop style. Although most songs may not reach the heights of earlier hits like "Only a Memory" or "Blood and Roses", Deming acknowledged the band’s enduring ability to create catchy and evocative tunes. In Goldmine, critic John M. Borack awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a refreshing and thoroughly satisfying burst of classic Smithereens songwriting" reminiscent of their peak period in the 1980s.

Hal Horowitz from American Songwriter gave the album a rating of three and a half stars, lauding it as "a genuine return to form" featuring timeless melodies and infectious choruses. He suggested that if issued in the late ’80s, it would have been celebrated as one of their best works; in 2011, it stands as a notable comeback effort. On the other hand, Will Hermes of Rolling Stone assigned it three stars, recognizing the band’s comparatively tougher edge among power-pop groups but critiquing the material for lacking memorable hooks.

Personnel

The Smithereens

• Jim Babjak – guitar, backing vocals
• Dennis Diken – drums, backing vocals, percussion
• Pat DiNizio – lead vocals, guitar
• Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion – bass guitar, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Derrick Anderson – referred to as "The Fifth Smithereen"
• Greg Calbi – mastering engineer
• Don Dixon – producer, recording and mixing engineer, author of liner notes
• Mitch Easter – recording engineer
• Len Fico – management
• Mary Frank – photography
• John "JK" Kennedy – tour manager and live sound engineer
• Jeff Miller – booking agent
• Todd Sinclair – design of CD cover
• Paul J. Smith – road crew member
• Chris M. Junior – liner notes author