About the band: The The are an English post-punk band. They have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer-songwriter Matt Johnson being the only constant band member. They released six studio albums. The The currently have one song in my list of about 200 best pop/rock songs of all time.
About the song: Uncertain Smile is a track from the 1983 debut album Soul mining, which was received well, although it was relatively simple compared to some of Johnsons's later experiments. This highly unusual love song is the highlight off the album, with its bouncy drum beat and sparkling guitar countering the sweet-but-sour lyrics like "As street lamps pour orange coloured shapes through your windows - a broken soul stares from a pair of watering eyes - Uncertain emotions force an uncertain smile". Incidentally, the version included in my list is the album version, and definitely not the earlier recorded single version. The album track has one of the most impressive piano solos of all times in rock music to close out the song... whereas the single sports some lame flute sounds instead. Run time 6:51.
