Meat Is Murder

Feel like Bonnie would like what The Smiths are advocating for here but honestly the weird animal noises just made me feel uncomfortable and most of the songs I felt fairly indifferent towards.

I can't quite get on board with the Smiths style. It also sounds like the singer's droning on and on. The instrumental is quite cool though, and have the bonus on drowning the singer out quite a bit

1-2 songs are cool but then they all sound the same , overdosed on melancholy

La's better. 2/5

Ok, not a massive fan

En tiedä. Jos laulua ei olisi, tämä voisi olla semmosta neutraalia, vähä vilkkaampaa taustamusaa vaikka vaatekaupassa. Muutama kiva kitarakohta mutta jättää vähä viileäksi.

Not really my kind of music. I actually listened to the first song a while back and realized I don’t like the smiths that much because I personally think the guy’s voice is annoying and their sound is weird. I don’t like rating negatively sometimes especially on super influential bands but 1001 albums made me as it was my album of the day. Overall my opinion still stands, but I don’t completely hate the title track meat is murder. It was alright after the mooing but I’m not gonna stop eating meat!

coolest thing the Smiths ever did I don't like their music at all. without Morrissey being the person he is I might have rounded up. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

2.2

thought i'd like it mor e

While the musicality and orchestration are compelling, Meat Is Murder is weighed down for me by its passive-aggressive lyricism and wailing vocal delivery.

mid

Now I see why everybody hates Morrissey

This is boring 80's brit indie. It's whiney, morrisey's voice is so annoying, and the rest is just lame.

Wouldn’t listen again Best song is well I wonder

This one got old quick for me. I'm beginning to think I only like the idea of The Smiths and their music is just ok

Guess it didn't reach me on the right day

Enjoyed the album, nothing remarkable tho.

The smiths first single came out when I was in first year university. Many of my friends loved them. Hearing this today I feel the same as I did then. It’s all too samey and very few stand out tracks. A few of the singles were great but they didn’t put many of them on the albums.

This was ok for what it was. Not sure it was better than the last Smiths album this list gave me. Very much of its time.

the instrumentals aren't even that bad the vocals are just insufferable they could've picked a random guy off the street to sing (and write the vocal melodies) instead and it would've been better

I might have to give it a second listen because i usually love the smiths but this one didn’t wow me

Flemme

Not as bad as some of their stuff. I imagine it would be pretty listenable as an instrumental.

GOING IN: Not fussed really LISTENED WHILE: With a cuppa FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Never happened ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: --- My Rating: 2 Can't believe there are more Smiths AND Morrissey albums in this list that I must listen to before I die. Ugh! I gave this a two because it wasn't as bad as the last one.

Listening to this album drives home the point that Morrisey can sing no more than four notes. It makes listening to any Smiths album tedious.

Meat Is Murder is the only song that really stood out for me, but The Smiths are a classic

Uncompelling and bland

the lyrics are good but i’m not a major fan of this album. i did like the message of the title track though.

I just don’t like his voice! The guitar however was nice! Enjoyed the second half way more! Fav: Nowhere Fast

Another band I gave up on shortly after hearing about them. I did not like the style and the vocals. I have later learned to like some of The Smiths and Morissey songs, but this album is just not my thing. None of the songs really stands out for me, and it’s a bland experience to go through the full album. I think/hope I will enjoy their other albums more.

One of my critiques of this project so far has been a few of the odd choices included. This seems like one to me. The Smiths have two pretty unimpeachable masterpieces. This just ain’t one of them. In fact this one is one of their most mediocre. I guess I’d need to actually read the book to figure out the rationale, but I know there are loads of unsung great albums that would never get exposure on a list like this. And let’s face it, Meat Is Murder is kind of a turd.

Life’s too short to give Morrissey a proper go

- Separating Morrissey from his art is one thing, the more important issue here is separating Morrissey from Marr. - Marr makes The Smiths interesting. There are some good musical numbers here. It’s just the horrific delivery of pretentious, self-obsessed lyrics that make it so difficult to listen to. - I’m just glad to be ticking my way through this stuff. Another one in the rear view mirror.

I listened, but not a fan of this album.

feels like i'm listening to background songs with no energy

Good background music, but not my favorite.

I came to the Smiths late and eventually came to like a lot of The Queen is Dead. But listening to this (and the previous Smiths selection) reminds why I initially found them incredibly precious and tiresome.

Cool guitar

Another listen did nothing to change my opinion on The Smiths. Underwhelming

Of the Morrissey/Smiths albums we've had thus far, this is the weakest and should be cut to make room for other deserving artists who don't have any representation on this list. Morrissey/Smiths already have enough entries (and better alternatives than this).

HATE "Rusholme Ruffians" This album is very much not my vibe. I've enjoyed other The Smiths albums and songs but this was painful.

The music was fine, even enjoyable on some of the songs, but I did not enjoy the singer. His vocals sounded lazy and uninterested at best, and douchey at worst.

I was never a big fan of The Smiths (or of Morrissey for that matter) in the 80’s when they were surging and that hasn’t changed during the past 40 years. The music is ok but Morrissey’s unexcited intonation is bland at best and annoying at worst. I’m not gonna knock them too much as it’s not “bad” music, this different style and I just don’t vibe well together.

The Smiths are one of my favorite bands from the 80s and I’ll gladly tell you this album sucks. It misses wholly on most every level. Marr’s guitar is quite good on most tracks, but that’s the only standout on an album filled with forgettable songs and off key, moaning vocals from the legendary douche that is Morissey. Probably the worst Smiths album by far.

Saturday morning as I write this, slept well last night and woke up to a bit of snow falling, just a light snow enough to make the world look beautiful, but not enough that it takes any effort to remove, that perfect amount of fresh white snow. Made myself a delicious egg sandwich for breakfast, nice hot cup of coffee and settle in for some premiership, Villa v Arsenal, nice! Yesterday got away from me and I didn't have a chance to listen to the Smiths, no worries, mute the game and listen. Something I do often. Morning is shaping up nicely. Then the music starts, eh...not too bad. Then Morrissey begins singing, oh ya I remember him, I think I like him but dont remember much by him. Well I'm quickly reminded he has the most depressing voice on the planet. My amazing start to the day takes a dark turn and sadness envelopes me. I learned that Morrissey can mar the greatest of mornings. Thankfully the album is over now and all is right with the world again. This is pretty terrible.

I want to like the Smiths more than I do

It’s not offensive, but like a foggy drizzle, I don’t particularly enjoy it either.

More Smiths. Yay. /s

Nothing here for me and I'm doing it a favor at rating it a 2.

Falls a little short compared to their first album, and hard to agree with the decision to leave off How Soon Is Now on the UK and remastered editions

Was OK, some interesting stuff there but generally not a big Morrisey fan

Jingly jangly guitar indie pop with a laconic, arrogant crooner. Did nothing for me at the time, does nothing for me now.

Not good, not bad, but a hint of buns.

Sounds like a soundtrack to a 80s/90s movie set in a small village. This means it is both good in capturing a particular vibe, but also kind of falls to the background. I don't really like the singers voice, it sounds too much like whining to me, especially when the subject matter is so dire such as in the titular song. No particular song stands out to me, although everyone of them was at least okay. If I had to choose a favourite it would be "nowhere fast". Fine music to have on in the background while you're drinking a beer in the pub, but that's about it. 2.5

I hated Morrissey before it was cool. Putting aside some of his awful views on immigration and the likes, I just could never understand the fascination with The Smiths or Morrissey. A lot of people who liked the same music as I did, were big into The Smiths, and I could never understand it. Well, in the spirit of broadening horizons with this project, I tried to give The Smiths another chance. Johnny Marr is an exceptionally inventive guitarist. Aside from his work on The Smiths, when he joined Modest Mouse for "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank", he added a new dimension to their (already great) music and eleveted their sound to something epic. And he brings some interesting sounds to this album too. But, as much as I like Johnny Marr, I don't like him enough to endure Morrissey. His crooning and warbling, in his posh nasally tone, ruins everything that could otherwise be enjoyable about the music of The Smiths. He's insufferable, and as a result, so are The Smiths.

Good music, good lyrics. Morrissey's voice is unbearable for me. 2/5.

Fist through and through listen of the Smiths, and despite trying to cast aside my conscious and unconscious biases about Morrisey, I find his dreary yodelling too much to bear. Can't knock Marr and the rest, but fuck me - it is like trying to eat a potentially nice sandwich in the rain.

It’s like reading a whiney post online that doesn’t have punctuation or a coherent thought like this one and Morrissey can eat it

Barbarism is a banger in a album that lacks other great Smiths songs. I'd do with The Queen Is Dead instead. Thanks.

5/10

meh, British political rock. Kinda whiney

I never particually cared for smiths, still dont.

I’ve lost track of how many Smiths/Morrisey albums I’ve had to endure from this list. Shit’s probably messing up my algorithm. Anyways, I don’t like Morrisey’s voice and not a big fan of the bands overall sound either. As for this album, no stand out tracks, it was all meh.

A third Morrissey album? I feel like that Michael Scott meme where he's screaming, "No! God, no! Why?!" To be fair, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I find Morrissey's whiny crooning a bit unbearable at times but I love the guitar sound and can hear how The Smiths have been influential. And I even really like, not just tolerated some songs like "Well I Wonder" And I'm sure there will be people who read this review and just think I'm not giving The Smiths a chance because Morrissey is insufferable...I actually know little to nothing about his character, although I am aware people don't like him as a person. No prior knowledge made me dislike The Smiths; I was actually looking forward to the first album by them that I was assigned, but it turns out, after two Smiths albums and one Morrissey solo album, I do not like this music very much at all.

I like the Smiths, I do not like this album. Not sure why this is here ahead of The Smiths or The Queen Is Dead.

The iconic sounds of the Smiths is undeniable on this album - Marr’s guitar really shines through as always, for instance - but ultimate the song-writing and vocal delivery from Morrissey falls flat, leaving the album feeling pretty underwhelming. “Well I Wonder” is a particular high point, but the other tracks don’t leave much of an impression. It’s definitely the weakest Smith’s album I have come across to date.

For quite a while Spotify was trying to make me a Smiths fan and I kept resisting, I don't want to start this again so I did use a private session for Spotify. This album is pretty meh and that long song is unbearable.

Albums by The Smiths are always a bit tricky. Such an incomparably good singles band, but your tolerance for Moz will determine how well the albums play. Which is odd for me - I like several solo albums a great deal more than any Smiths album, but when Marr was locked into a sound, he was redefining or creating genres, sometimes several within the same song, such as The Headmaster Ritual. Unremarked upon by and large, the seeds of Morrissey’s future rockabilly fascination are already blooming here, although the way they function on Meat is Murder is more as filler. Meat is Murder also suffers (or triumphs) with 2 long songs, alongside 2 others that nearly crest 5 minutes. This is the Smiths albums challenge in a nutshell - their singles largely clock in at less than 3 minutes, get in, get out. Contemporaries - foes? - The Cure could crank out 70 minute albums and I wouldn’t want a second cut from any of those, likewise New Order’s remixes, but here...

I'm sorry!

Music was good, I don't like Morrisey's voice (or his politics, and I'm guessing if I knew him personally, I wouldn't like his personality either)

Sort of just a meh album to me. I’ve tried getting into the smiths music before, and it just isn’t my thing. Title track on this album is not subtle and very whiny.

Besides whatever personal/political reasons people don't like Morrissey (I haven't bothered to look into it), I just don't like his voice. On paper, this kind of post-punk new wave should be a big hit with me... except for that one important detail. If there is an album of instrumentals, or other bands covering all of these songs, I may be interested in those, but I just can't suffer Morrissey's whining for more than a few minutes without wanting to also start whining. My favorite part of the album is the last ~2min of "Barbarism Begins At Home", which is a fun, funky, bass-heavy instrumental jam. It's also followed by the 2 minute intro of "Meat Is Murder" which means you get almost 4 whole minutes without Morrissey singing. Who could ask for more?

Technically very impressive. I have always thought of myself as a Smiths enjoyer, but I have to say that the experience of listening to this album was fairly unpleasant. Morrissey’s voice/singing was really the only thing that I didn’t like, but it soaked through everything. Maybe it’s because I live in a place where the sun shines fairly often and it’s not eternally dreary, but I can’t know for sure.

I don’t hate Meat Is Murder but I’m trying to be somewhat objective. Were I to rank my favorite groups, I imagine The Smiths would rank rather highly. I own a graphic novel about them and also Morrissey’s autobiography, which is the most hilariously overwritten book I’ve ever attempted to read. Yet I am unbiased enough to recognize that THIS album belongs nowhere near a greatest of all time list, particularly when a cursory review informs me that their (much better) self-titled debut is not featured. There are exactly 2 songs here in any sort of rotation for me (Headmaster Ritual and That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore). The title track is one of the dullest songs in existence, though I actually admire when a message is so in-your-face that no thought or interpretation is necessary. The original US release closes with How Soon Is Now? which is actually good enough to make the whole thing worth listening to, but alas that is not the version we’re reviewing.

I agonizingly go into this one, I am not a Smiths fan nor do I enjoy Morrissey's could-care-less-whiny cadence. I have a few famous voices that I just can't learn to love including James Taylor, Madonna, Ariana Grande, Boy George, Jay-Z & Morrissey. From the minute Morrissey starts singing I want to turn the dial, it's uncanny. For the record, I have never listened to a full Smiths album, they're just dreary and sap my energy. I have heard a couple tracks in college or on the radio over the years ("How Soon Is Now?", which sucks too). I have to give props for number of listens for this entire album, the lowest song has 8.5M listens while the biggest ("Well I Wonder") has 84M (probably cause he sings the least in this song). I flat out could not enjoy it, I tried, I didn't like a single song. Every track had the same beat & boring guitar line. I loathe his voice and I can't hear around it. 2.5 stars as I can see people love it, but I don't, not even a little.

Yeah I'm not a smiths fan. The band is good but the dude singing and filter he's using is annoying to me. I don't understand the love the smiths get, at all.

One bummer of this project is when you get allocated albums from artists you loathe. I gave it 3 songs and confirmed I still dislike the smiths.

Better than any other Smiths album I've heard but still not good

Never liked the smiths

This one sucked. I can get why there are a few Smiths or Morrissey albums in the list, but this one has redeeming qualities, jams, bangers, or mashes. Just recycled garbage from decades prior.

Sorry. Bored as hell listening to Morrissey's monotone. This album sounds like 1 song played over and over. Sorry, don't care how deep his lyrics are, if the music isn't interesting, it gets 2 stars for valiant effort.

I can see why this is a classic for some folks. It's Morrisey but thankfully not a solo project. I'll admit to my fandom of some music that gets a pretentious and self indulgent. And thankfully it's reasonably reigned in here. My mouth has been soured by solo Morrisey. But this isn't really for me

Nun ja. Künstler und Kunst…

More bloody Morrissey. I found the beginning of this album particularly excruciating as he doesn’t even seem to be singing in tune. But there were a couple of songs I liked as it went on. The band are great though, and I’ve come to realise that The Smiths are a singles band so a “best of” album will do me. It’s just the singing I find annoying. Morrissey is murder, more like!

Not for me. Morrisey lyrics and singing style bores me. I could barely pay attention. 4.0

The Smiths. Everyone knows them. I generally like them, but this album, while good, didn’t grab me the way some of their other songs do. I enjoyed putting it on while working in the office.

Sigh..I know The Smiths are an iconic band... however, apart from a few of their songs, they just don't do it for me. The backing music always sounds great. I like a lot of the guitar work and musical crwativity. Its like a Limp Bizkit situation, really cool music and then the singer comes in. Morrissey seems to sing the same 6 or 7 notes, just in different keys for every song for every album.

Couldn’t connect with it. Maybe just the wrong album on the wrong day.

It’s a Smiths album, has their classic guitar tone which I found oh so average. I don’t love The Smiths.

Quite annoying but not entirely bad. There are a couple of songs that I kinda liked, but I don't plan on listening to this album ever again

boring emo

Annoying vocals, annoying songs, with hints of interesting musical bits hidden throughout. Overall, just can't stand the smiths

Escuché este disco dos veces en mi casa mientras hacía cosas. Pensé, esto no puede ser tan fome, lo empecé a escuchar con audifonos. Me fui a dormir y soñé que lo terminaba de escuchar y pensaba "Meh", estoy de acuerdo con mi sueño.

I prefer The Cure

Meat might be murder, but it’s a lot less cruel than making someone listen to this album. Morrisey’s vocals and lyrics never seem to change with the backing music; it doesn’t seem to matter what the guitars are doing, he just goes on singing This Charming Man over and over but with different words.

Beginning to think I don't really like the Smiths. I used to have The Queen is Dead on CD and did really enjoy it. I now find I really struggle with Morrissey both as a person and vocally. I had not really listened to Meat is Murder before - and IMHO its weaker than the above with no real stand out tracks and too much whining Morrissey.

Morrissey is an all-time douche in the history of popular music, which makes enjoying this band a tall task for me. Instrumentally I found some great stuff about this album, particularly in "Barbarism Begins at Home." Then there's Morrissey sort of whiny ramble-singing over it all. Sometimes he locks into something cool, sometimes he's got interesting lyrics, and all the rest of the time he's kind of just a dick. And the title track...I respect the message, but good lord is the delivery pretentious and douchey.

I don't care for the Smiths, I don't like his voice.

Boring melancholic music, did not enjoy.

Didn’t really listen to that much of it

Do people really like the smiths? I guess you had to be there.

...ffs why is there another Morrissey album on this list....this makes #7.....why?? FUCK OFF MORRISSEY YOU PRETENTIOUS ASS HAT! Favorite songs: Barbarism Begins at Home, What She Said, Nowhere Fast Least favorite songs: Meat is Murder 2/5

Never liked the Smiths. Still don't, but I can tolerate it better than in the past. The penultimate song had Mr Morissy singing and gargling in the bath or some sort of profound crap. At least I listened to the whole album through, but as has been my position for the past 40 or so years, I really hope I don't have to in the future.2/5 - the music gets an extra point over the threshold of 1 for absolute tosh.

Up until today I thought Donovan and Morrissey were the same person. Yesterday I couldn't tell you a single unique fact about either of them. I also couldn't today but yesterday I couldn't either. I do respect an album dedicated to vegetarianism though.

Never been a big fan of any Smiths albums. dont know why only individual songs work for me. the rest just feels like mid tier filler

If meat is murder then my ex-wife must have been John Wayne Gacy

Sounds like a made for tv version of a John Hughes movie soundtrack. Immature ramblings set to a cool guitar sound.

Learned something from listening to this - I only really like the Smiths when the songs are tight, melodic indie pop songs. Really did not enjoy most of this at all, just a meandering, sullen, whiney Morrissey overpowering most songs. I like the funky bass riff on Barbarism Begins At Home, Marr's guitar work, and not much else. And I'd be sympathetic to vegetarianism, I've attempted it myself and I think factory farming is messed up. But Morrissey's sanctimonious bullshit on the title track is not convincing, I'm sure its just made people crave a big steak for dinner to spite him

Can’t help but consistently believe how good this would be were to the vocals and lyrics by anyone else.

Did I hate this album because the music sucked or because Morrisey is an asshole?

Meh

Get fucked.

Just when I thought this list might be making me a Smiths fan - it certainly is trying with 3 of the first 43 entries being Smiths albums - this album came along and confirmed my prior stereotype that it's an alright band with one guy just kind of free associating in key.

The Smiths feel like a 'you had to be there' group. Bass line on Barbarism Begins at Home was easily the highlight of this album. Easy Money by Johnny Marr might be the only Smiths related song I've ever really enjoyed.

Oh Morrissey. This is just repetitive and cookie-cutter. The Joke Isn't Funny is a nice harmonic departure. Lightens the palate a bit. It's dark. It's angsty. I'm sure it was politically important at the time. Musically, it's below meh.

This feels like a cruel joke after pulling Morrissey yesterday. What a whinger! Every song sounds the same, and whilst not terrible musically, the vocal absolutely kills any pleasure I could find from it.

Not my taste

Kinda meh Didn’t love it as much as the other album from them I got

Tweede album van the Smiths, ik ken vooral Queen is Dead en ik zou die zonder denken direct 5 sterren geven. Het begint al wel direct met een Smiths sound, maar vind het over het algemeen toch een beetje tegen vallen. Ik vond eigenlijk alleen Well I Wonder leuk om te bewaren.

It seems like 1001 Albums Generator is very passionate about The Smiths and it wants me to feel the same way. Unfortunately I do not share the same passion (even though Robert Smith rocks). I do enjoy hearing more of their stuff but was just okay with this album. The most standout stuff came from some awesome rhythm guitar riffs and production, but for my taste it felt kind of flat and the same as a lot of other Smiths stuff I've heard. No hate but just not super into it I guess. Fav Track: The Headmaster Ritual

Gear: HEDD Audio HEDDphone Two Artwork: 🪖🖍️😏 Production (2011 Remaster): 🙄🤔🤷 Music: 😭🤏🎻 Rating: 🥩🥩/5

Repetitive, boring, random barking lyrics. Nah.

Made me like The Smiths less.

Is it for me, nah ha ha

Better than I remembered

Of all their albums, the weakest one makes the cut?

I should have liked it, but it was just bland and meh.

I like the music because it’s good rock and roll. I do not care for Morrissey’s voice. It’s just dull.

Not bad not bad. Favorite Track: The Headmaster Ritual

It’s fine!

Honestly thought I would like this a lot more but I guess I was only familiar with their big singles and never really listened to a whole album. Was just ok.

Interesting but not good

This is dark. Not my favorite album of theirs.

Wasn’t crazy about it.

Feels half baked like early Queen albums do. Not that interesting to listen to a band who would go on to be incredible, being not quite there yet. Yes, it’s like Oscar Wilde dropping wit and wisdom over meandering, wind-swept King Sunny Ade guitar and ‘recorded on a potato) soul boy rhythms, but not with the essential unabashed confidence that was to come.

needs more barking

Some okay songs, but the whole album was samey.

not bad but definitely worse than the previous smiths. Last song just made me hungry

Beetje eentonig, maar verder wel te luisteren. **

My least Favourite smiths album, I loved it at first Listen but i recently returned to it and i was greatly dissapointed

Miserable

HATE the music. LOVE the message. Give credit to those cows on the last song!

I genuinely liked the instrumentals and the guitar, but my god is the pretentiousness annoying. I’m vegetarian and I find this to be wayyyyy too much.

The guitars are more jangly than I thought they would be. I really dislike this guys singing style and melodic lines. The lyrics are decent but this was a huge slog, and getting lectured at because this guy doesn't think meat is tasty is a bad closing track.

I try to keep an open mind. I really do, but I just can't with this. Why is he moaning? Is it the man flu? Existential ennui? Good lord, pull it together. There is decent music behind the moaning, so that's something.

Not my style

The algorithm is forcing Morrissey on me this month. At least this is The Smiths and not another bleak solo outing. Honestly, at this point, I've had my fill of Morrissey's voice. This is so much better than the solo stuff. Johnny Marr and the rest of The Smiths are doing all the heavy lifting here. Even with the benefit of the others, I did not enjoy this as much as I would have when I was younger. Now I am unable to divorce my dislike of Morrissey (the person AND the artist) from The Smiths, and this all just seems so incel-adjacent. We can't have nice things anymore. Please, internet gods--no more Morrissey for awhile!

Yeah I mean... Not doing too much. It's nice. The title song begins with cows mooing. That's cool. Maybe I should give it my first two stars? That it's not exceeding any expectations and is instead blending into the background?

While I appreciate the Smiths' unique sound and distinctive textures, It's not my favourite thing to listen to.

oh god i hate the smiths.... morrissey is one of the most annoying frontmen ever (not to mention the racism)!!! every smiths song is like "i am so sad, i drive my car, i am so sad, i go so far" this one however does get an extra star up from 1 for 'Barbarism Begins at Home' which i do actually like except for morrissey's stupid "ladadadada"

Not for me

Ugh.

The Smiths es evidentemente un gusto adquirido que mi oído no asimila.

Most of the music is fine, the singing on the other hand…. 1.6

I've never been into The Smiths, and I'm still not into The Smiths. Their music is as generic as their name.

The Smiths are another band that never really landed with me, maybe I never liked Morrisseees' whining? Maybe it was too highbrow for a 10 year old. Either way I have mixed feelings about this album. I enjoyed the music a lot. Johnny Marr is really strong on this. Not so much Morissees droning voice. The Joke isn't funny anymore was for me the biggest highlight of an album where all the songs pretty much blend into each other...

Meh. One of my musically pet peeves is vocalists who don’t annunciate, and I felt like I didn’t really understand much of what this album was about. The two songs before the finale were good musically though.

The first half is garbage that gives me a headache. The second half is alright but nowhere near as good as the rest of The Smiths discography.

It's funny, I love some stuff by the Smiths, but I've never listened to this entire album before. Not really a fan, it felt a bit meandering.

I found this album generally uninteresting. I like some other Smiths tracks, especially How Soon Is Now, but I found this album dull and fairly one note in terms of style or variety. I know this is the album that put them on the map, but now 40 years after it's debut, I feel it's urgent and strident message feels faded and ineffectively delivered.

2/5. You can definitely feel the young and moody energy from this one. It can fit a certain vibe but there is a sense of suburban middle class in the 90s that feels a little disingenuous. Everyone has the right to their emotions and if you feel connected to this, especially in middle and high school, more power to you. It's just not really what I'm relating to at this time. The riffs are neat and fun to listen to, and are honestly the highlight of the album. Don't think it saves it from Morrissey, once again. Best Song: That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins At Home, The Headmaster Ritual

Damn, love The Smiths but album is not really one of their best...

Two stars. One of the songs reminded me of a Dance Dance by Fall out boy

Distinctive sound: Bright, hazy guitars with low & emotional vocals. Nice as a vibe for particular moods. The whole thing kind of runs together. No standout individual songs. Enjoyed listening while driving for the most part - hated the last (and unfortunately title) track.

Just not a Smiths guy. I don't get it. Dont enjoy Morrisey's voice, don't connect with the emotion of the songs, and basically think they're a poor man's British REM. Quality guitar work and solid songwriting, but not for me at all.

1. ritual - 1.5 2. ruffianz - 1 3. uuant - 1.5 4. zhe - 1 5. joke - 1 6. fazt - 1.5 7. uuonder - 1.5 8. barbarizm - 1.5 9. murder - 1.5

Morrissey is super mopey. The Smiths are slightly less mopey. It's an noticeable improvement. Title track is pretty shitty.

Not at good as expected

Lyrically this is great, I just don't enjoy the music at all ;(

This is the third album I've listened to from The Smiths, and I've came to the conclusion I'm not a fan of this band. The guitar, and lyrics are okay, but Morrissey's singing just ruins the vibe on every album. I also think their songs tend to blend in, and aren't distinguished. Favorite Track: "The Headmaster Ritual".

I like the Smiths but this was just nothing special to me icl

has the smiths sound, but the songs all blended together for me. idk maybe i’m not sadboi enough rn for this

point9.

Not for me

Gillar en del av låtarna men kan inte se förbi hur dålig sångaren är. 2 av 5

No more Morrissey, if it wasn't for him I could probably like this album.

This could be better. But it’s not

Dull Smiths album sounds very generic with no top songs it at all, really question why it was included in this list.

First time listen. I thought I’d like it. I don’t. Disappointing.

Mid

Not bad. Liked it better than the morrissey solo album I had. A couple good ones but nothing to write home about.

I was in my late teens when the Smiths broke and thought they were a lightweight fun pop group but now they seem to be revered as ground breaking and Morrissey and Marr as icons. Morrisseys solo stuff is far better and Marr is grossly overrated. This is an ok pop album with a couple of good tracks.

First two are grand - not a fan of the occasional like, yodelling? Like the start of the first one though. Good beat. 'Tis all very meandery and tuneless, isn't it? Good beats though. Except That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, that song is really good.

Err ok? Kinda forgettable.

Nice sounds but all felt very similar, was tempted to give it a 3 cause meat is murder is a v interesting song but i was just a bit bored by this as a whole

Bunch of wank. Guitars are nice tho.

2.5 - not awful but I hate his voice

Had high expectations but disappointed

I think I liked the previous Smiths album more. Either way, I didn't really connect to either of them.

Not their best work

oh i hate this man

I didn’t hate them but not my jam. 2

Just a bit meh, prefer other albums by the smiths found this a bit boring

Morrisey’s vocals really irritate me. Some danceable tracks. Probably wasn’t in the mood for it either which didn’t help.

The Smyths have never really excited me. Didn’t this time either.

Didn’t rate this, not particularly memorable

I think they've got better in them tbh, so i'm gonna keep this one low.

It’s okay

Hi, I'm sorry but I just cannot get into Elliott Smith. I've heard a lot of people tell me he's very good and I'm very sorry to hear about his personal issues and his tragic passing but his music always seems so down to me that was hard for me to get into it. I listen to a couple of songs, but I'm sad to say that I just found the music very depressing even though he may be a very talented artist. R.I.P.

I thought a lot of the songs were funny, but I liked listening to them.

Morrissey really hates melody

Would be a good album if not for Morrissey’s voice.

Not my jam

2 out of 5 for me.

Meh. Not really a big fan on The Smiths, and this fight sound any different to any of their other music. Some catchy riffs, though.

Enh

Malgré que j’aime beaucoup The Smiths et la voix unique du chanteur, je n’ai pas été séduit par ce disque. Les arrangements sont pourtant intéressants, frôlant par exemple la musique country dans mes deux préférées : « Rusholme Ruffians » et « No Where Fast ». Ils sont denses et chargés, avec plein de samplings et de couches qui s’additionnent, mais au final, c’est pas aussi facile à écouter que les autres disques du groupe que je connais mieux. Ça ne coule pas autant et la magie n’opère pas pour moi.

This is the third Smiths album I've been obligated to listen to for this project and I hate them more. Okay instrumentation, and then it's a race for worse vocals or lyrics. Thanks for somehow influencing actually good bands like Quicksand, I guess.

Let's just get the obligatory 'Fuck Morrissey' out of the way up front with this one. I mean seriously, this dude is a GIANT piece of shit. Hate his voice, hate his lyrics. Music/instrumentation/production here is probably the best I've heard from them, though still laced with the typical sad jangly bullshit The Smiths are known for. Without vocals, it wouldn't be offensive, but still nothing special. This whole band's position in the history of music is extremely overblown.

Eh, it's ok. The guitar work is great, especially in The Headmaster Ritual (including a really fun guitar riff throughout) and Well I Wonder. But the singing is just mediocre. With a more interesting lead singer this could easily get a 3, possible even a 4. But as it is, it drags down to a 2. Best song: The Headmaster Ritual

Moan moan bloody moan

It’s unfortunate because the music itself on this album is great but the singing is terrible

Beginning to think I don't really like the Smiths. I used to have The Queen is Dead on CD and did really enjoy it. Previously on this list I gave Strangeways a 3 - and struggled with Morrissey on that album. I had not really listened to Meat is Murder before - and IMHO its weaker than both of the above with no real stand out tracks and a bit too much dirgy winging plus Morrissey.

It was like most English food I've had. You know, filling enough but way too bland to ever order it again if there is pretty much anything else on the menu.

It’s like all the British bands from the 80s got together and formed a Cabal where they all agreed to sound exactly the same, because they all knew their sound was awful and they were only capable of producing an inferior and mediocre product, therefore eliminating competition amongst themselves, thus manipulating the free market or whatever, which in turn punished the consumer who was none the wiser and didn’t realize that they were merely pawns in an unjust system of musical tyranny. However, I feel like by rating and reviewing just one British band I’ve therefore rated them all and saved myself time. Haha joke’s on you!!

The Smiths have never really done it for me and this album wasn’t much different

I am pretty neutral on the smiths. They’re fine and I can see why people love them, but they’re solidly in the wouldn’t seek out category for me

I'm back to the stance of The Smiths not being my vibe and I don't have a great understanding why so many people revere them

Morrissey delivers train-of-thought lyrics like he’s a Greek Orthodox priest sing-reading a passage from the Bible.

Just label me as jaded. The repetitive and lengthy repetition of lyrics and music that i enjoyed on the first go, and second..by the third go made me want to yell ..'enough already, i get i, i heard it'! Each song had that issue.

I didn’t love this album IMO the first song is the best on the album Fr

I wanted to like it more

Another rendition of professional and good instrumental band let's their one retarded mate sing over their music who absolutely fucks it. Much better than The Queen is Dead, though not better enough for me to rate it any differently. I had really high hopes after hearing The Headmaster Ritual, as I seemed to enjoy it - and then it just got worse from there. When that stupid cunt started yodelling in I Want the One I Can't Have (loser anthem) I was done. It's such a shame, because I honestly love the guitars and the drums, shame they didn't release a Morrisey-free version of this album, I'd enjoy that a lot better. tldr; good music until the whiny incel starts singing

As much as I enjoy the smiths, I much prefer them in a playlist so I’m not listening to constant melancholy from morrissey. That was not an ideal way to start the morning, I felt like I was mourning by the time I was finished getting ready in the morning. No tracks really stood out for me, thought they were all okay-good but they kind of blurred into one after a while. I may have been the architect of my own downfall with this rating, have I given myself morrissey fatigue by listening to him too much over the years or did I really just not enjoy this album that much?

Not a huge fan of the Smiths, listening to Morrissey sing makes me feel like I'm stood in the middle of Snobs, my shoes sticking to the beer and chylamdia soaked floor, trying not to look as pissed as I absolutely feel. Some of the music was okay, I've just never been a fan of that indie/gothic style. Ummed and arred about whether to rate this a 2 or 3, solely on the last track. It was horrendous- but it's supposed to be horrendous, so job well done on that front.. it's unlike anything I've heard before. That being said, I'd pulled up at a McDonalds drive-thru, at around 4 in the morning just before listening. I was told to wait in bay 4 for my food, and decided to play this last remaining song. Now I can't think of anything worse to do than hear this song, whilst sitting in a cold dark car, waiting for someone to hand me 9 chicken selects at some ungodly hour of the morning. I hated every bit of my delicious murder-food, and despised myself for licking my fingers after. So I've settled on 2 stars, because I didn't need Morrissey or the rest of the Smiths judging me when I was already at a low point, eating chicken in a frosty car, at the arsehole of dawn.

didnt know how to feel. Dont think I like the blokes voice. Bit messy. Thought I was gonna like the last song until it turned out to be vegetarian propaganda.

Aargh, it's in my head!

kinda strange british stuff

This is not for me: - sounds all the same to me - can't appreciate the vocals; sounds like a whining kid - the only exception being 'That joke isn't funny anymore', but then again, why is the fade out / fade in around 3:50 required? Maybe that joke was still funny in 1985.

A few good songs but I don't really like Morrisey's voice

I don't like the Smiths

No

The Smiths is voor mij de blauwdruk aan zeikerige Britse Indierock bands. Nooit echt verschrikkelijk, ook zeker nooit geweldig. Gewoon, de blauwdruk. Waarschijnlijk wel echt baanbrekend toen ze begonnen, maar ondertussen zo ontzettend 13 in een dozijn dat je hierover struikeld op Best Kept Secret ofzo. LAstig voor mij om dan nu te reviewen, want als iets ontzettend standaard klinkt, omdat het ooit die standaard heeft gezet is het dan nog wel slecht? Lekker filosofisch op de donderdagmiddag, denk daar maar even goed over na. Muzikaal klinkt het trouwens best wel goed hoor, daar niet van, maar jezus deze zanger is echt een ontzettende zeikerd. Dat vond ik de vorige albums ook al een issue bij The Smiths, en dat is niet verbeterd. Als ze een andere, gezelligere zanger hadden was dit absoluut 4 sterren, nu is het gewoon ok. Hoe verder dit ablum gaat hoe geirriteerder ik raak. WAAROM heeft deze band deze draak van een zanger? Want instrumentaal klinkt dit zó goed!! Hoor die bassline op Barbarism... Echt, what couldve been ... FAVO: The headmaster ritual, Well I Wonder

Musically, decent. Lyrically, like if someone got a teenagers diary from the north in the 80s and picked bits out. Vocally, droll. Not sure what the title track was all about, don't tell me about your mundane existence then complain that I eat meat.

Songs i know : 1 Songs i like: 1 ish Considering I'm a fan of the smiths this is a bit shit by their standards, not a lot happens and I won't go back to it. It's undoubtedly got the smiths style so it's at least got that going for it. Light to mid 2.

Can I shock you? I don’t mind The Smiths (I just fucking hate Morrissey) This is ok - The Headmaster Ritual is a great tune and most of the tracks are pretty boppy. The bass and drums tend to stay the same throughout the songs while Johnny Marr has a mooch on his fretboard and it works pretty well. Morrissey is obviously a cunt and while he throws out some nice melodies, his singing style gets on my tits. Starts to all blur together towards the end and gets very samey. Don’t get quite why The Smiths are as revered as they are. REM’s Losing my Religion came on after this finished and showed The Smiths how you properly do weird indie pop. Highlights: The Headmaster Ritual Lowlights: Everything else was just a bit meh

Is the moment I have to come to terms with the fact I actually like The Smiths? For most of my life my argument has been one of Marr being ace and the songs are great but let down by the singer being a monumental prick. Thankfully I don't need to acknowledge this potentially troubling possibility as I found this album to be bang average despite some excellent melodies as per from Marr. The rest of the band do a solid job on this. Standouts: The Headmaster Ritual I Want the One I Can't Have What She Said Low Points: The last 4 tracks really lost me and I found myself waiting for the album to finish so I could stick on The Best of The Smiths and hear some bangers. Very bangers lite this album. This also must be Stephen at his most warbly and meandering. Fair play for sticking your veganism front and central and ending with a protest song on the matter but I've just won a load of meat at a meat raffle and I can't wait to get stuck into it.

Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Just was just a load of bang average Smiths songs. One stood out as decent until the bass solo came in and stuck around for too long like an odious fart. 5/10. Round it down because of, well, Morrisey

Found it a bit muddy and indistinct, tracks blended into each other even on third listen. The only bit I remember is when he says "meat is murder" which reminded me to have lunch

okay, some good songs that i liked the sound of

Álbum de sonoridade bem repetitiva Ideia muito política, pouca diversão

I've heard this album before. Nice melodic arrangements, but Morrisey's vocals detract and result in an album that never resonates or seems to match the passion of the lyrics.

Yet another from Morrissey and Co., that makes quite a few on this list if you include solo albums. Only saved two tracks on here, one just for the funny lyrics of "I'd like to drop my trousers to the Queen," hilarious. Around that time I was talking to Joey and Jack and we started doing bits of Morrissey lyrics if he was as randy as Austin Powers. "I was looking for some strange, and then I found some strange, and heaven knows I'm randy as hell." "If a randy Mr. Bean, sucked my willy clean, to die with a bonk-on would be the randiest way to die." That's about the gist of it, more entertained by that bit than this album. Also the title track with cows mooing is so lame, reminds of that PJ Harvey "war album." Favorite tracks: I Want the one I Can't Have, Nowhere Fast. Album art: I do like this cover, a bit of a classic. Soldier in the trenches, with the title on his helmet, plus the title is also on the side. It's good. 2.5/5

Good band out of the 80’s . Good sound, good music.

Confession: any smiths I have heard thus far I have not liked. Not to mention that current day morissey is an ass. So was not expecting much from this album. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t hate this album. It was pleasant enough and I enjoyed a few tracks. I’m still not a smiths fan but I can now see why somebody might be.

Some good grooves, but overall not my favourite Smiths album

Hmmm...I think this album is too much Morrissey and it kinda all sounds the same. Was disappointed.

Meh. 2/5

Sings like he cat be bothered singing, so why should I be bothered listening?

Why is this below average band all over this listst that’s supposed to be innovative?

sounds like every other smiths album. they're good but repetitive. 4/10

not for me

Morrisey’s singing is not particularly good or interesting. If you can get past that the guitar stuff is decent.

I like the backing band but morrisey is not my cup of tea. All the songs all end up sounding too similar too

Morrissey sing the same melody throughout the album. "What She Said" has an amazing groove and then Morrissey starts with his minimal midrange 6 tone vocal range which flattens the entire groove. There are times where it works such as the harmonies in "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". The bass line in "Barbarism Begins at Home" is quite delightful. Wish they would have been brave enough to add more on the album but again Morrissey flattens the song with his 6 toned voice.

If this is a top tier Smiths album I don't wish to hear less critically acclaimed records from their discography. 2*

This album just didn’t really do it for me. The only song I super enjoyed was Barbarism Begins at Home. Not necessarily a bad album, just didn’t grab me. The two stars feels almost wrong… yet here we are

Just really not a fan of his voice.

2 star for me. I appreciated the brevity but I wasn’t a fan of the lead singer. The British nasally sound really isn’t my thing!

I hope you enjoy The Smiths sound, because it does not change at all on this album. Every song is very similar. If that's what you're into then you have a winner here. I was not crazy about it and was really just waiting for this album to end.

Smiths. Meh.

The voice annoys.

So I like Johnny Marr but I don't care for Morrissey. Aint that a pickle?

I started thinking this was quite good. Upbeat (for Smiths) and quite easy on the ear. And then all of the songs started being the same and it just blurred into one. I did t quite make it to the end as a result.

Can take Morrissey in small doses - whole album of jangly guitars and mournful vocals was a bit much

So, so sick of Morrissey and the Smiths

Super boring! And an erroneous premise.

Just couldn’t get into this.

had a hard time listening closely but like the overall sound of the album. songs didn’t differentiate much for me

Helt intressanta melodier och gitarrspelande men sång rösten är inget att hänga i julgranen. Plus för namnet och konsten på albumet.

So whiney

The hard part for me with this band is that every song tends to sound the same and blurs together. They can change the arrangement and instrumentation heavily (like the jokey country "Rusholme Ruffians"), but that vocal tone and delivery always just sounds the same. I hate to hate on the record because "the" sound is good, and there's lots of cool elements to the music- the drums are tight, the bass is often playing very creative parts, and the guitar does really well with only shining when it needs to. The entire outfit is very cohesive. I didn't however have a moment in this album where I said "wow, this is a special track, let me get a better look at the name so I remember it". It came and went.

Great to be depressed with

Some good sounds but couldn't get in to it.

Another British Rock album

Bit monotone!

Meat is murder- Don’t like Morriseys voice or Melodies. Don’t really love the drums either. The guitar styles can be cool probably the best part about the band. I Don’t really care for the songs either.

One of the most overrated bands out there in my opinion. I really can’t stand his voice.

I don’t get why they are so popular. The songs all kinda sound the same. Hated the Meat is Murder song

Banger!

Feels like all of these songs could be playing as the closing credits role on an 80s brat pack/teen angst movie.

Love his voice, but overall found this album sort of boring and samey throughout. No particular stand out tracks to break up the flow.

By this point, I've already heard a good percentage of The Smiths' discography. And I don't get the love. I do understand the influence. They have a distinct sound which you can hear in more modern bands. But as far as actually enjoying the music in itself, I dunno. I don't get it, I guess. The music is just okay.

Meat is delicious. Why do people worship Morrissey? 2.5

Don’t love it

It's tricky, because I can hear the quality of Marr et al's work on this, but I just can't get past the fact that I really dislike Morrisey and his vocals.

Trash. The best way I can sum up how Morrissey sings IsByTypingLikeThisToShowcaseThatHeNeedsToBeSingingAtAllTimesBecauseHeNeedsToBeAlwaysHeardAndRarelyGivesTheSongRoomToBreatheForTheOtherInstrumentsToShowcaseWhatTheyAreDoing. That being said, i don't like Morrissey. He is shite. But the music was very cool. A lot of cool ideas. Morriseys Ego is just too big, I think. Maybe I'm completely wrong.... But from what I gather from him, he's quite the wanker. Should've been a one, but as a whole, this gets a notch up.

# 279 : I don't love it, I don't hate it, I can listen to it, a couple of things stood out, Love the guitaring, can't stand the singing.

Second album from the Smiths….doubling up already?

#277. This is almost tolerable. Seriously, it's the best Smiths album I've listened to so far. Still not good, but you know, less painful to hear. The lyrics are pretty cringe, especially on the title track, but if you don't pay attention to them very much, it's almost halfway decent. 2/5: almost.

It took a while for this album to get engaging, but once it hooked me I found it captivating. Which is a shame; the last 3 songs are excellent, but the first 6 were not interesting at all for me. I'm glad it ended on such a strong note with a lot to say, I only wish it had more substance throughout the album. Top tracks: Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins at Home, Meat Is Murder

Pretty annoying

Heard a lot about this album so I was curious initially. I know this band is well known and regarded, but I found this album a mixed bag. Some interesting instrumentals and the energy is good, but some songs got quite repetitive and dragged on. Wouldn't listen to most of it again. Maybe I would prefer one of their other albums, but I'll have to see when I get them. Highlights: Rusholme Ruffians I Want the One I Can't Have

Bleibt bei mir einfach nicht hängen. Nette Instrumentierung, aber keine packende Songs, plätschert so dahin. Not my band.

Boring as hell. And I still have to deal with all of the Morrissey albums yet. 😑

A couple interesting tracks, but just OK for me overall.

Annoying singy voice Dont like depressing songs

Lowkey fett mid. Gillar vissa av the Smiths låter men klarar fan inte hur mycket som helst av Morrissey. Fuck honom. Vet inte typ inte jättenice bara

Inte så bra som jag trodde det skulle va Bästa låt: Barbarism begins at home