Reviews (page 3 of 14)
Think I’m finally done with all of Morrissey’s material on this project; the UK bias is shown with his 7 albums… I mean you couldn’t narrow it down? They all sound the same. 2.5/5 just as much for being fed up than with the quality of the tracks here
This is better than I expected. It's not 100% my taste, but I'll probably put it on now and then. Certainly makes me curious to hear more of their music.
Not bad for a Smiths album, particularly the uptempo songs, but Morrissey still really grates on me and that gets worse on the slow songs. Well I Wonder was a lowlight, Nowhere Fast was fun.
Might be recency bias but don’t like the Smiths so annoying getting two of their albums so close together
Probably needs repeated listens to discern if every song really sounds the same or if I was just distracted while listening.
I just cannot understand what people like about other than the sad lyrics if thats what youre into. Otherwise, all of it is just meandering slowish softish music with Morrisseys bad warbling voice overtop kind of singing along in time but also not. Hate it
Pompous ass Morrisey putting out music that is unfortunately listenable. Maybe it’s the band and not him that does it. Ya I’ll go with that.
I went through a Smiths phase where their sad music clicked with me. It made me look forward to my next breakup, so I'd have just the right forlorn music to get me through. That phase has pretty much gone. I don't hate this, but I didn't really connect with this morose lyrics. The guitar and bass in particular carry much of this album. I was ready to give the album a solid 3 stars. Then I heard the title Track. It is terrible self righteous garbage. Morrissey has created more suffering than all of the slaughterhouses in Europe.
Not as bad as I thought but man did it get same
5+
have i become smiths pilled?
This was mostly fine. I don't love the vocals, but Morrissey has sounded worse on other albums and there's some good guitar work. 3.2
I admire their total commitment to the vibe. Did this band pretty much invent Emo? I’m not in the stage of life now where this hits as hard as it once would have, but I remember when…
Meh, as músicas são todas iguais e parece que estão a tocar no fundo de um túnel.
No lo terminé😔. Me gusta The Smiths pero nothing groundbreaking y hay álbumes que me gustan más.
Enjoyed a few songs, a bit repetitive though.
typical Smiths album - nothing really stood out.
This was a fun British indie rock album that feels like its producer was a post punk guy but the band was more interesting than that. I liked it.
the album that made me fall in love with the smiths. i probably downloaded it on napster. such diversity of sound. so danceable. barbarism begins at home.
Music is fine but lyrics lean too much into entitled whining like Morrissey's solo work, at least he was not overtly racist yet though
This is music from my era and I did not listen to it then and stll feel the same way about it now.
Didn't like any song. Didn't understand why the lyrics are the lyrics. Nothing made sense. Music was ok. Found another song by the smiths that i liked 'there's the light that never goes out'
7/10 - Solid album. Thought I wasn't a fan of the smiths but this changed my mind.
I like a little The Smiths... this was too much The Smiths lol
2,5
Pretty good and consistent and defined worth replaying. 7/10
Meh.
It’s a perfectly fine album, but nothing very exciting or interesting about it. I listened to it for the first time last year, and I think I liked it less on this listen. Good, but too ordinary, all except the last song which is a bit weird.
Listened to this while enjoying a delicious hamburger
The bass line on Barbarism Begins at Home was fantastic. That’s about the best compliment I can come up with. Still don’t get the popularity. I’m glad that this is the third and final album from The Smiths that’s included on the list. However, I guess I still have to endure the solo Morrissey efforts…
An enjoyable Smiths album?! While Morrissey is getting massively carried by his bandmates as usual, his presence here is more balanced and harmonious than I'm used to. Andy Rourke is phenomenal as always, and I love that he gets to really show off in the penultimate track. Standouts: What She Said • The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore • Well I Wonder • Barbarism Begins at Home • Meat Is Murder
God forgive me for how much I enjoyed this album. The bass playing is so good on here I am surprised they didn't try to recreate that sound on later albums. Johnny Marr is peak here as usual, and he gives the songs such an interesting vibe. Appropriately, I am not listening to a single word Morrissey is saying because it is probably all bullshit anyway.
I love barbarism at home sm
In retrospect, maybe the only really-good-to-great Smiths record.
Not my favorite Smiths album but it's still fantastic and I'll give it five stars. It features one of my all-time favorite songs, "What She Said." The title track is a little much (and I'm a vegetarian).
questionable
Short but certainly not sweet. The title track is alarmingly upsetting to listen to, so props to them to absolutely nailing the a horrific feeling in their music. 8/10
Thanks to Smiths i listened all day The Cure and New Order. All in all i liked only one song.
Good album, a little meandering compared to the other smiths albums, but a banger nonetheless
I already had the album *The Queen Is Dead* (1986), and unfortunately, this album is exactly the same. I didn't like that one, and I don't like this one either. It's boring, monotonous, and the vocals are very lackluster.
On the assumption that there's more than one album by The Smiths on this list I'm holding back a star (also because the lead singer is an awful awful human being).
Not sure how I hadn’t managed to listen this before as an indie kid. Groovy af. Shame about Morrissey.
wtf cleanest smiths album ever? this is clear, concise, and brimming with a great energy. happy five star friday
One gain we have the Smiths, I think I already listened to their best work, but this is very good obviously as well. I don't know any songs here and never listened to this one fully, or I can't recall, so struggling a bit to choose between 3 or maybe even 4 stars. Update: maybe songs are not as strong as the ones on The Queen is Dead but I am thoroughly enjoying this, maybe 3.5 on RYM but rounding up to 4 stars here.
Nelibi se mi ani ten jeho hlas, ani texty...
Musically great, lyrically grating
Some of the riffs on this are the best of the Smiths! Johnny Marr you legend
You can skip the tracks with rockabilly elements; I liked the rest this time around, although back in the day, The Smiths were my least favorite among the wave of British post-punk/alternative rock, mainly because of Morrissey's vocals
First Smiths album at 309, all done at 373. Well I Wonder is the only song I knew well prior to listening and probably the highlight, but this album is absolutely amazing front to back. Morrissey makes me laugh out loud and want to hoarsely cry. Licks left and right.
Didnt finish oops, this one is kind of funny and alt
7/10 Quizás un poquito más. Me gustó tengo poco de The Smiths pero puedo decir que me gusta. No creo que este sea de sus mejores trabajos pero todas las canciones son buenas y creo que tiene 2 canciones al arranque que son muy buenas. jeje
TOP XUXA MEU AMIGO
Some 80s rock. It's fine but just also feels like any rock from that time.
Led zeppelin always good again not something I would listen on purpose but if it came on I would listen
Very good.
Good concept behind it lyrically good 6/10
Typical morrisey obnoxiousness but good i hate to admit it
Ordinarily, I'm much more into The Smiths, despite Morrissey being a huge twat. But this album doesn't do it for me.
Unless you’re interested in a slow methodical listen of a person who needs their adenoids removed complain about his schooling, inability to find love, and loves his veggies…skip it.
Just there, neither great or bad. Honestly Morrissey's voice is probably the worst thing of this album. 5/10 Top song The joke isn't funny anymore
3.75
not their best work. every song on this album sounds very similar. it’s fine it’s the smiths they’re always gonna be at least somewhat good but idk just nothing standout about this album
Pretty average Smiths album.
Kyllä mä ihan tykkäsin kasaritykkärinä koko levystä ja mukavia veisuja
Aika tasapaksua menoa, mutta eipä toki ärsytäkään, menee huomaamattomasti taustamusiikkina.
Onhan tää ihan hyvä.
Ihan sietämätöntä kuraa omille korville. Smithsillä on kourallinen hemmetin hyviä biisejä (jotka Morrissey toki onnistuu nekin melkein pilaamaan), mutta tässä levyllä niitä ei ollut kyllä yhtään.
the vocals got so dreadful after a while. loved johnny marr's guitar playing. i would have loved this if i listened when i was younger. i think the guitar playing would have changed my life. it's incredible. but this album drones for me. the lyrics are also not as amazing and poetic as everyone says. i agree meat is murder though
I understand this is a popular album. The music is so fun and layered. Morrissey is deeply annoying, though. I found him to be whining throughout rather than singing. I can’t believe this is their only album to reach number one despite so many other works of theirs being much better in my opinion. By the end of it, I appreciated it for what it is. It’s a rebellious album that perhaps speaks to its time and in some ways ours. Again, the music is saucy and I enjoyed that. I hated the singing. Didn’t save any songs to my liked songs. Except for the Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore which I had already saved previously. The last three songs were really good too, just nothing I would want to return on a non-intentional basis. —— Poem —— Meat Is Murder The Smiths gears grind, go growl god, guard us un-godly ghouls guppies grown in greed grant us greater game against the grisly grime of the governing gentry
Redonditos derikotavibes
Moody emo, as expected
this was so boring and hard to get through i found myself rolling my eyes at it every 20 seconds. has to be the worst smiths album i’ve heard
one of my favorite bands😎
The list strikes again. The Smiths are one of my all time favorite bands, but I would have chosen pretty much any other album but this one to represent them. Well I Wonder aside the songs seem more aimless than previous efforts. The guitar parts aren’t of the precise, ornately picked variety that informs so much of their sound. And the title track is just wretchedly sanctimonious and unpleasant to listen to with its piped in industrial machinery and animal sounds. Still beats the hell out of a lot of shit on this list though so it gets a rating bump.
It’s Morrissey singing that annoying way that Morrissey sings song after song.
They let the bassist get a little funky with this one, especially on Barbarism Begins At Home. This is a great album. Morrissey’s vocal performances were overall weaker here when compared to The Queen Is Dead. Great record overall. The contrast between the glittery guitars and lyrics really works on this. Favorite songs were I Want The One I Can’t Have, What She Said, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, and Barbarism Begins At Home.
An interesting album. Even though I’ve listened to it quite a few times and I actually like The Smiths, it doesn’t really grab me throughout. I find the story behind the cover fascinating. 4/5
Pues va a ser que me gustan los Smith
I listened to Strangeways like 3 days ago so when this popped up I was like "lovely, another shitty album", but I was nicely surprised by this record! Maybe it's their older albums I should be listening too as this wasn't as sad and depressing as their other songs I've heard. Vocals still irk me from time to time but the backing tracks are amazing. Especially the lead guitar riff in Barbarism. Need to learn that shit immediately. Did not expect myself to ever say that I enjoyed a Smiths album. Favourite tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, I Want The One I Can't Have, What She Said, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Barbarism Begins at Home 3/5
It just kinda phased in and out of existence as I listened to it. A whole lot of not much.
I said I love the Smiths !!
It's 3.75
as i vegetarian, i had high hopes for this, but it was awful
I’ve heard this a million times already. One of the best ever. The actual song “Meat is Murder” I don’t care for so much, but I get it.
Lots of reviews here mentioning how odious Morrissey became, which is fair. I have a hard time with The Smiths. They were a band I loved as a teenager and that I eventually grew out of and felt a bit embarassed by so stridently identifying with a lot of their songs. Now, a fair bit older, I appreciate them differently. Johnny Marr stands out to me as one of the finest guitarists of his generation; Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce are fine musicians as well. This is probably my least favorite of their albums musically, but a so-so Smiths album is by no accounts bad. But then there’s Moz. Even if he didn’t make his turn towards the far-right, his lyrics, with some distance and perspective, are puerile. That the first song is about a cruel headmaster sums it all up: this is all schoolboy stuff. It works when you’re around that age, but I don’t see much insight here as a now older listener.
This felt like it could have been much more enjoyable for me with a different singer, I would be digging the music and then Morrissey would pop in wailing over top of it and I would immediately lose interest. Did enjoy "The Headmaster Ritual" "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and "Barbarism Begins At Home"
I started it 3 times but it just didn’t grab me. My 18 year old self listened to this non-stop so I’m surprised it doesn’t resonate more
I like the Smiths but have never dug deep into their catalog. I am less familiar with this record and enjoyed giving it a full listen. I was struck by how much the instrumentation sounds like Johnny Cash - simple but good. Wildly different vocal approaches give this an amazingly different sound. I think that’s cool. It’s very poetic - a hallmark of the Smiths - which I dig.
As the Smiths' breakthrough album in the US, this title has historical significance. It is not, however, an especially good album. For me, there are two standout tracks -- That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Nowhere Fast (a good example of how very memorable songs by the Smiths can be hard to remember by name, owing to their idiosyncratic titling habits). There are a lot of songs that are perfectly functional Smiths songs, but were destined by nature to complete albums, not anchor them. Lots of these are overlong -- I never really focused before on how Joke Isn't Funny goes on and on for a long time, fades out, then comes back (!) for a little bonus.-- move on, chaps! -- and in the past, I have found theis album's tendency to drag compounded by the poor sound quality. That seems to have been fixed, because it sounded good -- clear,clean, dynamic -- when I listened to it this time. One of its signature features -- that it includes their best song, How Soon Is Now -- is yet another of those "US vs UK version of the album" things. In the US, they added non-album single How Soon. If we exclude that song from consideration, we are left with two excellent songs and a lot of ok ones. Listening to this album from start to finish is not the best way to experience the Smiths.
Morrissey was clever and caustic and self-involved, but he was sometimes also insightful. Johnny Marr, on the other hand, composed music that was more than the sum of its parts, every single time. I hear this more now than I did then. Then, I loved them dearly for Morrissey's heartfelt bits about yearning, pining, and feeling full of violent rage or suicidal despair at that state of affairs. At the time I thought "Meat is Murder" was hilarious... now it brought me to tears. Maybe I do need to go vegan.
Good but not my favorite of theirs. And, of course, another artist with a seriously problematic personality. I was very into them in HS. Maybe they are why I became a vegetarian at 15 for 15 years. I had a great time at their show at Great Woods in Mansfield...still remember what I wore....but their music feels tainted by Morrissey's personal stance on other humans.
What I learned from listening to this album all the way through is that maybe I don't like the Smiths as much as I thought I did. I did not enjoy this record. I found myself getting unhappy as I went through the songs, not really liking most of them. There of course were several that I really did like, but overall, I don't think I would listen to this again. Weird revelation. Morrissey's voice really can grate after a while. (After reading the group reviews, I wish to add: 1. I listened to the original UK version, without How Soon Is Now. Including HSIN would bring this to 3 stars. 2) Marty is right and this is not a good way to be introduced to the Smiths.)
4.5, Great tunes
The Smiths give me goosebumps
Morrissey is such an insufferable prick. This album isn’t great. But all The Smiths albums get an extra star for being major influences to some of my favourite bands.
mid 3.5
First off, meat is not murder. Unless we're talking human meat. Silly hippies. I feel like this guy's voice should annoy me more than it does. And the music should annoy me, but doesn't really. That's kinda weird. But I guess this album was fine? It actually feels like Tears for Fears, but manages to not suck at it.
I like the group but hadn't heard this album in it's entirety. It was good. If this WAS my first album of theirs I likely would have moved on. The recording kind of sucked.
Groovy, unique sound. I can see why they're sort of iconic. 'Meh' for me.
Just fine.
The music is fine but I'm not a fan of Morrissey's singing voice or style. My impression is he seems to start a lot of sentences with 'and', plus the words are almost on the same note and then drop down a few notes to finish, and once I noticed this, I can't unhear it.
I hate the smiths!
I like the Smiths but in small doses. This was too much. TOP songs: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Morrissey has permanently fucked up the ability to recommend people The Smiths but man what a good album dude.
I good album. The Smiths are always good if you're feeling kinda moody. The Queen is Dead is still their best album IMO, but I enjoyed this one and it gave me the motivation to go explore more of their discography.
Crafty and brilliant.
Not best songs but, best album. She’d sit and prophesies n all that.
4.4/5. Class.
I will never be a Smiths fan unfortunately.
I like the Smiths. This isn’t their best album by a long shot tho.
bleh
I like the lyrical stylings of the smiths, of course we all respect that. But they don't stick with me and make me have the feels, which is somewhat unfortunate. I think I may revisit the smiths every 5 years and see if they resonate with age? Or maybe I needed to listen younger.
I've managed to go decades without knowingly being exposed to Morrissey, so I can't comment on how big an asshole he is, but it's evidently massive. There are good and bad parts to this album. The music is pretty good, I'd call it above average 80s indie pop/rock. The lyrics at ok, I guess. Nothing that catches my attention. The vocals, though. Morrissey sounds like he's singing in an echo chamber. And the wailing gets old fast. Still, the music puts this slightly above average. 3.5. P.S. - Meat Is Murder (the track) is terrible.
It was good, but the title track is the worst part of the album. Just rating the music rather than the message, mixing animal distress sounds into your melody just isn't a good listen.
Enjoyed much more than expected. Excellent vibe, not my general preference but solid 4.5. Rounding down
Another good album! In my opinion, this is the weakest Smiths project I’ve heard though. If you haven’t heard their compilation albums or The Queen is Dead - listen to those instead :)
Huh two Smiths albums in a row! I could figure out the probability of this but I'm too lazy. This one is interesting given that I didn't really listen to it as a kid, given that all these songs are new to my ears. It's certainly their first album, and it's certainly from 1985. Not nearly as good as Hatful of Hollow, but I do usually give some grace to the first album a band puts out. Most interesting track was What She Said, of only for the fact that Marr was thiiiiiiis close to nailing Shield's sound on Isn't Anything, but three years before the MBV album. Pretty cool.
A smiths record is always a pleasure to listen to.
Ihan ok. Ei säväytä kuitenkaan. 2,75/5.
Not to my taste. Album felt a bit boring and droney vocals made me hope for the end of the album
wouldve been a 2 if not for well i wonder
I love The Smiths, but this album isn't my favourite of theirs. Favourite song off this album: Barbarism Begins at Home.
Not the best Smiths album I've listened to but still good
hate smiths go away
"The Headmaster Ritual" had guitars (Marr) and bass (Rourke) that blended together in a way that immediately tickled my ears. Even Morrisey's voice and lyrics couldn't bring down the high it initially created; this one is up there with the best of The Smiths with "How Soon is Now?" and "Charming Man" (neither songs on this album, though) Despite it's solid bassline, "Rusholme Ruffians" felt like a dip in quality compared to the song before, the guitar wasn't as interesting and already, 2 tracks in, I am tiring of Morrisey's voice; that whining off-key break around the 1:40 mark (and in other places) just made me shudder in the worst way. "I Want the One I Can't Have" had better guitar sections, even some enjoyable lyrics... it's just *him*; more specifically, it's another instance where he pushes his voice to break. It just sounds so jarring. "What She Said" was much better, his voice improved with the reverb/delay to fit more in line with the instruments. This one was actually quite enjoyable. For the same reasons, I also quite enjoyed "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". "Nowhere Fast" was largely forgettable for me, as was "Well I Wonder", making them bleed each other. "Barbarism Begins at Home", though, for it's extra twangy bassline and Morrisey's chants of 'A Crack on the Head, is just what You get' was enjoyable again. For reasons I cannot constructively describe, I did not enjoy "Meat is Murder" as the closing track; a poor way to end the album. **************************************************************** As a side note, this album made me realise that, Because of this journey in particular, "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds" is starting to feel like shorthand for 'Wonderful music, slaughtered by an awful lead singer'; I find that it's this that irks me the most in music, as something that feels so near to being enjoyable for me, yet so far away. I enjoyed more of 'Meat is Murder' than I care to admit, though my enjoyment is curbed by my perceptions (by the way they are delivered) of the lead singer's dogmatic belief that their lyrics are artistically profound.
This was my first time really sitting down and listening to the smiths and I am honestly quite surprised. I loved the instrumentation on this so much with all most every song having a backing that I adore. I also enjoyed the vocals the lead singer has this twag to his speech that makes him stand out and adds to the sorrow in most of his lyrics. A real pleasant surprise with only one or two songs I felt not really being too engaging. Fav tracks: The headmaster ritual, I want the one I cant have, That joke isn't funny anymore, and Well I wonder
Not even my favourite Smiths album. haven't listened to this in ages and on hearing it now, it's a remarkably cohesive record (aside from the title track, really) that evokes a mood and place so well. The instrumentation is tight as anything and Marr throws away some amazing fills that feel almost buried in the mix.
Good stuff but does not stand out from the rest of their discography, other records would be my go to over this. Ill listen to the songs when they come on in my playlist but Im not looking any of them up to play.
I find the vocals to be mixed too low, throughout, and ironically I find Morriseys vocals to not be up to snuff on songs like I Want the One I Can't Have (waiter, my soup is terrible and the portion is much to small!). Songs like Rushhome Ruffians are really a miss for me. I think after hearing the wonderful Strangeways for the project (as well as The Queen is Dead and Hatful which I am very familiar with), Meat is Murder really comes up short.
I've never been into the Smiths before, but I'm familiar with who they were and who Morrissey is now. Because I know that Andy Rourke was the driver for this album, and it's hard for me to believe that Morrissey was a true fraud from the beginning, I'm going to do my best to review this album with my impression of the Smiths circa 1985. I'm open to criticism from a Brit on what Morrissey was like then. For example, I'm from the Detroit area - Kid Rock is the same white trash douche canoe now that he was in the '90's. So, this is fine. It's '80's pop-rock without most of the annoying '80's things. Not really my style, but it's pretty good for its style, and I can respect that. No arguing the influence, hits are mid (I think this is their highest charting album, around 100 on Billboard), but the quality and intangibles are there.
When someone listens to The Smiths for the first time these days, the hits come first. Then, the self-titled 1984 album or The Queen Is Dead, as these are the albums that contain the band's biggest hits. Let's suppose that now, this new fan is in love and obsessed with the band. What comes next? Then, this fan comes across an album called Meat is Murder and thinks: "Are they vegan? What the hell is that?" Initially, it's a more difficult album to digest than the previous ones. Of course, the new fan is still ecstatic about the hits. But then he falls in love with the band again, but this time with the more intimate details. Johnny Marr's guitars, the poetry and sarcasm of Morrissey's beautiful voice, the perfect rhythmic foundation laid by Andy and Mike... and then this fan begins to understand and feel songs like That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins At Home... all of them. From then on, there's no turning back. That's exactly what happened to me. I am that fan. I listen to the entire Smiths discography at least 2-3 times a month, and I always fall in love again every time.
Louder than bombs is better but good album
Britpop in optima forma
Solid album. There were some really high points but a couple of songs didn’t really move me. The song meat is murder was phenomenal but also a hard listen. Not something I’d play everyday but I get the message behind it.
I really have trouble assessing The Smiths critically. They wrote and recorded many of my favorite songs and I love their sound overall. Yet almost any time I put on one of their albums I end up with a kind of mental numbness where all the tracks run together, even though I enjoy them. Anyway, parking this at a 4 even though I think it could be anywhere between 3.5 and 5.
Generally pretty good, but doesn't have much in the way of standout tracks like some of their other albums. Their debut deserves to be on this list far more than this does Fav track: Barbarism Begins at Home
This didn't really captivate me much. I find the Smiths just a bit too dreary. Fave Tracks: Barbarism Begins at Home 3.2/5
It’s not a perfect The Smiths album, but that still makes it better than most albums.
Classic Smith's sound
Probably the best they ever did. Brilliant creative riffs, whimsical lyrics and a group that was hugely synergistic
Não consigo ouvir essa banda
Not my favorite Smiths album but still decent.
Music is ok, but morrissey is a racist prick " whop whop I am vegan meat is murder, but Isreal sure is nice and immigration is bad " what a sausage
Santo deus, é o smiths porra, o que mais você quer que eu fale? Meu álbum preferido deles, as vezes não da pra acreditar na sequência de álbuns dessa banda, tudo em pouco menos de dois anos e meio: Hatful of Hollow, The smiths (autoentitulado), Meat is murder e The queen is dead. Como caralhos você consolida um som tão distinto e impactante na música pop/rock em apenas dois anos e meio, porra??? Rip Andy Rouke, Você reinou nesse album.
Gosto mais do que lasanha
Álbum favorito deles
podem me xingar, me chamar de corno, de bobão. Mas depois de 20 min com a voz do morrisey não dá mais
FAVORIMMMM
Otro discazo inesperado
If meat is murder, my ears just got meated. Man, I really hate Morrissey
Repetitive and unentertaining album with excessive yodelling and voice modulation, and mostly dull lyrics and typical rock sound.
Gonna be honest, his voice is so irritating and offputting on this one. The music is fine, generic 80s jangliness. He sounds like a mournful seal. Droning on about how miserable he is like an affected nan-child. And god, doesn't he just fucking whine about everything? Every single fucking song, the same uninterested dirge, maybe with a yodelly bit of falsetto chucked in. Something I've noticed about The Smiths is their singles collections are brilliant, and their albums are absolutely dire. So much boring, unimpressive, generic, jangly, throwaway filler. This one is nothing to write home about, definitely not worth the hype. The best thing about it is probably the guitar work on What She Said. Also I think vegetarianism suffers from insufferable, unlikeable, melodramatic bell ends like Morrissey being their main vocal supporters. He may be objectively and morally correct about meat, but him saying it diminishes the message. Because he's such a twat.
My enjoyment of The Smiths has always been held back for me thanks to Morrissey. His voice isn't that appealing to me and his whole persona comes across as whiny and insufferable. Thankfully on this record Johnny Marr and co save the day by providing extremely groovy and versatile instrumentals that truly carry the meat (lol) of this record. The songwriting does shine here in a few spots, namely in "That joke isn't funny anymore" and "barbarism starts at home", the latter hitting closer to home since I was smacked as a kid. That track also features the most energetic instrumental with a dancey punky beat and slap bass while Marr plays mad tight and angular guitar chords. It's my absolute favorite from this release. So yeah, I came away from this liking it more than I thought I would. You can miss me with the title track though.
me encanta este album, me parece muy entretenido y nostálgico, Well I Wonder es la cancion que escuchaba el primer cuatrimestre de la carrera y justo hoy me tocó escucharla antes de ir a tener mi último examen 😭 8/10
Close to a 4, but nothing majorly stands out. Also, frickin Morrissey
I found myself listening to this on repeat without realizing. It worked with the overcast day and I could see myself putting this and other Smiths albums on in the background of a mutual aid kickback or hang out.
Even as a vegetarian, I still think the title track is the worst thing on here. A good album though.
bem boa, é um rock suave e bem crítico da sociedade. Dou 8/10, só não aumento pq não é tanto estilo que eu curto, mws é bem bom
Nothing from this album really stood out to me, except for the last song where there were animal noises that actually repulsed me. Though given the title of the album I’m sure that’s the point.
This is good, I found it hard to focus during my listen though.
Very British sound. It was ok. I didn't mind it but was not particularly enthused about it either.
S’okay.
Ach, diese Stimme ist von the Smiths! 3,3
It’s fine, I guess I just don’t get it. The only track that really stood out to me was “Meat is Murder”, I love the darkness of the track. It's different than the rest of the album, but I think that's what makes it good to me.
Too political for me
Meh not a big smiths fan)
I like The Smiths but this was boring.
Masterpiece
Really beautiful album. Could have done without the Meat Is Murder closing track, just felt odd. I’ve heard The Smiths before but didn’t realize how much I enjoyed Morrissey’s voice until I listened to a full project.
Dette fikk jeg ikke mye ut av.
Freistar ikkje med kjøt på grillen etter denne. 😬😭
Liker soundet til The Smiths
That Joke... pushes this to 5 stars.
The eighth and final record featuring Morrissey on this list, and probably one of the best but glad there aren’t any more.
Got to respect it…. Not my go to record though
6.5/10 Will I add this album to my library? no
epic
Own: No (sold LP); Seen any musicians: No Morrissey sucks, but there is quite a bit to like about this one.
What a boring album. Not much good to say about it, except the bass playing and the guitar playing were good. The song themselves are awful
I just want to brag that my wife has an original US pressing of this on vinyl so How Soon Is Now is just randomly on side B. That was a nice surprise.
My least favorite Smiths album. Undermined by Morrissey’s recent behavior like everything else they did.
6/10 No me acuerdo que puse, pero estaba bueno, nada que resalte pero cumplidor
Music is great, lyrics so whiny ... what do I do with this?
Even though all reports say Morrissey is a dick, i still like The Smiths, and this album is no exception. Best tracks are "The Headmaster Ritual" and "Barbarism Begins at Home", but generally just appeals to my soft spot for whiny white boy music. Also, the title track is really catchy but goddam Morrissey really lays it on thick with the vegetarianism, bold move to close the album with an anthem dedicated to dietary choices.
Album mid degli smiths, ci sono altri che preferisco
Härligt, Smithsigt
Inte deras allra bästa men ändå alltid ett härligt sound.
Inte lika bra som deras andra grejer, men helt okej!
Bra, men fastnade mer för deras tidigare alster på listan.
In terms of the music, a lot of it is actually quite bright and breezy. Obviously the lyrical content, and some of the slower songs are more sombre. Morrissey is still a warbly arsehole, but it does work for this. His singing does maybe start to feel a bit one-note on some songs. But.. there's some great songs in here! It's a good album. 3.5 rounded up.
Not their finest. And not really a Smiths fan.
Bro this just pissed me off. I don't think any part of this album is cohesive or even particularly interesting. Just nothing of much note hear, why it's on this list baffles me. This isn't even top 3 best Smiths albums, and that's not a great achievement anyway. Just ignore this, boring and pointless. Morissys vocals become more annoying the worse the music is. Only saving grace is the opening track, which is alright. And the end is fine too, not great but fine. That is the only thing saving this from a 1. Fav Track: The Headmaster Ritual
Man would this not be a great band if it wasn’t for the fact that Morrissey is singing it all.
This album would be so much better if it weren't for Morrissey's singing. He turns an interesting new-wave post-punk sound into a moody slurry sound. Props to the rest of the musicians in the band, and that's why it gets a half-decent score.
Meet is murder by Smith is one of the best with social and anti-violence topics and the very original title track is the best track on the album, the instrumental part is sensational as in every Smith album
6/10… madchester / new wave / *1985
Well I wonder and barbarism begins at home
An overall solid album. Johnny Marr's guitar work is exemplary and Morrissey's vocals carry that certain quality of someone who is trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
Worst smiths album imo
Again, nothing on here which makes me want to listen to it again. An absolute singles band, good singles at that but nothing more. Based on the other music I like this should be right up my street. It's not.
The smiths remind me of Seinfeld in that the guy who tries to make himself the focal point is the worst fucking part and everyone else is just bodying it
very good
Taking a long time to appreciate
A really great voice for such an asshole. The bass is really great and Marr is good as always. Favorite Songs: The Headmaster Ritual ; How soon is now? ; Barbarism Begins at Home
Really enjoyed it! None of the huge hits on here, but that made it feel a bit more intimate. Fantastic guitar work and on the bass. Nice work, and feeding the angst of teenage sadsacks everywhere
Were the Smiths better as a singles band? This album, much as I tried, didn't really grab my attention as much as their hits do, and there aren't a lot of them here. Having said that, the musicianship is right up my alley, Johnny Marr is always great to listen to as a guitarist and there are massive Andy Rourke bass moments throughout too. And Morrissey always makes me laugh. It just doesn't coalesce into anything that i could describe as a "classic album" though. 3 stars for the aforementioned Marr/Rourke powerhouse, the big ending to "What She Said", and the audacity of the "Meat is Murder" intro to take Morrissey's already insufferable tendencies and ensure that if you don't like him, you REALLY don't like him.
A bit samey. I like the Smiths even though Morrissey is a major disappointment. This one just doesn’t really shine.
God help me I love this band. This is like the fourth Morrissey-oriented album I’ve listened to for this project and I feel like I have to keep stipulating that he’s an asshole. But the music is great.
I like smiths a single hits, but a whole album is too much of the same for me
Good album, rough title track. those cow noises lmao
Musically, I like most of these tracks quite a bit. Andy Rourke’s bass line stands out throughout the album, and will probably be what brings me back for future listens. The vocals are pretty iconic, but the lyrics are mediocre at best, and often downright cringy. I like their album The Queen is Dead more, which has marginally better lyrics and is quite interesting musically. (Again… Rourke. So good.)
Meat is Murder is the second studio album from the Smiths, a British alt pop band. The defining element of the Smiths' sound is lead singer Morissey's baritone voice, and his melodramatic lyrics. Unlike almost all of the pop of the era, the Smiths avoided synth pop, orchestrating their songs as a traditional rock band: with guitars, basses, and drums. The Smith made an interesting version of 80s pop during their short, prolific career. Of the tracks on the album, only "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," was released as a single. It is arguably the Smiths at their best: a rich arrangement and Morissey's melodrama is at a tolerable level.
acho que eu consigo resumir esse álbum em: meu idolo pessoal andy rourke tava extremamente inspirado acho que o meat is murder é meu favorito deles, exclusivamente por conta disso inclusive o que fizeram ali em barbarism begins at home e the headmaster ritual é de fazer qualquer tocador de baixo chorar de emoção é isso ai, acho que eu já falei muito sobre minha relação com smiths no review do the queen is dead então n sobrou muita coisa, então fica o fun fact: indiretamente, esse álbum é responsável pela falha completa do meu braço esquerdo como membro funcional!!! como alguns sabem eu só comprei um baixo (assustadores 13 anos atrás) porque tomei gosto pelas linhas do rourke, especialmente nesse aqui nessa de tentar tocar o álbum todo foi quando comecei a sentir umas dores meio zoadas, aliadas com só deus sabe quantas horas por dia digitando e microfraturas causadas por skate eventualmente eu nunca mais consegui tocar baixo por conta das dores e umas 5 ressonâncias já indicaram que eu desenvolvi o combo amaldiçoado de sindrome do tunel do carpo com bursite e epicondilite EXATAMENTE no braço que eu comecei a fuder tocando baixo se eu n tivesse conhecido the smiths talvez eu teria um braço funcional!!! amo esse álbum obrigado por tudo andy rourke
cinco sequissimo, não tem jeito. deixaram o andy rourke soltinho e o mano meteu o BAIXAREL pra cima de geral. mto foda. só pedrada. de tempos em tempos minha música preferida deles muda. acho que recentemente é i want the one i can't have. boa demais pqp.
There seems to be an insane revisionism that because Morrissey is a world class knob and a right wing bigot that The Smiths weren't really that good. As an awkward, lonely teenager in the 00s The Smiths were basically like family. This is still an incredible album, sure maybe the lyrics don't hit you the same way when you're a mature adult, but they are still brilliant displays of wit, tenderness and some degree of morose from Morrissey. The guitar work absolutely brilliant as ever, Marr is probably the best rhythm guitarist out there. Andy Rourke's bass work on Barbarism Begins at Home is the stuff of legend. Mike Joyce ain't half bad either. Overall still an absolutely incredible album that is criminally underrated here, likely due to the issues I mentioned at the start.
I had not heard The Smiths before! Another reason to be grateful to the generator. I added “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” to my playlist.
Subpar. Even when compared to other Smiths albums this one is boldly mediocre.
If it wasn't for Morrissey, I wouldn't mind it. The instrumentals are ok. But anyway, fuck Morrissey. I hate The Smiths. (I am sorry to the other members of the band, you all suffer because of your leader)
Freitag 08.05.2026 Im Studicafé "Seitensprung" der FU, im Aufenthaltsraum der Campusbib
tasty murder 2.5/5
Enjoyed this album, they definitely have a distinct style which made it somewhat hard to differentiate songs. Would listen again
I just can't get into these guys.
Kinda silly lol
4.8 El chiste ya no es divertido
Lit The Smits
Barbarism Begins at Home is a great track, and I commend the vegan slant of this album. i think more music other than The Most Annoying Punk Bands should explore these themes, they certainly have weight behind them. but maaaaaaaaan i don't care for The Smiths at all really. wake me up when they do a 6 min+ post-punk epic. deserves to be one of the 1001? sure. but i wouldn't put it on mine
Okay fine I think I get the Smiths thing now! Fuck me I guess!! Through gritted teeth: this is beautiful. Doing this list has really worn me down on The Smiths (Morrissey in particular) and I have to concede that I like their music. Sleepy, monotonous, and pitiful no longer; now it sounds dreamy, melodic, and dare I say jangly to my ears. Maybe I’m just blinded by the light with this particular album; it has a production style and songs I can actually grasp. Easily my favorite Smiths record.
Favourite track(s): The Headmaster Ritual; Well I Wonder A driving album - driving both musically (due to the reoccurring fast tempo beats and riffs in more than half of the tracks as well as the continuous meandering vocals) as well as textually (with sometimes quite unpleasant themes supported by even more unpleasant execution - looking at you, title track). The vocals are what I would imagine will either strongly draw people towards this album or turn them away sooner rather than later. While I find myself to be in the second group (maybe because I am mostly missing some clearly defined melody that does not sound like it was made up on the spot), I can still appreciate that the album is at least cohesive and to a point (or multiple, if you will).
doggo/10
uggghhhhhhhhhhhhh begrudgingly a banger
Meh. This in just meh.
80s synth indie. Pretty mid, I like the guitar and instrumentals, but the singer is…special.
Not a fan
Meat Is Delicious...
Their other albums are better.
Not bad, but not my thing.
not my favorite of the smiths. I like more of their older stuff :/
Keď som prvýkrát počul the smiths, dlho som nevedel, čo s tým. Stále ma to nútilo počúvať ich. Mal som to nahraté na jazere z rádia. V tej dobe sa v našej krajine nebolo mozne dostať k hocakej hudbe. Nakoniec som sa do nich zamiloval a vždy sa k nim rád vraciam. Najradšej mám výber the world wont listen a z albumov strangeways...
Okaaaaaayyyyyyy pretty good
I've listened to this album many times. We always made fun of Morrissey pretending that he was crying about every possible thing. Jokes aside, this is a great album with a really unique vibe. We made fun of him because of the emotion he poured into his lyrics and performance which is top notch. The music is great and not overbearing. The whole vibe is really excellent and perfect for discussing teenage angst back in the day. Wonderful album that I will listen to many more times.
its giving rebellious nature/hippie...
See Closer by Joy Division
It was ok
Plaintive
Not their best but can't be less than a 4
I mean it was okay but i kind of blurred for me in the middle and blended with my background
1) The Headmaster Ritual - immediately the singers voice (Morrissey?) stands out to me, and he makes wonderful use of it throughout the song. and the guitar provides just a really strong and stable backing. 2) Rusholme Ruffians - there's a good energy behind this song. i like how it moves. 3) I Want What I Can't Have - how it is. i take a long drag of my cigarette. 4) What She Said - has a good kick to it! 5) That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - a good acoustic guitar and good high notes from a man is almost enough to make me black out. 6) Nowhere Fast - There's a particular sound I really enjoy that's present here. I only wish I knew the word for it so I could seek it out deliberately. 7-9) not much to say except it sounds good. The Smiths have a kind of way of making me feel a bit like I'm laying under a wet blanket on a sunny day. I should feel better, but I don't. Good album, but nothing I'd really call home about, you know?
I enjoyed this just fine. Not an all time favorite though.
1001 albums to hear before you go to london and get murdered by some guy who listens to Central Cee 83# Hypnotizing guitars and his voice is just out of this world. This isn't their best album, but it's really good nevertheless. What a run of albums this was, Velvet underground then buena vista club, bob marley and now this. Don't have much more to say, other than this is creative for when it came out and clean production.
Yum
I can’t believe suicidal people listen to this on the reg bc it makes me wanna kms
#344/1001. While I do like the Smiths and do own this album, I don’t think this is their best one. But as far as I understood, many of their albums are sort of semi-collections, a few new songs and a few greatest hits. But still the sound is interesting, and I’ve always like the way Marr plays anything else but chords, and when he plays chords they ring out like nothing else.
i love the smiths, but i never found the time to spin this particular album. while it doesnt shy away from their greatest hits, it's a great collection of songs and a clear statement of their sound and ideology theres a lot that makes this album special, but it's the small imperfections in the mixes and even when morriseys voice cracks that make it sound so intimate and authentic
Ugh, another Smiths album. I just had to sit through one of these like a week ago. Bottom line: Morrisey is horrible both as a human and a singer. The Smiths play some decent music but not enough to redeem them from their horrible front man. I could not stomach this album. His voice is just nails on a chalkboard to me, kudos if you like this band but just not for me. I will give them props for the Meat is Murder song, as a vegan this brought vegetarianism into the zeitgeist. I can't help but thank them for that.
The group wasn't as well known as the Beatles, but they were known in the US. The album was fine.
I LOVE the smiths. Fav song is ‘I Want the One I Can’t Have’.
An album with a message and some charm
It was rather dreary. I'm not sure if it was the mood I was in (or the fact I was stuck at work on a Sunday), but Morrissey's moans were pretty irritating if I must be honest. Some cool guitar work, but nothing that stuck out drastically. 4 stars.
This is like getting a group text from your friend Robbo about going out on Friday night. Ooooohhhhh hell yeah, Robbo is a mad dogg and the boys are gonna be wildin. You arrive at the pub excited for a rowdy night. But some woman is sitting next to Robbo, with her hand rested on top of his. Uh oh. “Hey mate”, says Robbo. “Have a seat, we’ve just bought a bottle of Syrah and we’re letting it breathe, but there is a Pinot Noir at the end of the table, or you can order a beer - we have a tab open. By the way have you met my girlfriend Candice?” Oooooh shit. You and the rest of the boys try to have a good night, but Robbo (or Robert, as he is now wanting to be known) is way too controlled for your liking. You can tell a part of him wants to cut loose, but Candice wont let him. All night he wants to steer the conversation towards topics like investment portfolios, politics, and a lovely little brunch spot that Candice found. You have quite a good night, but you know you’ll only make plans with Robbo again once Candice has dumped him.
Some fantastic song writing here. Held together by tight drums and bass, with the bass also having a nice walk when appropriate. This allows for Johnny Marr to flow with his aroegiated guitar licks. Lyrically ok but im not the biggest fan of Morrissey's vocal style, so 1 point down for that.
Dope
This may be my least favorite band of all time. I just hate the way they sound. I can’t pinpoint one particular thing, but I know I hate it. I’ve never met anyone who likes them, but I imagine not liking that person. They probably wear turtles necks and believe in socialism, though.
pretty good
I've tried with this band a few times, I just don't get it
Love it :D
Favorite Track: Barbarism Begins at Home
couple quick notes: - I have the decency to be embarrassed about liking The Smiths and having that teenage Smiths phase - Johnny Marr is the brilliant one and Morrisey sucks - Demi Adejuyigbe's Morrissey impression won't leave my head - three Smiths albums and FOUR Morrissey solo albums is everything that's wrong with this list man - Morrissey sounds like Quentin Tarantino looks at any rate I like my The Smiths mopey and depressing, not Morrissey trying to play rockabilly, so outside of a track or two this really isn't my thing
i don't like who the smiths became, but they made good music :>
good, i like it but i’ll have to relisten a couple of times before i pick my faves
I'll search for detailed information about The Smiths' album "Meat Is Murder" to provide you with a comprehensive review. # In-Depth Review: *Meat Is Murder* by The Smiths (1985) Released in February 1985, *Meat Is Murder* stands as The Smiths' only UK No. 1 studio album and represents a pivotal moment where the band seized creative control and expanded their sonic and thematic ambitions . Produced primarily by Morrissey and Johnny Marr with engineer Stephen Street, the album was recorded at Amazon Studios in Liverpool and Ridge Farm in Surrey . --- ## Lyrics & Themes **Social Conditioning and Institutional Violence** The album's dominant lyrical concern is not merely vegetarianism, but rather systemic violence and social hypocrisy. "The Headmaster Ritual" opens the record with a scathing attack on corporal punishment in British schools, with Morrissey depicting "belligerent ghouls" running Manchester schools and "spineless swine" with "cemented minds" . The song takes specific aim at the sadistic culture of institutional abuse, with visceral imagery of punishment delivered "down the nape of my neck" . "Barbarism Begins at Home" extends this critique to domestic violence and child abuse, presenting what critics have described as a "Dickensian" portrayal of the catch-22 children face where every action invites physical punishment . Morrissey's offhand vocal delivery personifies the evil of normalized abuse, while the track's extended funk workout—driven by Andy Rourke's dominant bassline—creates a disturbing juxtaposition between danceable rhythm and horrific subject matter . **Romantic Despair and Existential Angst** The album continues The Smiths' exploration of unrequited love and social alienation. "I Want the One I Can't Have" captures self-loathing and romantic failure with remarkable economy: "I want the one I can't have / And it's driving me mad / It's written all over my face" . "Well I Wonder" deploys Morrissey's falsetto to devastating effect, presenting a narrator crushed by rejection yet still pleading to be remembered . "What She Said" offers a striking female perspective, depicting a woman who has surrendered to fatalism: "I smoke 'cos I'm hoping for an early death / And I need to cling to something" . The track avoids sexualizing its subject, instead presenting her existential weariness with unsettling directness . **Political Provocation** The title track, "Meat Is Murder," remains one of the most confrontational album closers in rock history. Over six-plus minutes of dark, plodding instrumentation augmented by abattoir sound effects, Morrissey frames meat consumption as mass desensitization, signing off with the challenge: "Who hears when animals cry?" . The song has been credited with converting many listeners to vegetarianism and helped push animal rights from fringe concern toward mainstream discourse in the UK . --- ## Music & Arrangements **Johnny Marr's Evolution** Marr's guitar work on this album represents a significant expansion of the jangle-pop template established on their debut. "The Headmaster Ritual" features a magnificent extended intro showcasing his fusion of Bert Jansch-inspired fingerpicking and rhythmic drive . On "Rusholme Ruffians," Marr channels rockabilly and Elvis Presley-esque bequiffed energy, creating a carnival atmosphere that underpins the song's tale of tawdry fairground romance and violence . **The Rhythm Section's Emergence** This album arguably showcases Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce more prominently than any other Smiths record. Morrissey himself praised Rourke's "bass domination" in "Rusholme Ruffians" and Joyce's "bruiser drums" on "I Want the One I Can't Have" . "Barbarism Begins at Home" is particularly notable as the only Smiths song where Joyce followed Rourke's bassline rather than Marr's guitar for his drum cues, creating a unique funk-driven dynamic . **Vocal Performance** Morrissey's singing here is more adventurous than on the debut, ranging from the venomous delivery of "The Headmaster Ritual" to the vulnerable falsetto of "Well I Wonder" and the yodeling cries that close "Barbarism Begins at Home" . However, some critics have noted that he is "often painfully out of tune" on weaker tracks . --- ## Production Taking production reins from John Porter (who helmed their debut), Morrissey and Marr crafted a sound that was "better recorded" than *The Smiths* but maintained an aggressive, live-wire energy . Stephen Street's engineering assistance proved crucial in capturing the band's evolving dynamics while allowing Rourke and Joyce greater control over their levels . The production avoids the "plastic" sheen that plagued much 1980s new wave, instead favoring a detailed but muscular sound that accommodates both intimate ballads and the sprawling funk of "Barbarism Begins at Home." The American release controversially inserted "How Soon Is Now?" into the tracklisting—a darker, more dance-oriented recording that, while commercially motivated, actually complemented the album's more expansive sonic palette . --- ## Influence & Legacy **Cultural Impact** *Meat Is Murder* arrived at a moment when vegetarianism was virtually invisible in British mainstream culture. As one retrospective noted, "you couldn't get a veggie burger or a meat-free lasagne in a British cafe in 1984, and if you asked for a meal without meat you'd often have been laughed at" . The album's title alone helped normalize animal rights discourse, while PETA later paid tribute with a macabre video game, *This Beautiful Creature Must Die*, in 2016 . **Musical Influence** The album's fusion of political content with guitar-pop craftsmanship influenced countless alternative and indie rock bands. The comparison between The Smiths and R.E.M. as parallel transatlantic forces—each featuring charismatic, unconventional vocalists; riff-driven guitarists who avoided traditional lead patterns; and melodic bassists—highlights how The Smiths helped define the template for literate, independent rock . **Critical Standing** While *Meat Is Murder* reached No. 1 in the UK, critical opinion has remained divided. Some view it as a transitional work "at a crossroads, unsure quite how to proceed," while others celebrate it as "far more dynamic and diverse" than the debut . What remains uncontested is its historical significance: as BBC Music acknowledged, "there was no other British group making music quite like this in 1985" . --- ## Pros - **Creative control pays off**: Morrissey and Marr's production captures the band's live intensity while allowing for greater sonic experimentation - **Thematic ambition**: The album expands beyond personal melancholy to engage with institutional violence, animal rights, and social hypocrisy with unflinching directness - **Musical diversity**: From the rockabilly swing of "Rusholme Ruffians" to the funk workout of "Barbarism Begins at Home" and the atmospheric dread of the title track, the album showcases remarkable range - **Rhythm section showcase**: Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce deliver arguably their finest performances, particularly on "Barbarism Begins at Home" - **"How Soon Is Now?"**: The inclusion of this track on American pressings added what became alternative rock's equivalent to "Stairway to Heaven" - **Cultural courage**: The band confronted audiences with uncomfortable truths about violence and consumption at a time when such topics were taboo in popular music --- ## Cons - **Inconsistent quality**: Critics note that the album "repeats lyrical and musical ideas of before without significantly expanding them or offering enough hooks or melodies to make it the equal of *The Smiths* or *Hatful of Hollow*" - **The title track's heavy-handedness**: At nearly seven minutes, "Meat Is Murder" can feel ponderous and didactic, with some listeners finding its abattoir sound effects gratuitous rather than impactful - **Vocal inconsistencies**: Morrissey's pitch wavers noticeably on several tracks, with Pitchfork noting he is "often painfully out of tune" on weaker material - **Lack of cohesion**: The album functions more as "a bunch of songs that didn't fit on singles than a coherent album," lacking the unified flow of their best work - **"Rusholme Ruffians"**: Some critics find this track "carelessly executed," with instrumentation that occasionally overwhelms the vocals and a length that outstays its welcome - **The American version's tampering**: The insertion of "How Soon Is Now?" disrupts the album's intended sequencing, though the song itself is undeniably brilliant
Not the right mood for this one, but I'll try again someday
Yeah... Not really a fan. On another note how much Morrissey does the author think is work listening to?
-not my favourite smiths album, still good :-) -some favourites are "the headmaster ritual", "i want the one i can't have", "what she said", "that joke isn't funny anymore", and "barbarism begins at home". -"well i wonder" is a smiths song i don't put on very often but my god is it good. ending with the rain coming in is so beautiful i felt like crying. i'm very taken with how many songs morrissey has written that are versions of "please don't forget me" :(
I liked this much more than I expected to. My previous exposure to the Smiths was limited to "How Soon is Now?", which is a great song, but a bit of a downer. I thought that all of their stuff was similar, but I was wrong. Morrisey's voice is lovely, the lyrics are literate, and the playing is top-notch. I enjoyed all the songs, save "Barbarisn Begins at Home", which went on a bit long, and "Meat is Murder", because I didn't care for the guilt trip it tried to lay on me for being an omnivore.
The Headmaster Ritual - 4.5/5 Rusholme Ruffians - 3/5 I Want the One I Can't Have - 3.5/5 What She Said - 4/5 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - 4.5/5 Nowhere Fast - 3.5/5 Well I Wonder - 4/5 Barbarism Begins at Home - 4.5/5 Meat is Murder - 3.5/5 Actually listening to the Smiths that does not include any of their big singles made me realize something. Morrissey really isn't the guy leading the charge. His bandmates are the ones really carrying the weight, and he's just there to wobble over the lyrics and make the soundscape complete. Still doesn't mean he's a compete ass though. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins at Home
Best Song: Barbarianism Begins at Home I had been told by several folks that I would enjoy The Smiths. I didn't really. I am not a Morrissey fan so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising. 3/5.
Fav song: Barbarism Begins at Home
I don't think I'm ever going to be a fan of The Smiths, particularly because I struggle with the vocals But the music is pretty good, and the bass is excellent
Only casually know The Smiths. Never fully explored them much. This is pretty good. It has that Smiths overly British sound. I think it’s Morissey’s voice that just sounds very English to me. I guess this is pretty solid post punk. Nothing blowing me away, but it’s fun. I enjoyed What She Said probably the most of the first half songs. Morissey’s voice is the weakest part of the album probably. It’s just not my favorite. But sometimes it works really well with the sound. Overall, I’m never going to have the reaction of “wow The Smiths what a band” but on a deeper listen, I hear a lot of their influence on later indie/alt rock and appreciate a lot of this sound. It’s definitely better than what I thought it would be. Don’t particularly care for the closing track, the title track. This feels like a solid 3 album. I want to experience more of The Smiths, but I’m not in a rush to do so.
If I have to listen to Morrissey's depressed voice again I'm going to lose it. Marr is good as usual, but I don't think every Smiths album and Morrissey solo album needed to be included on this list.
I mean... their best? Maybe???
"The Headmaster Ritual" might be the greatest opening track of all time. love a song that just kicks you right into the deep end. The Smiths as a unit are just some of the most fantastically synchronized musicians ever. The interplay between Rourke and Marr alone is so brilliant and Joyce's drum parts are as crucial to it all coming together as anything else, as little as Morrissey wants to admit it. All of which is to say this is an album that could crumble under its self-import but it is constantly beautiful and finding fascinating ways to underscore its ideas. A masterful album from a masterful stretch.
Pretty fun!
fine
I do not like it but it is very good. Strange to feel it.
Why did you country my britrock
This album was pretty boring. Far from the best of the Smiths. All the songs feel the same with solid instrumentation and then rambling "singing." Still, not bad really, just not very memorable. I wouldn't come back to the album, but I like the Smiths later work, so I probably will listen to the songs on this album more. I want a steak now.
Morrisey's voice just grates on me - make the wailing stop! This album was pretty painful. There were a couple of songs that weren't bad, but overall I didn't care for this. Also, WTF with the cows mooing on Meat is Murder? Oof. (2)
Torn between a 3 and a 4 because: A: It's The Smiths But B: It has Morrissey C: It's good But D: It doesn't have any of their best songs
First time I heard this album. Wow
I generally like The Smiths’ sound and this was not an exception but this wasn’t anything special.
Not really a big Smiths fan so what do I know. I’m assuming this is one of their best efforts. It wasn’t my thing.
Really enjoyed it. I know The Smiths their singles. But never listened to a full album of them. I know that's probably a shame. But after listening to this one, I gonna listen to their other album(s) too.
Ikke det beste men vel fortjent
Last song almost made me quit eating meat and then I had a burger after. Not sure why Morrissey is getting the hate he's getting on this album, I found it very fitting to the basslines and guitars. He does sound sad and hungry though.
fuck moz but perfect album
Not a massive Smith fan, and definitely not my favourite Smiths album, but it is still very solid with a few notable songs. That Joke isn't Funny anymore is the standout song. When I listened to this originally I said that it just scraped a 4, but on a second listen I would say 3.5 stars
Boring compared to other smiths albums. No songs stood out on 1 listen through
I understand the broader cultural & musical impact of The Smiths—and I do respect it—but, similar to The Cure, just never could really “vibe” with the sound.
This beaut was released 18 years after Sgt. Peppers... that's like looking back to an album released in 2008 in today's money... think about that kids! On my shelves and still loved today. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (8/10) Total reviewed : 289 Already owned : 65 Purchased : 15 To buy : 3 Nope : 206