Meat Is Murder

I'd just commented in the morning before seeing the album of the day how much I love The Smiths. Gold.

Absolute classic

Classic

Everything done by The Smiths is outstanding. Maybe not as globally rounded as The Queen is Dead, but still an amazing collection.

Morrisey might suck, but damn the Smiths were great.

My first time hearing The Smiths. Not what I expected. Enjoyed the songs. Would listen again.

Their tightest ensemble effort, instrumentally . Rocking indie pop.

My favourite Smiths album. Though it's only now I've discovered that How Soon Is Now sometimes isn't included... The CD version I had growing up was obviously the 1993 UK rerelease version, as it looks like the original UK release and the 2011 remaster both don't have it, as with the Spotify version. Weird hearing That Joke... segway into Nowhere Fast. I included it back in for my listening pleasure Anyway, this contains a few of my favourite smiths songs, Headmaster, How Soon, Barbarianism. But what makes this album their best is that other than Rusholme and the title track, the rest are incredibly strong. Johnny Marr's playing is unbelievable, and it's one of the best guitar - bass combo albums. The presence of the bass being brought right to the front of the mix on Headmaster and Barbarianism makes it sound bloody amazing. 5* (4.5* if we're excluding How Soon Is Now)

I'm not totally well versed in the entire discography of the smiths, but I am familiar enough with the "big songs" - familiar enough to know I like the smiths a lot, but haven't had the chance to dig in on them. needless to say, I enjoyed this one! although I find his modern incarnation a bit insufferable, morrissey's vocals and lyrics in this stage are iconic and the musicianship in general is great, but the smiths would not be the smiths without johnny marr's guitar playing. I can confidently say that I am becoming a smiths guy.

Meat Is Murder stands as a compelling testament to The Smiths' evolution, with Morrissey's uncompromising vision driving the album's sonic landscape. The collaborative effort between Morrissey, Marr, and Street is evident, with Morrissey's personal touch evident in his provision of BBC sound effects records for Marr to draw from, a practice that would become a hallmark of their work. This album marked a departure from their earlier sound, embracing a more strident and politically charged approach that resonates throughout the tracks. Morrissey's songwriting is unapologetically bold, refusing to shy away from addressing contentious issues, particularly evident in the album's title track. Meat Is Murder encapsulates the album's ethos, delivering a powerful message that transcends mere music. Marr's guitar work is masterful, complementing Morrissey's vocals and lyrics with intricate melodies and evocative riffs. The album's production is polished yet retains a raw energy, capturing the intensity of The Smiths' performances. Tracks like The Headmaster Ritual and I Want the One I Can't Have showcase the band's ability to blend catchy melodies with thought-provoking themes. Overall, Meat Is Murder is a seminal work that not only showcases The Smiths' musical prowess but also their willingness to tackle important social issues head-on. It remains a timeless classic that continues to inspire and provoke listeners decades after its release. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 8 STAND OUT TRACK - Meat is Murder

great!!!

i love the smiths

Classic

This album is still as good as it was when I heard it in 1987

Weakest of the 4 imo, but still brilliant

The vocal style is one of a kind. Morrissey has a sound that sounds depressed and condescending but thoughtful. (Best way I can describe it) The guitars are perfect and the back beat is exactly what the album needed

Great album, amazing band

I absolutely love The Smiths. I have never been able to choose between their albums because, for me, they are all five out of five. Meat Is Murder is incredible. The songs are sharp, emotional and perfectly sequenced. It works brilliantly as a complete piece, moving between anger, wit and vulnerability without ever losing its identity. Johnny Marr’s guitar work is outstanding throughout, and Morrissey’s lyrics cut straight through. There genuinely is not a bad song on the album. “Nowhere Fast” is probably my favourite. What a riff. It has that driving energy that makes you want to turn it up louder every time. Favourite song: Nowhere Fast Least favourite song: None. They are all fantastic Album artwork: Iconic. Stark, political and instantly recognisable

Good shit

Well I Wonder is one of my favorite Smiths songs

This was actually fire idk why Tony said I wouldn’t like it.

Aaaah memories! I was 19, a musical sponge and so taken by Marr's infectious, looping almost poppy guitar's battle with Morrissey's melancholic, dour Manc vocal delivery. I still am! Love it

lit

fuck morrissey

loved it what a great album

I listened to it three times and then took a vow of veganism.

An excellent rock album with lots of energy. Fast and catchy guitars, memorable vocal performances from Morrissey. Am album with criticisms and messaging. Dread and discontentedness sound great coming from the Smiths

Classic

Always liked the Smiths but never checked out this album in full. Very cool too listen to on a long commute late at night.

Great album, one of the first records I bought so obviously have a small connection with it. Perfect length, only 40 mins great stuff. Fave off the album is either That Joke isn't funny anymore or Nowhere Fast. Fuck Morrissey.

Solid 9.5

Hello, darkness, my old friend.

5/5

The Smiths never made a bad album. Everything they did was pretty outstanding. But of all the albums, this isn't one I would necessarily recommend as a first listen for anyone new to the band. It lacks some of the emotional heft of the band's other albums, or even a really standout single (with one massive exception, if you count "How Soon Is Now?"). What it does have is some of the most creative musicianship of its time, with ridiculously nimble guitar work from Johnny Marr. This is just gorgeously, richly melodic music, that never ceases to be enthralling. Marr's growth as a guitarist from the first album to here is nothing short of astounding, while Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce gamely keep up with everything Marr lays out for them. Rourke's work in particular on "Barbarism Begins at Home" is probably his most interesting and expressive contribution to the band. Additionally, the production is far more sophisticated on this album, showing the level of the depth where the band would head in the albums to follow. Morrissey is at his best here, with lyrical themes both strident and peppered with startling vulnerability. This man can turn a phrase like few songwriters can, switching from heart-rending to acidic on a dime. The one song I never really vibed with is the title track though. Legitimately beautiful on the musical side, the lyrics are off-putting enough that it is the one Smiths song I specifically have gone out of my way to avoid over the past 40 years. On the whole though, this is an exceptional listen. I had the US vinyl version originally, so "How Soon Is Now?," is a big part of my personal relationship with this album. It is a singular, incredibly gorgeous and innovative work, one of the best songs of the 80s and arguably the best song the Smiths ever made. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): How Soon Is Now?, The Headmaster Ritual, Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins at Home, I Want the One I Can't Have, Nowhere Fast, Rusholme Ruffians, What She Said, Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Meat Is Murder

Great album! Lots of classics. Enjoyed greatly.

It might be my love of 2000's era punk-rock, combined with my love of 1970s-80s classic rock that makes this rating a little biased, but this is a hecking good album. Classic European rock sound that sounds like it helped plant the seeds for the evolution of punk-rock. This album flows from cover to cover, and you can fully immerse yourself in the dreamy, trance like quality of the music.

Great album. One of my faves.

just like if someone says they don't like the cure, they're lying, the same thing goes for the smiths. absolute peak. every bassline, every hazy guitar riff, every last word sung by morrissey, it all builds right up to create a wonderful set of tracks for your best and your worst days. other members in my family have a certain fondness for the group and i just have to agree with their thoughts.

Listened while driving along the 1 interstate on a sunny day to see my buddy from high school, nice

4.7

i ate a big juicy steak while listening to the album. anyway, good, 9/10

I mean is Morrisey the wankiest frontman ever and really difficult to listen to for a full album? Yea for sure. But other than him every Smiths album absolutely bangs and the bass tone on this album is so gorgeous

I love The Smiths :)

I love this album with 4/5 of my heart.

last song is not my fave, but barbarism begins at home and nowhere fast make up for it 🤌

Unexpected chord progression on the opener. There's some fast riffing too but maybe at its best when pretty - I Want the One I Can't Have or Well I Wonder. Barbarism Begins at Home is quick paced with a funky bassline.

Barbarism Begins at Home 5/5

Muy bueno

Listened to the wrong one lmao

This is my second Smiths album to be assigned, the first of which was The Queen is Dead. I went into this album, never having listened to it before, but I absolutely loved it. The guitar playing on this album was absolutely fantastic. The sounds and influences were incredibly varied, but Johnny Marr played them all with expertise, and Morrissey's vocals were great, as usual. The lyrics were fantastic as well, going from social critiques to exaggerated heartbreaks and back again. I thoroughly enjoyed this album from start to finish, and I'll definitely be revisiting it soon.

I loved it

Hadn't listened to this album before. It's not as good as the queen is dead imo, but I still can't help but be really drawn in by the smiths. They have an unique style. Marr is great and Morrissey is Morrissey! He sings about misery so brilliantly, yet it's so tongue in cheek too. Very British. Sings about being poor, but yet he's also incredibly smug. "I smoke cause I'm hoping for an early death, and i need to cling to something" "And when I lie in my bed, I think about life and I think about death, and neither one particularly appeals to me". Brilliant Highlights: The headmaster ritual I want the one I can't have What she said This joke isn't funny anymore Nowhere fast 4.5 - Meat is murder is crap but I've talked myself into giving it a 5

Album 200 of 1001 The Smiths - Meat is Murder Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Barbarism Begins at Home /Rusholme Ruffians Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 11 February 1985 by Rough Trade Records. It became the band's only studio album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart, and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks. The album was an international success: it spent 11 weeks in the European Top 100 Albums chart, peaking at number 29. It also reached number 110 on the US Billboard 200, in the United States. Only reached 110 in the US? Unbelievable. Another great band that I somehow let get by me during my college years. Guess I thought they were meant for someone other than me. Wrong was I. Actually became Morrisey fan before I got to know The Smiths, as a band. Still have more to discover about them, but enjoy what I know. The lyrics and subjects they hit upon are one thing, but it is their sound I enjoy most. They are hitting on all cylinders here. Great album without (in my opinion) any one song being much lesser than the others. Awesome arrangements, awesome guitar, awesome vocals. I'm not jumping on the Morrisey is a prick bandwagon. I'm listening to music here. Not judging personalities. Recommend.

Fantastic album start to finish. Melodious and diverse in sounds. Country and blues influences as well as rock. Great 80s vibe. Authentic

my fav smiths album idk what else to put here… he put his hole morissussy into this or whatever :)

Brilliant as ever

Possibly The Smiths' greatest album, back when we all thought they were the new Beatles (they weren't) and back when Mozzer was not as obnoxious and self-centred as he became. Less racist too.

Splendid. Love the moody songs, production and varied songwriting. Will come back to this.

Неожиданное открытие для меня.

Top tracks: Headmaster Ritual, What She Said, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins at Home. Barbarism really showcases Andy Rourke's bass playing. Enjoyed this so much that I listened to The Queen is Dead immediately after, which is a better album. Does that mean this is only a 4, or is it a 5 for making me want to listen to more Smiths?

save for the last song, i thought this was a really strong album. not a song i disliked, except the last song, and as ever the smiths bring a nice melancholy in the guitar and morrissey's voice. now i didn't like the last song (meat is murder). guys i THINK! morrissey might be a vegetarian... it was very offputting to essentially be preached to about the cruelty of eating meat for 6 minutes. i get it dude you're a vegetarian but i don't think your song converted anyone. anyway, five stars

Love the Smiths, Morrissey's iconic voice and honest lyrics resonate with me. This is not my most played album of theirs, but their entire catalog is great. This collection is no less.

Obra maestra

This gets a 4 for the version without How Soon Is Now and a 5 for the version with it.

Well slap my ass and call me Sally. This album bowled me over from the first note. Beautifully produced, wonderfully bizarre chord progressions, bold vocal choices, biting lyrics, and it was all over too soon. The last song wasn't my favorite, but whatever. I loved the rest of it. Am I becoming a Moz and Smiths fan? Who even am I?

You know, The Smiths were the soundtrack to some significant times in my life. This album particularly. Today is my birthday and it's a sullen one. I was delighted to see this as today's album and I decided to listen in different venues (my walk & at my desk). what a difference from listening top volume sharing headphones on an old Sony Walkman walking through a German cemetery with a great friend. Though in hindsight...apropos? Damn, Mr. Morrisey. I was so smitten with the music and my listening sessions in cool German locations that I failed to focus on the lyrics. Yet still a top album of all time in my book. I thought for sure How Soon is Now was on this album.

I really love this one! The smiths have such a unique sound, the lyrics, vibes, tune all really good

Rating: 10/10

One of their best albums. It's just perfection in 39 minutes ❤️

Banger van een album behalve meat is murder, ik ben vegetariër geworden grotendeels zodat ik dit nummer kon haten om non-ideologische redenen

UFF YES! En esta casa amamos los Smiths. Gracias proyecto Aleatorio. Fijate que no es mi disco fav de los Smiths la verda, pero si si muy cool.

Obligatory I hate Morrissey. Used to quote lyrics from this album with my mate all the time. Anything from “spineless swines, cemented minds” to “it’s too close to home and it’s too near the bone”. The cover art always intrigued me, still is from a decent Vietnam War documentary.

El mejor disco de The Smiths. Johnny Marr en un peak creativo de composición, el difunto bajista Andy Rourke invadiendo la mezcla con líneas adictivas y Morrissey con sus letras más sensibles y políticas hasta la fecha.

It goes without saying that this one is another masterpiece from my own personal favourite group, but also one of the most important cultural icons in British music history. While punk rock approached revolution with a sort of iconoclastic irreverence, The Smiths turned the mechanisms of pop culture against itself by appropriating nearly every trope lumbered upon guitar bands over the preceding two decades and creating something truly unique. An effeminate, quasi-Romantic wordsmith in Morrissey, combining with the understated guitar mastery of Johnny Marr was the kind of musical alchemy which has yet to be repeated to the same levels of cult worship that The Smiths’ music almost commanded of its devoted audience. Add into the mix a rhythm section of Mike Joyce and the mesemeric melodicism of Andy Rourke on bass, and you have yourself the greatest pop group is history, in my not so humble opinion. ‘Meat is Murder’ is where all of the aforementioned ingredients rise to the surface. Across this record, Marr’s inspirations lurk from rockabilly to funk, from Gene Vincent to the Gap Band, and the result is never derivative. This is thanks in no small part to the unparalleled wit of Morrissey’s lyrics, which truly shine on this album. Rusholme Ruffians describes a stabbing at a Manchester funfair with the kind of black comedic irony that has no right to work; The Headmaster Ritual lambasts the sadistic persecution of a generation of England’s youth at the hands of retired army lieutenants stationed in the state schooling system. Nowhere Fast and What She Said clearly draw upon the frontman’s frustration at the world’s inability to recognise his genius for what it was, with a few jabs at the institutional hypocrisy which venerates bone-idle monarchs instead. Whatever gammon-headed sentiments he gives voice to nowadays, Morrissey and The Smiths produced the most left-wing art to seamlessly infiltrate the pop charts against all the odds. But it’s tracks like the breathtakingly melancholic Well I Wonder that represent more familiar thematic territory for Morrissey’s agonised croon – an absolute masterpiece which ought to have closed the record in place of his ham-fisted (pardon the pun) vegetarian treatise. That being said, the very refrain ‘Meat is Murder’ is now entrenched in the public lexicon, and further illustrates The Smiths’ significance beyond just a mere rock group. Only the slums of working class Manchester could have produced such honest art, and like it or lump it, this group were the cream of the crop. If most of this assessment looks at Morrissey’s contributions (and I believe they were his best during this band’s brief lifespan), then that is not to dismiss Marr, Rourke and Joyce as simply a b-rate supporting cast. Rourke’s spidery bass lines on Well I Wonder and I Want the One I Can’t Have are worth listening to in isolation, and Barbarism Begins at Home is arguably his most recognisable composition. Even Morrissey’s utter contempt for Mike Joyce the man didn’t his admiration for the drummer’s importance to The Smiths’ sound, and Marr as ever is the creative foil that the outspoken frontman needed to catapult his deification in indie music circles. Meat is Murder isn’t a perfect record – like I say, it’s a bit front-loaded, and could probably have been better sequenced – but it is an absolutely necessary listen if you want to understand why music without politics isn’t even music. An absolutely irrepressible masterpiece from a moment in time when popular music threatened to really matter.

Still amazing!

I had never listened to the Smiths before, but my daughter is a fan and she's been making me listen to their albums. Who knew emo can be fun! Count me as a big Johnny Marr fan - the guitar playing and songwriting are both outstanding. Lots of variety - fun rockabilly (Rusholme Ruffians), rockers (What She Said), jangle pop (The Headmaster Ritual, Nowhere Fast), funk (Well I Wonder - love the bass at the end), and some songs that just soar (That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore). Lots of powerful lyrics on the album. I Want the One I Can't Have: "A double bed and a stalwart lover, for sure / These are the riches of the poor." Well I Wonder: "Gasping, but somehow still alive / This is the fierce last stand of all I am." Barbarianism Begins at Home: "A crack on the head is what you get for not asking / and a crack on the head is what you get for asking"). The song Meat is Murder is really powerful, but not enough for me to think steak isn't delicious, sorry. Loved every song. This is just a great album that I will definitely return to many times.

Is the best Smiths album? I don't know perhaps not. Is it my favorite Smiths album? yes it is. To me it's the perfect balance of Marr and Morrissey.

Another brilliant record from The Smiths. The Marr/Morrissey combination is a lightning in a bottle occurrence. Marr is a top guitarist and the music marries perfectly with Morrissey’s lyrics and vocals. A near perfect album to me, with the title track maybe being a bit too heavy handed. Would be even better if it had How Soon is Now on it.

Awesome

Dismissed this at first because I played it too quietly; the upfront vocals are not to my taste. Notably, the one song that jumped out on that go was "Barbarianism starts at home", when the vocals sod off for a while. At volume, fantastic, bass Entwhistling away, vocals make a bit more sense.

gotta give this top marks despite Moz's worst instincts, esp. as Andy Rourke puts in such sterling work to define their best set of tunes

love it

Simultaneously dark, brooding and incredibly energetic. Another one that our Amsterdam Air BnB host had in the collection which was my first foray into the weirdly attractive complexity that is The Smiths. Fucken downer closing track but that's Morrissey for ya.

Brilliant album

Immediately listened to a different record as soon as this finished, love it

A true British classic of the time. Morrissey is a bit of a dick now though

Sent me down a rabbithole that lasted several weeks to the point where I've fallen behind on this. Dark and sad, but... sensual?

Might be my favourite Smiths album, and that's saying something. Headmaster's Ritual, What She Said, Barbarism Begins at Home (that bass line KILLS!) and especially Rusholme Ruffians are among The Smiths most underrated songs. Throw in classics like That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Well I Wonder and of course How Soon Is Now and you have yourself a 5 star album.

This isn't my favorite Smiths album, but I love it anyway. This band is my guilty pleasure away from my heavy metal headbanging.

Yes, The Smiths. The Headmaster Ritual is super good. The album as a whole is great. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is on this album. The End. Best Smiths Album. Man, all the songs on this are great.

Great album. I love how the songs flow into each other, but it does mean that a couple of them get lost in the sauce. Overall, I prefer The Queen is Dead, but this is still very solid and has 4 or 5 standout tracks. Plus the cover art is 🔥

Classic Smiths

Not their best, but as every Smiths album easily 5 stars for this one.

MARAVILLOSO

Fluid guitar play, beautiful melody. Like the "Well I Wonder".

there’s absolutely an element of nostalgia going into this review (my mom loves the smiths), but i really enjoyed this. morrissey is morrissey, but johnny marr has some amazing work on this album. every song sounds similar, but they all sound great so i’m fine with it. the meat is murder track is wild, super into it.

I heard JPEGMafia loved Morrissey so much that he wrote a fan song about him. He seems like a really pleasant vegetarian who must really get along with immigrants to the UK.

Maybe there's some familarity here but after recently listening to a Morrissey album this certainly feels more comfortable. Fave: Meat Is Murder

It's everything I like about The Smiths. Great stuff. Fave track - "How Soon is Now?", if that's allowed. Probably my favourite song of theirs over all. "Meat is Murder" if we're picking from the original tracklist...

Hey Morrissey SHACK eats lamb chops, what ya gonna do about it?

Great album, strong message... probably one that isn't discussed as openly in many songs/albums but they really go there with the audio

sad bitch sustenance.

I remember how thrilling this album was when it first came out, just before I graduated from university. It seems to explode out of the blocks with The Headmaster Ritual and never lets up. Wonderful.

With the exception of the title track, every song on this is excellent

Faking smithsi i faking vegetarijanci.

okej album.

My preferred Smiths album. I don’t even dislike the title track that much, though it’s still a miss in terms of pacing

A top-five of all time for me, the soundtrack of my middle school years. This has all of the best songs, and stylistically it’s the most diverse of all their albums.

The best "flat pitch" singing in the business. I love this band. This isn't my favorite album by them, but it contains their two best songs: That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, and How Soon Is Now.

amazing album, 10/10 you gotta love The Smiths

Probably the most raw Smiths albums, both lyrically as musically. It's a bit harder and a bit more serious than other albums (even though there's still enough humour to be found) The speedy funky basslines on this album in combination with Marr's incredible guitar-work really get a lot more swing going than on other albums. And Morrissey has things to say about hitting children ("Barbarism Begins At Home"), eating meat ("Meat Is Murder"), Depression ("That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore") Homosexuality and also unrequited love in the absolutely beautiful "Well I Wonder". "Gasping - dying - but somehow still alive this is the final stand of all I am Please keep me in mind" An absolute 5* amazing album, front to finish. Even the lesser songs are top.

Mein liebstes Smiths Album. Weiß gar nicht was ich da groß zu sagen muss. Meine fav Tracks hier drauf sind: The Headmaster Ritual, I Want the One I Can't Have, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Well I Wonder und Meat is Murder für die geilen animal sounds!! Grüße meine Mama von der ich die Platte geklaut habe die sie mit 20 gekauft hat

A personal classic, Meat is Murder is a study-work companion since graduation. I enjoyed the opportunity to revisit this album and listened during my thesis research. Still a favorite!

Cool album! First time listening to the Smiths. Actually have nothing bad to say.

Whenever I come across the album and its title, I feel bad because I'm complicit in the death of these succulent creatures. The music, however, doesn't make me feel so bad. This is quite great from front to back, no filler. When the album features songs like The Headmaster's Ritual, This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Barbarism Begins at Home, there is no point in feeling that there's a wrong. Everything's just right here.

The first number was already sounding really good, this gave me hope for the rest of the album. It kinda reminded me of a mix between The Dire Straits and David Bowie. Halfway through the album it still sounds great. A bit of 60/70's rock is something I can really appreciate.

Haven't listened to this in one sitting for decades. Still an excellent whole of an Album.

9,5/10

My top Spotify artist of 2021, fuck yeah! I can’t get enough of The Smiths. The emotional, social, political intensity of the lyrics with the one-of-a-kind catchy jangly Marr guitar work is a heady and addictive pairing. It’s a killer combo for me every time.

One of the best albums of the 80s and this is even without some of their strongest songs from that period that were only released on single!

Though a bit heavy handed at times, Meat is Murder is a classic album. Johnny Marr’s clean jangly guitar and Morrissey’s vocals and unique melodies come together seamlessly to create some of the most identifiable music of the post punk/new wave era. This is not my favorite Smiths album, but it is still top notch.

Punchy hits and incredible compositions, the Smiths at their very best. Marr’s guitar layers over Rourke’s and Joyce’s rhythms create such a fantastic counterpoint to Morrissey’s dark and bleak lyrics. A perfect Smiths album Top tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, I want the one I can’t have, Barbarism begins at home, Meat is Murder

Absolute classic, what I hate about Morrissey is how great the Smith's stuff is. Truly remarkable music and lyrics takes you somewhere else,somewhere fragile, beautiful and dangerous. Just a shame it was created by an absolute twat.

My original introduction to the Smiths in 1985. Morrissey and Johnny Marr are amazing. They don't sounds like anybody else and I've always been intrigued by how Morrissey fits such complex lyrics into the music. Fantastic... even the buzzsaws.

I am an unapologetic Smiths fan and love this album. I've probably listened to it end-to-end over a dozen times and was happy to do it again. Some of the best bass work and hooks in their oeuvre on this one.

Weirdly, never listened to this before. Should have.

Второй студийный альбом The Smith. Вокал Моррисси, треки How Soon Is Now?, Well I Wonder.

Barbarism at home is like Кино meets the Killers.

4,5

Vital to me then, still incredible

Fantastic. Underrated.

9 bombazos de canciones. Un disco imprescindible para mí, en la música que oía en el instituto y en todo lo que vino después. La música que me hizo estudiar inglés por mi cuenta a pesar de que en mi colegio aún andábamos con el francés como lengua extranjera. Icónica portada, icónicas letras, mágica la guitarra de Johnny Marr e hipnótica voz de Morrissey. Ninguna de sus canciones está entre las 10 más escuchadas de The Smiths pero os aseguro que merecen todas la pena. 5 estrellas.

My third favourite Smiths album, but still a 5. Was gonna go 4 before listening but the guitar work and lyrics alone make it a 5/5.

One of the new Smiths albums I never bought. But this is a classic Smiths sounding album.

Älskar detta album sedan innan

I really enjoyed the ambiance of this album. The title track is so moody, I love it, and it's a great way to end the album.

сразу стоит оговориться, что между зэ смитс и зэ кьюр я всегда выбирал зэ смитс, и предложенный альбом на данный моментъ прослушан такое количество раз, что адекватно оценить его уже не получится. но с другой стороны могу понять и негатив, ибо сам, помню, ещё в школе пытался данный альбом слушать и весьма желчно отплёвывался потом, так как душа просила митола и ганста репа. но чем старше становился — тем более проникался группой зэ смиты как явлением — фигурой моррисси, его надменным юмором, гитарной работой джонни марра, тугими и хлестикими басовыми рифами этого. ну, их басиста, короче. И на данный момент этот альбом вижу как один из столпов, на котором впоследствии будет держаться большой кусок более современной и привычной нам музыки, будь то рурок, постпанк, индюшатина и прочее непотребство. Лучше бы не держалось, ну да ладно. Непосредственно из претензий могу дать щелбана только песне Rusholme Ruffians, ибо даже меня она начинает душить под конец своей предсказуемостью и отсутствием интересных фишек. Лучше бы выкинуть её вообще нахой или двинуть во вторую часть альбома. А в остальном — очень крепкий, местами боевой, местами меланхоличный релиз под дождливую погоду и ночные прогулки по ярославским брайтан-бич. Кавер на песню «Перемен» группы Кино я бы вообще включил в десятку любимых песен эвер. 5/5

I dropped everything and listened to this. I'm sorry I just love The Smiths. The queen season 4 has better prepared me for the Thatcher references. Clearly #9 was Doja Cat's inspiration for MOOO!

WT - really enjoyed the music interesting how much random nature sounds are featured. Rain ect

The bass on this is killer. great tone. I never knew that Morissey was my defacto english new wave vocalist. Yea holy cow the bass work is awesome. i like how the album shifts dynamically and it doesn't fail to grab me.

Esse sim é meu tipo de música!

YES!!!!

Two Smiths albums in a row; what are the odds? Not as great as The Queen is Dead, but still pretty great in its own right.

Did Morrisey’s brain worms affect his solo music or is he still making stuff this good but we all just collectively agree to ignore because of who he is now?

Muy buen album, la voz del cantante es cautivadora. Conocia de rebote un par de temas de la banda, pero nada mas, probablemente me meta a escuchar su discografía luego de esto.

theres one or two songs on here that drag it down but otherwise really good stuff

My prior exposure to The Smiths is effectively just hearing about Morrissey being an asshole, but I quite enjoyed this. Energetic and enjoyably layered arrangements, and to my surprise and in contrast to most other reviews I've seen, I quite like his voice. A small window into why people tolerate him at all today.

It’s like rock and I like rock. its suprisingly good. there r some songs that r questionable. like theres one where the dude is like barking??? lol funny tho nonetheless.

have i become smiths pilled?

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…

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.

7/10 - Solid album. Thought I wasn't a fan of the smiths but this changed my mind.

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.

In retrospect, maybe the only really-good-to-great Smiths record.

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

Good album, a little meandering compared to the other smiths albums, but a banger nonetheless

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).

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.

Some of the riffs on this are the best of the Smiths! Johnny Marr you legend

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

Led zeppelin always good again not something I would listen on purpose but if it came on I would listen

Very good.

Typical morrisey obnoxiousness but good i hate to admit it

3.75

Kyllä mä ihan tykkäsin kasaritykkärinä koko levystä ja mukavia veisuja

Onhan tää ihan hyvä.

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

It's 3.75

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.

4.5, Great tunes

The Smiths give me goosebumps

Crafty and brilliant.

4.4/5. Class.

I like the Smiths. This isn’t their best album by a long shot tho.

Enjoyed much more than expected. Excellent vibe, not my general preference but solid 4.5. Rounding down

A smiths record is always a pleasure to listen to.

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

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.

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.

It’s not a perfect The Smiths album, but that still makes it better than most albums.

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

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.

I don't eat meat, so of course I like this album.

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

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.

Freistar ikkje med kjøt på grillen etter denne. 😬😭

Own: No (sold LP); Seen any musicians: No Morrissey sucks, but there is quite a bit to like about this one.

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.

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.

Härligt, Smithsigt

Inte deras allra bästa men ändå alltid ett härligt sound.

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.

Well I wonder and barbarism begins at home

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

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

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.

Enjoyed this album, they definitely have a distinct style which made it somewhat hard to differentiate songs. Would listen again

4.8 El chiste ya no es divertido

Lit The Smits

uggghhhhhhhhhhhhh begrudgingly a banger

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.

Not their best but can't be less than a 4

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.

#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

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

pretty good

Love it :D

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

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

Fav song: Barbarism Begins at Home

Pretty fun!

I do not like it but it is very good. Strange to feel it.

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

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.

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

The Headmaster Ritual 3.5 Rusholme Ruffians 3.3 I Want the One I Can't Have 3.3 What She Said 3.6 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore 4 Nowhere Fast 3.4 Well I Wonder 3.4 Barbarism Begins at Home 3.7 Meat Is Murder 3.3 How Soon Is Now? 4.2 Score: 3.57

Some great work from Marr and Rourke on here, but the title track is a bit weak.

Barbarism Begins at Home. Rad

I enjoyed this album. Barbarism begins at home was probably my favorite off the album. Listened the the album twice.

(long exasperated sigh) bangers…..

i love the smiths, still it’s not what i’m looking for

I was very happy with the sound of this album. The bass is incredible and Morrisey is very convincing while conveying a story/topic. Like I just said, the topics on this album are great and well thought out e.g Barbarism Begins At Home. Meat Is Murder does a very good job at freaking me out (which i think was the band's objective) but is a pretty bad song and definitely skip-worthy.

The Headmaster Ritual - Decent, basic upbeat smooth rock stuff. 7/10 Rusholme Ruffians - Very Woodstock-y. Doesn’t really exceed any expectations. Perfectly fine. 7/10 I Want The One I Can’t Have - Very 80s guitar. Dang, this might be the most perfectly fine album I’ve heard yet. 7/10 What She Said - Is it just me, or is the mix on the instruments unusually quiet on this specific track? Other than that, it’s, you guessed it, perfectly fine. 6/10 That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore - “Last song of the night” kind of song. Fine for what it is. 5/10 Nowhere Fast - Probably the most perfectly fine one yet. 7.5/10 Well I Wonder - I think you know what I’m gonna say… 7/10 Barbarism Begins At Home - Good lord, these guys have cracked the code on how to create the most perfectly fine album ever made. 7/10 Meat Is Murder - Pink Floyd called, they want their opening back. Most interesting song on this whole thing. 7.5/10 Overall, 7/10. One of the most perfectly fine albums ever created. Seriously, if you looked up “a good album” in a dictionary, this album should pop up.

cool instruments

Bass/guitar work on this thing is crazy work, Morrissey’s harrowing vocals work for the most part but does go a bit overboard on some tracks with the mumbling and moaning

dude i love the smiths

Better than The Queen Is Dead (but not better than their debut album). And it would’ve been even better without the title track, which is indeed “wtf” one. But that’s the only track I have a real beef with.

Not my favorite album by The Smiths, but one I've definitely warmed up to over the years. It's a bit too one-note and the variation of their better albums is sorely missing here, but overall it's still a good listen.

Smiths Bang. It's a good album but not their best. 4/5.

Andy Rourke my beloved

It's gone back on the shelf, hidden behind another album. To be retrieved again in 20 years when he's gone and it's all blown over

Much to my chagrin, I continue to enjoy the Smiths.

I said I love the smiths!! Sophie come back to me. Talia id run in front of a bus with you any day. Fuck you Morrisey. Good old smiths. Great album though. Just fuckin yodelling for no reason. Crazy guy. Always the homos. Is he gay? The Queen Is Dead is my favourite but this is also good. Sometimes I wish I could jump from the top of the parachutes. Fml. Are the smiths ok bro?? What are these lyrics. I'm scared for morrisey of all people bro. That's crazy. Big fan of this. This is actually the worst possible thing I could be listening to right now fuck off. Favourite: Rusholme Ruffians Least favourite: Meat Is Murder

Great album

I enjoyed this one a lot. Instrumentals are great. Generally I quite like the lilting and warbly nature of Morrissey's voice. Idiosyncratic and really brings an unique vibe to the music. Dislike when he's occasionally quite off-key or makes a very palatalized sound.

At first it seemed to blend into all the other retro albums we’ve listened to so far, but then I realized I was actually enjoying myself and listened to the whole album at least twice while driving around on Saturday

i love the smiths i hate morrissey

One of the best alternative 80s albums

Listening session: march 27th, while commuting to internship Listened to before: heard some songs before Thoughts: just over a week ago I got my first Smiths album on here and now already my second. As someone who likes their music I’m not mad about it (like I said: separate the art from the artist in this case). I especially liked the bass lines on this album Favourite tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore & Barbarism Begins at Home

Fantastic album by a great band approaching their peak. The less said about Moz the better.

I like meat. I also like this record. The two worlds can co-exist!

liked it, 7/10. vibed in the car on a drive but couldn’t really understand the lyrics so will re-listen again.

Love the smiths

Again, love The Smiths, despise Morrissey

01) The Headmaster Ritual - 8,0 02) Rusholme Ruffians - 7,5 03) I Want the One I Can't Have - 7,5 04) What She Said - 7,5 05) That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - 8,0 06) Nowhere Fast - 7,5 07) Well I Wonder - 7,5 08) Barbarism Begins at Home - 8,0 09) Meat Is Murder - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,61 (76/100) Current ranking: 331/861

Smiths classic. Flows really well, all good tunes! 8/10

Ugh, fuck Morrissey, but this is a pretty good album.

Nice and jangly, great basslines, great guitar/drum fills, and Morrissey whinging. What's not to love. Don't think I've heard any of these before aside from Headmaster Ritual and Barbarism Begins at Home, the latter of which contains probably their best instrumental work. I find it quite funny that their guitarist Johnny Marr became vegan after they made this album, I suppose you've kind of got to? Another fun fact about Johnny Marr is that he was in Modest Mouse for 3 years around the time of their 2007 album, which isn't quite interesting enough to bring up outside of this review, but perfectly serendipitous since I've been reccing them recently

It’s interesting to hear the smiths more upbeat. I’m not a huge fan of the lyricism on this album, particularly because it is more difficult for me to connect to the denouncement of non vegetarians than, for example, more typical songs about love off the queen is dead. You can definitely find traces of the lyricism and instrumentation on the queen is dead though (cemetry gates). Ok the instrumentation is very similar across almost all of their albums tbh. Anyways this feels a little less polished and emotional but nonetheless extremely catchy. Weird how Morrissey cares more about animals than immigrants and minorities. Fav songs: the headmaster ritual, well I wonder, barbarism begins at home

Listened driving to work. Liked it but it's not their best. It's The Smiths before they truly hit their stride.

Some great moments and some ok as sometimes I don't vibe that much with the singer, but dang great frickin bass

I've grown up with the Smiths. I love them. Quite possibly because they do three different things that shouldn't work at all and yet for some unexplained miracle, it all works. It kinda goes like this: Morrissey: it always rains in Manchester and you're all c*nts Andy: check out this funky blues riff Marr: CARIBE! (The only reason this isn't a 5 is that there's only one Smiths album that I'd fight people over and that's Hatful of Hollow, which for some truly baffling reason isn't in the 1001. Some of their best work was in singles)

Classic Smiths. I really like this album.

Not the album I would’ve picked but not complaining. I’m a fan of Morrissey’s voice and lyrics and Marr’s guitar playing. Headmaster Ritual and That Joke are the standouts but a consistent effort overall.

Not my favourite Smiths album, but has enough good tracks to satisfy. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 56/228 (24%) Will I get: A nicer copy maybe

I probably know the least about this Smiths album and despite Morrisey being Morrisey it’s still a great record.

They really were in their bag

This isn't the best of The Smiths but it's a good album. I listened to it twice. First listening more to vocals and guitar and lyrics. Second on rhythm. It's solid throughout. Sure it's mopey. It's The Smiths. Some people feel feelings and sing songs about them while frowning in the rain.

The bass playing is the stand out on this one again for sure. This one was a little bland for me compared to The Queen is Dead. All of the ingredients are here it's just missing the it factor. Sonically it could be more dynamic. I'd say Barbarism Begins at Home was the stand out track for me.

I don’t really know how to feel about this one. On one hand, I love Johnny Marr’s guitar playing, Andy Rourke is a great bassist, and sometimes Morrisey’s lyrics and vocal style create a very unique, often morose atmosphere. On the other hand, sometimes Morrisey’s lyrics get obnoxious, and sometimes the band stays on a singular musical idea for a little too long, but it’s still a good listen. I think I need to listen to this a couple more times to really gather my thoughts on it, and I mean that in a good way. There’s some infectious guitar hooks, memorable basslines, dour lyrics, and plenty of jangle to go around, making this a really fun, interesting listen. I might skip the title track on future listens though.

Good

Really groovy. Fuck Morrissey but this is fun, weird, catchy, and has a real perspective.

I like their sound. I like their singer voice. He kinda sounds like John Wetton but he does some goofy vocal thing sometime... wich I dont like. DAMN that bassist is really good. Maybe a bit repetitive. Nothing mind blowing but solid album. 3.8/5

Could make me vegan tbh very intense

Some great teenage angst

So much energy that it’s just electrifying. The Smiths album are so palatable that they feel simplistic. It’s effortless. When you break down each song structurally, it’s just beautiful seeing how well everything compliments each other. Even going deep into the future, The Smiths will remain a foundational band. God bless Johnny Marr. Faves: Barbarism Begins at Home, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, I Want the One I Can’t Have, The Headmaster Ritual, Meat Is Murder

honestly fire 4 stars a medium 7 out of 10

Amzing album as just they, the pure essence of ther music

Second time listen, a lot mor enjoyable than the last.

Rv

WOWOWOW

I like there music it's thought provoking but not in a disturbing way. The musical instrumentation is very good mellow which gives the song lyrics a surrealistic backdrop. Will listen to more if their albums in the future.

Ja conhecia os The Smiths (quem não?) e já gostava deles minimamente. Não é uma banda que ouço regularmente e quase nem me lembro da sua existência. No entanto, gosto das músicas muito que é rock e post punk. Meat Is Murder é um bom álbum, talvez daqueles que se ouvir mais um par de vezes sobe ainda mais na minha reputação. Admito que a voz do Morrisey não é a minha favorita e percebo porque muita gente não gosta mas, mesmo assim, as músicas são muito boas!

Skimmed the album list and didn't see anything super noticeable. Very wrong. It's a good album. Favourite: Barbarism begins at Home. The bass is excellent

I really wish Morissey wasn't a prick

Pretty solid. Don't think I would seek this out to do nothing but listen to music, but if it was playing in a room during a gathering of some sort, it would be a welcome addition.

Thoroughly enjoyed though the Smith’s music can sound a little bit the same sometimes

I do love the Smiths. wish Morrisey didn't suck so much lol

i liked it

morrisey sucnormal

I really like the smiths, but this album I'd never heard much of before. I was really missing out, some of these are great. While I don't particularly like morrisey's vocals (or vegan agenda), I think their lyrics are always very fun and of course they have amazing instrumentals. I'm really struggling to pick a favourite song right now.

This is a good album, there’s something about Morrissey’s voice that I really enjoy, and the music is great. I haven’t really listened to The Smiths a lot, but the music of theirs that I have listened to I mostly like.

Beautiful vocals and melodies all around. Excellent instrumentation, and dynamically written guitar and bass that really brought that alternative, melancholic but energetic feel. 8.5/10, Favorite Song: Barbarism Begins at Home

Nice atmospheres, nice lyrics, bit hypocritical that he doesn't follow up on everything he sings

Actually really liked the vibe of the songs. Feet-tapping and head-swinging on occasion. Not a single song I disliked really