Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Morrisey wailing about something or other for 40 mins, didn't t get it.
I just think that since I'm vegan I should at least gain the privilege of not listening to this album ever again
This was not as bad as I was afraid it would be.
5 out of 5 — A fierce, unforgettable landmark of alternative music. Meat Is Murder isn’t just an album — it’s a manifesto wrapped in jangling guitars, razor‑sharp wit, and the unmistakable melancholy of The Smiths. As a full‑length statement, it’s bolder, darker, and more politically charged than their debut, and that ambition pays off in every track. Why it earns a perfect score Musical evolution — Johnny Marr’s guitar work is richer and more experimental here, weaving funk, rockabilly, and atmospheric textures into something unmistakably their own. Lyrical bite — Morrissey sharpens his pen, tackling topics like corporal punishment, alienation, and animal rights with a mix of vulnerability and provocation. Emotional range — From the swagger of “The Headmaster Ritual” to the aching beauty of “Well I Wonder,” the album moves effortlessly between fury and fragility. Cultural impact — The title track alone sparked decades of debate and helped cement the band’s reputation as fearless outsiders.
I'm sorry that Morrissey hurt your feelings. Everything about this album is perfect
Genuinely ass. Get some meat on your bones. The only redeeming song was Well I Wonder. 1
Good God no. I should have taken a cue from the lad on the cover that this was gonna be an ordeal. Holy Christ. At least it's over
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
3/5 “AS A VEGAN” this album almost makes up for Morrisey. It somewhat washed over me but had an agreeable time. I struggle with how thin some production is pre 1990s at the moment - not something I had when discovering music when I was younger. Hoping I get more used to that as I get through this!
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.
The start I love, and it is kinda cool. I fear a 3 is harsh, but the end drags quite a bit. The lyricism takes a turn, and a more absurd one that I don't find very intersting.
Weird British music
album tranquilon, medio de miércoles bajón. me gustó igual siento que tiene canciones lindas pero no se si es algo que escucharé recurrentemente
Never been too fond of morrisseys voice, good album though all the songs were mid but not awful
At first, it seemed like a decent album to me, but after listening to all the tracks, I was a bit disappointed… 2 stars
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
I liked this well enough but I haven't revisited it since.
Good album. Not my cup of tea.
(long exasperated sigh) bangers…..
i love the smiths, still it’s not what i’m looking for
No fue mi preferido
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.
🙄 I’ll have a double cheeseburger
Fairly OK.
Great instrumentals paired with abysmal singing. I wish I could actually understand what Morrissey is saying without reading the lyrics because he has interesting things to say. The funk groove in Barbarism Begins at Home was the highlight of this album.
Smiths Bang. It's a good album but not their best. 4/5.
estuvo bien, no me encantó 3,5 estrellas
Vivan los smiths
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
Peak album, don't see why people don't like morrissey's voice, i quite like it. I know he is a horrible person but he can write some mean lyrics. Haters gonna hate
Bien
Much to my chagrin, I continue to enjoy the Smiths.
Bwah, eentonig
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
Cool.
Johnny Marr and the band kill it, the guitar, bass lines and drums are really good throughout. Morrisey gets a bit grating after a while, there are a few songs here that are great but too many that I just didn't care for to make the whole thing exciting all the way through. It's just kind of depressing to me which brings down the score slightly
On album 1084 of 1089 it’s been a long ride. Lots of really bad albums tbh. And as I approach my final 5 I hope I have the privilege for the LAST or what feels like 10 times saying this: FUCK MORRISEY
Quite an edgy album. Some of the songs gave me arctic monkeys vibes. Another neither love nor hate album for me. In between a 6 and 7/10 for me but will lean towards a 7 as I preferred it to a few of the others that I gave a 6. 7/10
A few standout tracks (especially funky Barbarism), but overall not my favourite collection of Smiths songs - and it truly does feel like just a collection of songs. Faves: The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins At Home, Meat is Murder
Anyone else feel that the British "new wave" in the early 80's was a bit 'overrated'? The overrating is on full display here. So, I think it's a few things that I don't like about this album. First, the vocals. I'm now *officially* not a Morrissey fan.. The way he's mixed in -- and this is true for the whole album -- makes it sound like he's trapped in a metal box far, far away. Maybe that's for the best. His singing is mediocre and I read along with the lyrics -- the messaging is... 'of its time'. That's as polite as I care to be. There's some good stuff in there, but it veers heavily into insufferable in a few spots. "Meat Is Murder " is the best example. Got it. You're a vegetarian. There are better ways to message this, rather than club us over the head with it. I respect the position, but he's not changing my mind with this. Not even close. Second, the quality of the production is just so plastic and has this obnoxious, metallic echo that really defines this type of music ('new wave'). I like it in smaller doses and it has been done better by other musicians, but not here. It actively sabotages this work. The other musicians are ok. The guitarist is good, maybe even great, but the rest are dragged along, weighed down heavily by Morrissey. (2/5) Out of respect for the other musicians on this album. Not Morrissey..
I've tried before to understand the appeal of The Smiths. Sure, the music and arrangements are certainly far superior to solo Morrissey, and the lyrics are sometimes decent and thought provoking, until he starts singing them. But at the end of the day I suppose I'm just not gay or British enough to really enjoy this. It's a 2/5 for me that might be higher without Morrissey.
Variety: 3 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 3 = 3.4 rounded down to a 3 "Take me out tonight/ Where there's music and there's people/ And they're young and alive" I'm cheating on this one and including "How Soon is Now" as per the old American release. I generally like The Smiths, but after hitting a truly awful Morrisey album so early on, I feel they might need a leg up. It's been some time since I listened to this, but I remember it being pretty solid, though not my favorite by the band. I think generally we're in safe waters with any of their releases that might pop up. They're in that group along with The Police and U2 I'd label as a safe bet, meaning I'd given anything they recorded a chance. THE TRACKS "The Headmaster Ritual" - Easy to see how The Smiths could have bee lumped in ( at least over here) with the Paisely Underground scene bands with the jangly guitars but the vocals I can't imagine sounded much like anything else. I imagine they must have had some similar inspirations. Solid melodic stuff here "Rusholme Ruffians" - Bit of a rockabilly beat here does a lot to add some flavor, and while I admit the contrast with the vocals is interesting, I might rather here a more traditional singer take on the same material. "I Want the One I Can't Have" - The jangle continues, but Morrisey seems to own the , uh... melody such as it is. Not terrible by any means, but feels like they are rushing through this to get whatever's next. The dreamy twang that comes in every now and then is great - why not build the song around that? Chris Isaak was doing rockabilly influenced stuff around same time ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxaEENRxUvw), and I think is much more successful. Start Cats even earlier I think? "What She Said" - Much more raw and successful take on the rockabilly influences. Getting notes of The Damned on this one musically. Morrissey doesn't have much vocally to compare to though, and here the contrast is dynamic and cohesive. Some of there stuff feels more like him laying down the vocal track well after and with a different energy, but maybe the echo they throw on there helps integrate it more. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" - We continue with the influence, but the band is bending that galloping beat towards their own purposes here. This leans way into the feel I remember from the later stuff, and feels much more crafted, with the vocals complementing the music instead of being at odds. Have not mentioned him by name yet, but by all accounts Marr was just as if not more so the creative driver behind the scenes and he owns this one. Side two "How Soon is Now" - Saved this one for last as a sort of compromise on taking the original release at face value. There's not too much to say about this one ( though watch me try) other than it will likely forever remain the shiniest gem in their crown. The swirling guitars, the precisely timed to perfection tremelo effects, the beautifully ambiguous lyrics, and teh best of Morrisey's vocal affects taking stage. Another S-tier classic. Is there something above S-tier? I might even put it there. This one will never get old and will be played on the radio for however long humans have such a thing. Belongs up there in the rock n' roll firmament with "JOhnny B. Goode", "Hey Jude", "Bohemian Raphsody", "Stairway to Heaven", etc... "Nowhere Fast" - 0-60 in a second flat. Driving forward with boundless energy. I don't think the rhythm section gets enough credit due to being outshined by Marr and Morrissey, but Andy Rourke on bass, and especially Mike Joyce on drums are doing a lot of heavy lifting on the more energetic tracks especially. Good stuff. "Well I Wonder" - We slow things way down here for a nice bit of variation. Morrissey doesn't really have a happy mode, I think teh brightest he gets is when he's being sarcastic, but the music effectively gives the illusion that he has, in fact, take things down to a more miserable level, and so it somehow comes together. "Barbarism Begins at Home" - We start with a bit of a different, maybe more traditionally mid-80s guitar sound, and an almost slow motion disco beat. Morrisey even toes down his Morrisey-isms so much so that if I heard this in loud club space, and didn't know any better, I might be like - "who is this interesting post-punk?". Clearly built around the funky guitar line that dances throughout. Morrisey becomes more identifiable about halfway through with his unintelligible moaning, and mumbling, but I don't hate it as he's at least moaning along with a melody that compliments the guitar. As danceable as the band gets, just don't pay attention to the lyrics while you're getting down. "Meat Is Murder" - Some opening sound effects that are very on the nose, but once that nonsense fades away we get the band in as close to dirge-mode as I think we ever see. Marr's guitar is too bright and bouncy, and the rhythm section too energetic to ever veer to close to anything I'd ever call gothy. The sentiment, though an admirable one I think is a bit too pushy and insistent. And oh yeah, the animal noises some back in. "And the turkey you festively slice/ Is murder". Years ago when The Exorcist got a theatrical re-release, (with the infamous spider-walk scene put back in), I remember being astounded at all the young people in the audience cracking up laughing at all the scary bits. I was confused at the time, and a little pissed off, but I could see the same thing happening here if you gave this to a bunch of "under-20's" to listen too. And I think I might be more understanding this go around. HIGHLIGHTS - "The Headmaster Ritual" - "What She Said" - "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" - "Nowhere Fast" - "How Soon is Now" * MIDLIGHTS - "I Want the One I Can't Have" - "Rusholme Ruffians" - "Well I Wonder" - "Barbarism Begins at Home" LOWLIGHTS - "Meat Is Murder" FINAL THOUGHTS Even at the short run time, this did not feel to slight and I think we got a good variety of stuff. A solid showcase of what the band could do, as well as of it's weaknesses ( cohesiveness between music and vocals being the main offender). While the musicianship is undeniable on this album, I think what is going to scare most close-minded people away is 100% always going to be those unique vocals. I think a lot of people heard "How Soon is Now" on the radio or a movie or as the opening credits of their favorite tv show, and could not help but be disappointed when they didn't get more of that. I personally think they acquit themselves quite well here, and never once shit the bed. I think when introducing the band ( specially to Americans) Hatful of Hollow ( maaaaybe The Queen is Dead based on how well I know this person's taste) would be my choice as the beginner. I'm not sure it qualifies to be on here as it's a compilation, but I think it would also work better than the other two I'm fairly certain we'll be seeing. While Morrisey's You Are the Quarry will remain an unflushed turd ( it comes up a LOT in my group's discussions) in the toilet bowl of 1-star rated albums, I don't think it's going to color my opinion of the Smiths in general ( or even some of his earlier solo stuff) too much. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - While I don't hate anything on here, the highlights would definitely get the most play FURTHER LISTENING - Hatful of Hollow by the Smiths - Silvertone by Chris Isaak - Ocean Rain by Echo & the Bunnymen - The La's by The La's - The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express by the Go-Betweens
This is the second encounter with Morrissey on this project, but the first with The Smiths. Let's see how this one goes. I can see that I will likely enjoy The Smiths a lot more than Morrissey's solo stuff. Johnny Marr pulls from a deep well of musical influences to craft a rock sound worthy of the name. These first tracks are reminiscent of early 60s rock. Jangling guitar forward upbeat songs that seem to be at odds with the angsty lyrics. The intros and outros on these tracks are great. Its the 80s' but not a synthesizer in earshot. I dig it. When the second half of the album decreases the pace it still delivers. And for most of the album we see a great fusion of the vocals and the musical arrangement. All of the music on this album works for me. My fingers never itched for the skip button. Yet some of the vocals and songwriting approached annoyance for me near the end of the album. Morrissey at times sounds like he is singing into a can from another room. Maybe the rest of the band put him in timeout. I called the first Morrissey album I listened to for this project cringe. I wanted to give The Smiths an honest chance, however, since a band is often more than just the lead singer. This album was not that so I'm glad I was able to hear it with open ears. The rock sound was much improved and Morrissey was restrained enough to not detract from it. A 3.5 that I'm rounding down. Track Highlight Rusholme Ruffians What She Said Nowhere Fast Well I wonder
some interesting git parts and a lot of bluesrock but not my vibe
I've been avoiding the Smiths for a long time thinking they wouldn't really be my thing, but this is actually pretty decent
And when I'm lying in my bed I think about life And I think about death And neither one particularly appeals to me
The Smiths definitely bring the nostalgia but I was never really a fan. The last track just put me off.
Pretty meh. Last song really waters it down, its like if John Lennon was in PETA when he wrote Imagine. Super meh
Great sound, I love the atmosphere- not sold on the lyricism and how the vocals kinda blend together
Great album
Most of the songs were fine but no real standouts.
Yeah it’s more Morrissey.
Easy listening 80's vibes.
Muito característico o estilo deles, dá pra reconhecer na hora mesmo. As músicas bem parecidas, uma vibe legal. Imagino isso tocando na casa do Will e trocando uns papos loucos sobre a vida.
favs: nowhere fast well i wonder barbarism begins at home rating 1.7/5
the first song is great but not crazy about the rest tbh
Yet another Morrissey album. This is probably the weakest of the The Smiths albums on here (I vastly prefer The Queen is Dead and Strangeways). However, it remains an interesting listen. 7/10 [DROP]
The Smiths again
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
Kind of conflicted. I liked it at times, but other times not at all. Let's just say it was on the higher end of 2.5?
Following the release of ‘Meat Is Murder,’ the Smiths retreated to Manchester to start working on new material. Marr and Morrissey wrote at Marr's home to avoid the trappings of London and pressure from their label; Rough Trade. The next album was produced by Morrissey and Marr and is “far superior“ (as the Brits say) to ‘Meat Is Murder.’ Do yourself a huge favor and listen to the amazing; ‘The Queen Is Dead.’
I’m so damn sick of Morrissey and The Smiths, this guy takes up way too much real estate around here. There had better not be any more.
i love the smiths i hate morrissey
Extremely boring album. Only one song here worth listening to. I also cannot stand Morrisey's voice.
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
Morrisey is an awful human. But what a voice. This is a perfect The Smiths album. Captures all of the feels from an 80s romantic gothic punk point of view. I got into The Smiths when I was recording collecting in my teens and bought vinyls from the charity bins for a couple of dollars.
Fantastic album by a great band approaching their peak. The less said about Moz the better.
Yeah decent
This is another good album from the smiths even if I don’t like this one as much as I liked “strange ways here we come”. As a whole the album flies by. It’s a lot of the same sonically from start to finish and it feels short, but much I guess isn’t a negative thing, I just wasn’t really blown away by this album. I still think the strongest aspect of this band is NOT morrissey’s vocals, it’s the guitar tone and the actual instrumentals as a whole. It’s just such a timelessly solid sound, even if it gets called “80s” a lot. I liked this album, the highlights being “barbarism begins at home”, “nowhere fast”, and “the headmaster ritual”.
I now the band but not this album. This album has not resonated with my personal taste
I like meat. I also like this record. The two worlds can co-exist!
Un appel à ne pas tuer les animaux en 1985 la classe. Un album rock assez doux et fort à la fois
liked it, 7/10. vibed in the car on a drive but couldn’t really understand the lyrics so will re-listen again.
Hated it
Love the smiths
I don't know why the list feels that because an artist was influential we need multiple albums of the same artist. Especially when this wasn't even their hardest impact album.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - I don't think The Smiths are as good as some people say, but they are still an excellent band. This is probably my favourite of their albums, I love The Headmaster Ritual. Rusholme Ruffians is also good. The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is quite cool and then Barbarism Begins At Home is another favourite.
Again, love The Smiths, despise Morrissey
Meat Is Murder is a record that’s easy to respect and harder to inhabit. Johnny Marr’s guitar work is the clear highlight — more varied and adventurous than on the debut, with a sonic palette that ranges from delicate arpeggios to driving rock without ever losing the band’s distinctive identity. He’s an exceptional player, and this album shows more of his range than almost anything else in the Smiths catalog. The surprises are rhythmic. A couple of tracks lean into a chugging, locomotive groove that lands somewhere between rockabilly pulse and kitchen sink drama — an unexpected overlap with the Americana tradition, arriving from a completely different cultural direction. It’s the kind of musical coincidence that makes the listening project worthwhile. Morrissey remains an acquired taste. His literary obsession with working class Northern England is genuine and intelligent, and the title track makes its provocative argument with real conviction. But the emotional world he’s constructing stays at arm’s length — appreciated intellectually without being felt viscerally. The record never quite pulls you inside it. The record player test was decisive. This isn’t something you’d reach for by choice, which in the end is the most honest measure available. A respectful three — crafted with care, just not for this particular listener.
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
Nice one. But just liked the 1st song
Smiths classic. Flows really well, all good tunes! 8/10
A little bit of Smiths how’s a long way and this is already the second album recommended. Seems more of a hodge podge of songs than an album that needs to be heard. 0 songs added to playlist.
I love the smiths, not their best, but still great.
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
I think I've definitely come round to not disliking the smiths anymore but there really wasn't much here that I particularly liked either. Whining man now whines about being a vegan also 3
C’était nul j’ai pas du tout aimé, toutes les chansons se ressemblaient BEURK
Pleasant in the moment, forgettable after finishing.
A bit unfairly maligned because of the (admittedly subpar) title song, though I think this one's one of their more interesting albums. My favorite has always been their debut and the way it's kind of shrouded in a mystery that Morrissey would never have to him again, but that's not totally dispelled here either (plus they're coming closer to post-punk here!) Headmaster Ritual and That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore are a really compelling look at a direction they might have taken if Morrissey didn't steer things towards straightforward guitar pop with even more self-involved lyrics.
the reason i smile - the smiths
Day 220 One I knew very well, despite it probably being 15 years since I last listened to it in full. Highlights That Joke isn’t funny anymore How Soon is Now? Barbarism begins at home
I really can't get on with Morriey's voice.
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
Pleasant background noise
Ugh. I suppose the upshot of getting another Morrissey/The Smiths album to listen to is that it means there's one fewer album in the future which this site will make me listen to. I'm still listening to the first song, and I'm not sure I'll make it through to the end of this album. I will try to persevere though. I'm managing to make it through this album by giving every 1 star review on this site a thumbs up.
Good album The bassline and guiterwork is amazing And the vocals of morrissey is as always Ethereal.. Favourite Track- Well i wonder Date listened- March 19th 2026
i really don't want to listen to this album. the smiths are fine but isn't this the third smiths album i've gotten? surely i don't have to listen to this before i die?
5 stars bc meat is murder
One of the most crushing feelings in the world: the feeling that you can tell, that so much effort was put into making something that just stinks like shit.
Listened driving to work. Liked it but it's not their best. It's The Smiths before they truly hit their stride.
Sorry ivan, this albums sucks
Johnny Marr is an interesting guitar player but there's not very much to this record. Morrissey's cheap cringing lyrical misanthropy is so dated, it's hard to imagine a time when people were really affected by it. Most of these songs sound the same.
Some great moments and some ok as sometimes I don't vibe that much with the singer, but dang great frickin bass
2.5/5
3r32r13
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.
I just don't like this band. I didn't think this album was as bad as most of their stuff, but still, no need for me to ever hear this again. Morrisey's voice grates on me.
All of these smiths albums sound the same to me tbh. Not really a band for me.
These guys have staying power. My 2010 born daughter just loves them
this album made me go vegan
Joj dosadni su mi oni više, ne volim ih. Baš teška dosada od benda. 1/5, 1/10
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 didnt like this
I probably know the least about this Smiths album and despite Morrisey being Morrisey it’s still a great record.
Johnny Marr is an excellent guitarist and the parts where he is doing his thing, I like. But I could never get past Morrissey's voice.
They really were in their bag
I fucking HATE Morrisey. Every single time the other guys in the band try to write something great he comes in with his stupid pining voice and his douchebag nature. He's always singing about being alone and I wonder if he's realized he's the problem. I doubt it. Favorites: That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Meat Is Murder
1985 vegetarier sein muss crazy gewesen sein
The Smiths haben gegessen.Aber kein Fleisch.
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.
Pretty underwhelming. Not a huge fan of The Smiths to begin with
it was good but not my taste
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.
my bangs just got a little bit shorter
Good
Some of these songs had a good beat, and I found myself tapping my foot or my fingers with the beat, but other than that it was…meh. Nothing really stood out. Rating: 2/5 Day 160/1089
70
Really groovy. Fuck Morrissey but this is fun, weird, catchy, and has a real perspective.
I like music from The smiths but I didnt really like the album
Not my thing. The songs annoyed me.
Alright cool but not my fave
This is 100% gay sex music. Anyways, fun fact time: that's a real soldier on the album cover and his helmet originally said "MAKE WAR, NOT LOVE" on it. I quite like both slogans. I also quite like how gay this album is. Tell me with a straight face that I Want the One I Can't Have isn't gay. You can't because it's gay. It's also really atmospheric, more than their other albums. I can't quite say it's gayer than their other albums but it's definitely more atmospheric. Anyways, now that I've gotten all 3 Smiths albums on this list (+1 Morrissey solo album so far), I can't tell if each one is better than the last or if I just like The Smiths more than I used to. Both are equally likely. Either way I had a very gay time listening to this album.
I thought I was going to really dislike this one. Not my era. I didn't hate it. Some of it is growing on me on several listens. Just doesn't hit me between the eyes. Some of the tracks also just sound 'off' - like right brain and left brain doesn't know what's going on in the middle. Maybe that's the point. Boppy pop in one ear and ''waaahh' high reverb off key poetry in the other. Some bands you can hear the 'band' in the recordings - i.e. playing together, despite likelihood that most lay individual tracks turn by turn. I feel Morrissey's isolation in a recording booth on this. Particularly on 'What She Said'. Can't choose a fave track yet. I like Meat Is Murder musically but the lyrics (sick face). It's a 2.5 for 'meh'. Probably wouldn't put it on again for pleasure, more like to test it out in a month's time and see how I feel about it then, having rammed it several times into my ears today. Total number tracks: 9 Fave Track: ? Short list: 1: The Headmaster Ritual, 4: What She Said 7: Well I... oh got bored. One of them has some rain on it? I liked that.
This album was OK, one or two I kinda liked and very much the Smiths - but they lose a point for the dull, indulgent title track, especially dumping it at the end.
cool, tenía teme cool, igua no me mato pero bien
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
Headmest ritual is very fun. Meat is Murder is extremely sad. As a whole, it's a pleasant listen, but mostly functions as neat background music that mostly blends together. I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible. Melancholic and soothing, until the end. Just realized something: i was going to say that this "sounds like FIFA music to me", as in, fairly innocuous, inoffensive and unobtrusive tracks that are pleasant as background music in a FIFA video game. Considering the album's age, it's more appropriate to say that this album is the progenitor of such a style of music that was later commercialized and oft imitated by smaller bands. With all of that said, it's still pleasant music but I do think it indeed serves best as something in the background - I can easily imagine it playing during a drive, or during a movie montage featuring driving... Not trying to say it only has commercial applications, but it doesn't move me otherwise (aside from the eponymous Meat is Murder, which is suitably uncomfortable) and I think it's a respectable "use" for it.
finally a 40 minute album after two double LPs I can't get over the vocals, I get they're genre defining and iconic, but it's not for me Like the melody on What She Said Second half looks much more promising with The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Nowhere Fast being tracks I like Well I wonder continuing the track, but the rain sound at the end is making me wanna go pee Again me with the bassline on Barbarism Title track kinda makes the ending unceremonious, overall hit or miss album imo
I'm glad I didn't like this album, beacause then I'd have to admit to liking something Morrissey has done. Day saved though, I didn't like any part of this album, well, I did get a good laugh at the title track. Over the top!
I’m so sick of these generic ass UK rock bands.
Could make me vegan tbh very intense
i don't think many people would describe The Smiths' music as angry. they're stereotypically too po-faced, dour, depressed for anything that resembles a fire in the belly. but if not angry, then what the hell is this record? it's far from the histrionics found on occasion on their debut, but its social-issue songs weren't quite as sardonic and conceptual as they'd grow up to be - instead they're straightforward, plainspoken, very bitter and very very angry. as such, i think of this as the prickliest Smiths record, the one that lines up the least with a certain superficial perception of the band. there aren't really any great pop songs here, in the same way that the other three records have sprinkled on and the compilations contain in droves; What She Said is probably the strongest hook, and that song's dense, muscular swirl is fairly opposed to the breeziness of many Smiths hits. those highwire Johnny Marr guitar parts are here, but they're too slippery or too far down in the mix to stick in the head. bassist Andy Rourke gets what used to be Marr's spot, and fills the record with post-punk spikiness and muscular funk that aren't sprightly or pretty in the way the band often was these instrumental qualities do little to temper the record's sadness. this is a Smiths album, so we have to talk about sadness. it's here on Meat is Murder, and it's real. it's not particularly romantic, and it's certainly not cut with humor, completely upending the line so many defenders like to pull out - "you know, Morrissey's actually really funny!" and yeah, he normally is, but here he's telling us that jokes can be cruel, barbed, acidic coming out of the wrong mouth. he's recounting what might be a young girl's last words. he's gasping, dying, but somehow still alive, making the final stand of all he is - which admittedly, is actually pretty funny to say before continuing to live for at least 40 more years and being a huge weird bitch the whole time, but he certainly isn't joking when he sings it. on a lot of this record, as pointed out above, Morrissey's too angry to be funny OR sad, and despite what he'd claim on track 2 of his next record, it's a very righteous anger. it's on behalf of the defenseless, the innocent the small and frail: apart from the slaughterhouse-bound elephant in the room, he's angry on behalf of children. The Headmaster Ritual is just a beast of a way to begin a record, indicting the power and corruption rampant in English schools - corporal punishment is the oft-touted subject of the song, which isn't wrong, but its real, chilling bite comes from the sex of it all. Morrissey's always had a way with the sinister, more coercive side of sexual desire, and i think missing it in this song - "he grabs me and devours, kicks me in the showers" "the military two-step down the nape of my neck" - is to misread the severity of what he's protesting. things are no better at home, further down the tracklist, where the abuse is more narrowly physical but no less rampant, no more avoidable the final track is infamous, and look, i'm not putting it on for fun. i don't listen to it at all outside of this tracklist, but i think it's a natural extension of the callousness and brutality laid out in the preceding songs. from Headmaster to Barbarism to Meat is Murder, there's a clear line - how can our schools be civilized if our houses aren't, how can our houses be civilized if they gather around the meat of a slaughtered animal every night. it's the root of this brutality for Morrissey, which.........i don't know, man. i eat meat, but i get it. people like to close their ears to this one because Morrissey's annoying, but he's backed up by both highfalutin philosophers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so it's not like he's the only crank in the world like this. i think this gets under people's skin more than they like to say. anyways! that's The Smiths' second record, a couple fun rockabilly tracks surrounded by these brutally sad, very empathetic songs. if anyone's read this far, you'll have gleaned they're a very important band to me. i really relished the opportunity to return to this record, which was a bit too frosty for me to love during my high-school obsession phase. as an adult living in a world that often seems alienated and callous, i found its opposition to cruelty, violence, austerity, and close-mindedness to be incredibly moving. it seems required on this site to bring up what an asshole you think Morrissey is when writing Smiths reviews, and yeah, of course, but it's just horribly sad to me how someone writing such empathetic music could turn out that way. who knows, man, at least he gave us these songs
Väldigt 80-tal. Ok lyssning men inget jag fastnade på riktigt.
The smiths are one of the GOATS… all albums 5/5… can’t get enough EAT LESS MEAT
Okay indi. Takes some active listening to catch the lyrics. Real easy to get distracted to
This a mix of pretty good with terrible - not all bad.
solid rock album 👌🏻
Debated whether to go with 3 but going with the lower score as didn’t know any songs and can’t so any jumped out so maybe needs another listen
This was a chill album, made me want to listen to Pink Floyd, so take that as you will. Overall, a good album, but it feels like its lacking just a little bit.
A lot of it Sounds very samey. I don‘t love it
Great album, shit leadsinger.
Never bought any Smiths albums at the time and this justifies my decision . Another instantly recognisable but forgettable album . Interesting to listen to but I shan't be going through any more of the back catalogue in the basis of this .
Amazing album. No skips
Some great teenage angst
This is an extraordinarily interesting album densely packed with musical ideas.
Easily forgettable album that just went by. Not to say this was bad album or anything but it was just forgettable. Best song was Barbarism begins at home.
I've never listened to The Smiths before. I've heard them being praised as one of the greatest bands of all time, so, naturally, I thought I they were very overrated, without even listening to them. Now, after hearing this album, I can say one thing: The Smiths are one of the most overrated bands of all time. Morissey isn't a good singer and he is an ok lyricist. The playing is ok, it does serve the songs, but it's nothing mindblowing, when compared to their genre contemporaries. The songs are mostly ok, but forgettable, with 2-3 standouts. All in all, a mediocre album. 3/5
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
Weird. I haven't liked the smiths from what I've listened to before but this was okay. Morrissey's voice is less grating in this one.
Amzing album as just they, the pure essence of ther music
Yeah, nah..
me gustó, la verdad no sé si es mi agrado musical para todos los días, pero sí para caminar en la mañana
Brings out your inner vegan
🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Never spent any time with The Smiths growing up. This was fine.
The smiths have some great riffs and melodies and a unique style but some how Morrisey's vocals don't work for me with them. I've rated his solo stuff higher which some might find strange but it's just personal opinion. Stand out songs: the headmaster ritual and Barbarism begins at home. I'll give it a 3
the smiths tiene mejores albumes q este, pero esta bueno igual
Loveeee
Second time listen, a lot mor enjoyable than the last.
Rv
WOWOWOW
Ok album, al imaju u svojoj diskografiji dosta boljih. The Smiths su uvik vibe zato 6/10. Najbolja pisma: Well I wonder
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.
= the Beatles
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!
Listened to this while cleaning the house before kitchen remodel. The title track was a much different sounding song than the rest of the album.
I once owned all the Smiths albums but didn't listen much to any of them apart from 'The Queen is Dead'. Partly it was because they're tainted by the knowledge that Morrissey is a fascist prick. But this reminded me of the other reason - the killer tracks are really great, but for me the rest of this really is filler, nowhere near as good. And this album doesn't have many of their best songs on it.
So many bands wouldnt exist if not for this band/album.
Already a big fan of Well I wonder, excited to hear the rest of the album. I always love the jangly sound of the Smiths, whimsical yet grounded. I've always intended to listen to more, but had never made out the time prior. What really had struck me as profound on this album was the title track Meat is Murder. I'm not a vegetarian myself, but wow. Such an impactful track. Visceral imagery, and it really makes you pause and think about how meat really is a murder of a kind. Tracks saved: What She Said Nowhere Fast Well I Wonder
Sad boy music that I’ve always avoided cause it’s just too wah. I was right.
I don't like the Smiths voice, but I enjoyed the album in the background.
Eher mäßiges Album, hat mich nicht beeindruckt
kein plan, ganz ok
Ich mag die Smiths irgendwie, aber irgendwie auch nicht. naja 3 sterne
Wszystkie piosenki są do siebie podobne, tekst się wtapia w muzykę, trzeba się wysilić żeby go usłyszeć. 2/5
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 have never been a big Smiths fan. A not insignificant part of this is that in my high school, this was a line of social/musical stratification - I fell on the hard rock/rap side of things. Emo was out for me. The other major reason is Morrissey, whose voice grates on me and who is, well, insufferable. So this is the first time I've listened to an album and...it wasn't bad. I focused on the music, which is great. I focused and finally appreciated Andy Rourke's outrageously good bass playing. He and Johnny Marr make a phenomenal musical pairing. Focusing on the music was good. Docking only a point in my rating for the presence of Morrissey is an act of magnanimity on my part.
I mean. Ots the smiths. Im not expecting much and I know I wont like it. Some good base lines. But normal morrisey crap
I really wish Morissey wasn't a prick
4th best Smiths album but 6th best album OAT
Love it. Cool they put the worst track at the end. I know "How Soon Is Now" was not on the original album... but it totally belongs on there.
Choice tracks: 6 - How Soon Is Now 1 - The Headmaster Ritual 5 - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
Competent but it did not excite me
sounds nice but fuck morissey
5 out of 5. A contender for my favorite Smiths album but it is undeniably the one with the best bass lines.
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
Great guitars and song writing hold this album up to a good listen. As always with Morrissey you get this almost awkward style that is alot to take on a full album and probably why they made so many great non-album singles that were very popular in UK.
A bit of a mixed bag, do like the highlights here (I Want the One I Can't Have, Rusholme Ruffians etc) and I think the other songs are all cool to listen to for taking the jangly post-punk sound of Felt or Durutti Column and putting a pop formula on it. But aware there is honestly much better Smiths material than this even from my limited exposure
Favourite Track. Barbarism Begins at Home
Not my vibe
odeio morrissey e amo vegetarianismo
I do love the Smiths. wish Morrisey didn't suck so much lol
i liked it
I really liked 2 of these
Not the strongest Smiths album but fine none the less
Good instrumental elements but flat vocals
Not the best Smiths album I’ve heard but a decent enough listen
Exceptional indie classic
i'm actually so behind on the morrissey lore that at first i assumed the title was intended to be gimmicky but that track was crazy. i've recently had to go back to eating meat for health reasons after several years of being a veggie so i'm glad i'm less morrissey-adjacent as a silver lining lmao. i enjoyed some tracks but others less so - probably more of a 3.5
morrisey sucnormal
4,5/5
Que de entre todos os posibles saíra este disco xusto na finde do Carnaval paréceme un capricho do destino graciosísimo. Por outra parte, é unha auténtica marabilla de álbum (#17 dos 1.001 discos que escoitar antes de morrer: 4,5/5)
pdr sánchez ja va dir que on hi haja in bon chuletón...
Me gustaría que no me gustaran los Smiths para meterme más con el diverso subnormal de Morrisey y sus fans que aguantan inmisericordes cancelaciones constantes (conocí a un tipo que ha llegado a tener 10 entradas para verle pero solo le ha visto 5, no es mal ratio). Pero no hay chaladura en el mundo que me quite las ganas de escuchar los putos discos de los Smiths, que son todos buenísimos.
Great musicianship but can't stand whiny Morrissey
Lang getwijfeld over dees, maar uiteindelijk denk ik dat de massief klagerige stem van Morrison echt te storen is. Qua lyriek super sterk, politiek en snijdend, ma de stem is echt beu.
Theres lots of good things going on in this but The Smiths are just so repetitive and I can’t really see how much of this stuff is different from all of the other things I’ve heard from them. Meat is murder, but I think murder is natural. I like some of the songs though
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.
Feel like Bonnie would like what The Smiths are advocating for here but honestly the weird animal noises just made me feel uncomfortable and most of the songs I felt fairly indifferent towards.
I can't quite get on board with the Smiths style. It also sounds like the singer's droning on and on. The instrumental is quite cool though, and have the bonus on drowning the singer out quite a bit
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.
Yay my little gay band is doing what it does best, moving me with its strange sounds. The Headmaster Ritual says "Hey bitch, you're listening to the Smiths, you know it and love it." And yk what it's right. I fear Rusholme Ruffians is what will get me out of an almost week long creative slump. Oh, I Want the One I Can't Have, you can't do this to me. What She Said is forgettable. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is moving, but relaxing. Nowhere Fast is such an Oscar Piastri/ Mark Webber song that it makes me wish that I could edit with Capcut and make a TikTok about it. Well I Wonder could've been better. Barbarism Begins at Home fucks raw. Meat is Murder is a tonal shift a bit too late, but still enjoyable. Album's over too fast.
i get it, i truly do, i just dont like it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
love da smiths
Fantastic. My favourite smiths album. Their best quality across an album and the best tunes on here as well. First of their albums to go number 1. Headmaster Ritual: 10/10 Fantastic song. Genuinely perfect. Rusholme Ruffians: 8/10 Nice Rockabilly guitar. But still has the Smiths quality. I want the one I can’t have: 9.7 Great dark and catchy. What She Said: 9.6 High energy. Rock. The joke isn’t funny anymore: 10/10 Incredible. One of the best songs of all time. Nowhere fast: 7.7/10 Well I Wonder: 10/10 Barbarism begins at Home: 10/10 Meat is murder: 7/10
1-2 songs are cool but then they all sound the same , overdosed on melancholy
All time great
La's better. 2/5
Beautiful album. So smiths. A surprising array of musicality in here alongside the classic vocals. Loved most of them, well I wonder just vibed so hard. 4.5/5
I like them for a couple songs but then they just sound the same and his voice isn't my fav
Не умеет Морриси петь. Все остальное очень - норм.
Not as solid of an album as I remember it, but still enjoyable. "How Soon Is Now" remains the highlight. What carries the album is the overall musicianship, not necessarily Morrissey's vocals.
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
It's a solid rock album. It was dense and had a great flow, distinct sound.
My heart sank when this album came up. At first I wasn't going to listen to it, but I'm a few albums on now and didn't want to spoil my streak. It's such a shame Jonny Marr started a band with Morrissey and not... literally anybody else. His guitar playing is sublime. The bass playing is pretty awesome too. But Morrissey's singing is just horribly bad. Why did he ever think it was okay to just sing the SAME THREE NOTES, all the time. Rotten.
Ok, not a massive fan
muah
i love The Smiths !
Pretty good. Has a nice balance between slow and upbeat. Unique singing style too
meh
Loved it, I want to marry both Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke 4.5/5
Wonderful trip back in times of inspiring indie rock from Great Britain.
Listened while walking around (to and from lunch), seated at my desk, and driving home from work. Feels familiar but mostly just the voice and arrangement, not any particular tune. Very poetic. Loaded with room reverb.
Morissey's voice is grating
Bounce, jangle and moan in perfect proportion.
En tiedä. Jos laulua ei olisi, tämä voisi olla semmosta neutraalia, vähä vilkkaampaa taustamusaa vaikka vaatekaupassa. Muutama kiva kitarakohta mutta jättää vähä viileäksi.
Musiikki ja saundit aivan jeppis. Vokaalit ei vaan uponneet itselle lainkaan. Jotain kautta tuttu bändi (laulajasta ei voi erehtyä), mutta ei tuttu levy kuitenkaan.
This album is excellent. If I could change one thing I would take the vocals down a bit and boost the bass. Andy Rourke's bass lines are killer and they're the standout part of this album for me. Johnny Marr is great as always, I really enjoy his playing. I started this project in August of '23 and I've spent a considerable amount of time here since. I've been consumed by music as far back as I can remember and I truly look forward to a new album daily. Thank you Alex for creating the generator and all of the work you've put into it. This experience has been a high point in the last few years.
ok i like the smiths whatEVER
Not really my kind of music. I actually listened to the first song a while back and realized I don’t like the smiths that much because I personally think the guy’s voice is annoying and their sound is weird. I don’t like rating negatively sometimes especially on super influential bands but 1001 albums made me as it was my album of the day. Overall my opinion still stands, but I don’t completely hate the title track meat is murder. It was alright after the mooing but I’m not gonna stop eating meat!
Great album. Yes, Morrisey is a prick but the Smiths should be judged as a band and the rest of the guys shine on this one. More upbeat(relative) than most of the rest of The Smiths output and I’m here for it. 7/10 Favorite tracks- “Rusholme Ruffians” “I Want the One I Can’t Have” “Barbarism Begins at Home”
coolest thing the Smiths ever did I don't like their music at all. without Morrissey being the person he is I might have rounded up. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
A guy could probably go through this entire list and not find a single act as cool as naming an album “Meat Is Murder”. It’s a really admirable indifference to record sales etc, for the sake of Making A Point. Meat eaters (I’m a meat eater) get so worked up about vegans, and it’s obviously because vegans are at least kinda right. Meat IS murder and at the very least, you should have to sit with that every once in a while. It’s such an inflammatory phrase, and without a doubt there are a LOT of people who will never listen to the Smiths just because they know they have an album called Meat Is Murder. That rocks, on the Smiths’ part. It’s also cool and funny that through all of this, they’re also a pretty wimpy sounding band. I like the Smiths now.
brilliant
This was pretty good. Kept my interest the whole time.
I don't know much by The Smiths. I really like How Soon Is Now though. So this album I think was all new to me. I liked it.
This one didn’t hit as hard for me as a whole package as their other albums, though Johnny Marr’s hooks are varied and exciting as always.
Obviously, fuck Moz, but we're separating art from the artist here. The Smiths was one of those things it took me a long time to get into, but I really dig them in my dotage. Perhaps it's a product of this album not having any of the huge hits on it, but I was underwhelmed. It's all quite good and quite Smiths-y, but I wasn't super compelled by it, which was a surprise. Would probably reward repeated listens, as much of their stuff does, but as is, it's middle of the road to me at least.
Beloved My teens - imagine how much more I love them now that I’m old enough to understand the lyrics😂
This is like the glint in someone's eye. In a flash, you can see the clear shift of emotion and thought. It creates a little excitement. It's playful. Clever. Often mischievous.
Half great if a bit redundant. The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is so good it tips the album into the positive.
Can't stand the Smiths
2.2
the melodies are so good that you don't pay attention to the lyrics anymore
"I've seen this happen in other people's lives And now it's happening in mine." "When I'm lying in my bed I think about life and I think about death And neither one particularly Appeals to me" This album is never far from me. I need to hear "The Headmaster Ritual" fairly regularly, like once I think of it I need to hear it. The whole thing up to "Nowhere Fast" is back-to-back crucial Smiths. And speaking of "Nowhere Fast," it's such a perfect fucking Smiths song, so tidy, punchy and succinct. "And when a train goes by It's such a sad sound It's such a sad thing" I'll say that I've never been crazy about "Barbarism Begins At Home," like one of the very few Smiths songs I'm meh on (though I still like it). And the actual song "Meat Is Murder" is obviously rather gnar and maybe not for suitable for regular consumption if you will, but if you're gonna do a song about meat being murder, that's how you fuckin' do it. There's no way to fully put into words just how important The Smiths are to me except to say just that. Favorite forever. Can't imagine life without.
Good album, probably my "least" favorite Smiths album so far, but it's still got some dang good songs on it. 3.5/5
good
Liv quote of the day: “If anything else was happening over this music I’d be having a great time.” (As Morrissey groans over the extended outro of “Barbarism Begins at Home.”) She’s also convinced the false ending happened when because they told him the song was over and waited til he left to bring it back. The Smiths are fun! Not the title track. That’s not fun. Not Morrissey with his dour personality and awful takes. The rest of the album though? Alternative’s perennial sour puss tra-la-la-ing over sick bass lines and Marr’s interpretation of American honky tonk that never fucking quits. “What She Said” kinda sounds like RHCP’s “Higher Ground” cover with a different mix and I will not apologize for that take. It’s The Smiths at their most accessible and it slaps.
First time I’ve listened to this one. There’s a couple duds but the majority of tracks really hit. Johnny Marr’s guitar work is phenomenal as expected. Will return to it for sure.
Better than expected, second Smith's album I've done. You can here the guitar references in modern UK indie, the lyrics are good and some of the songs are deeper and more challenging than on the previous album I heard.
thought i'd like it mor e
ægte hipster tumblr-core album, men tror også jeg er en hipster?? glad for at dykke mere ned i The Smiths og elsker når folk har modige budskaber og tør være politiske med deres musik
While the musicality and orchestration are compelling, Meat Is Murder is weighed down for me by its passive-aggressive lyricism and wailing vocal delivery.
good album, the message is expressed weirdly, but the songs are good. i liked "the headmaster ritual", "that joke is't funny anymore", "barbarism begins at home", "meat is murder"
Give up education is a bad mistake I wanna go home
the smiths are classic! there are always absolute bangers on any record
Dull as dishwater, this is the album you trot out when you want to pretend you listen to something different and cool while actually wanting to listen to the same generic poprock most people do. Plenty of bands doing it better by 1985.
loved! not my favorite the smiths album (that’ll be the queen is dead) but definitely solid. old faves: the headmasters ritual new faves: i want the one i can’t have what she said
oh lalalalalalelayyyeee oooo la la alalallalalayeeeyee headmasters ritual could wake me from the fucking dead. Otherwise a mid smiths album for me tho. The joke isn’t funny anymore is good
mid
did not enjoy this album as much as hatful of hollow