Meat Is Murder

Enjoyed the album, again Marr's guitar work is intricate and excellent, Morrissey's vocals at times is a little grating, but overall some very good songs

Great album cover. I've heard good things about The Smiths, though I've never found the time to listen to their music. Glad to finally be given the opportunity. I have no idea what I was expecting going into this album, but I was prepared for it to be vaguely within this style of music. There are some pretty good guitar performances on here and the rockabilly influence is fun. There's a respectable level of variety as well. I like how the atmospheric "Well I Wonder" shifts the direction of the album in a more intricate direction. "Barbarism Begins at Home" was my favourite song on Meat Is Murder. It's less lyric-focused than some of the other songs on the album, but is carried by a great central guitar riff that somehow manages to justify the song's 7-minute runtime. The only real gripe I have with this album concerns the vocals. They're pretty weak and made me pay less attention to the lyrics than I perhaps should have. I'm open to the idea of them being an acquired taste, much like with some of the other bands that I now herald as favourites. There's a good chance that this album will grow on me with additional listens, which is something I have said about a few other albums in recent memory. I think I can confidently say that my appreciation of music is growing. For the longest time I have looked at 80s music with complete disdain, though there are now two albums from the decade that appreciate (the other being "The Stone Roses"). Coin of indecision time again as I'm unsure of whether this one will grow into a favourite. Heads. Into the 4-star category you go, lil buddy. I've heard that "The Queen Is Dead" is the best Smiths album, so I'm glad that I haven't even reached the apex of this band yet.

very entertaining, obvious messages which some are more heavy handed then others, but not bad

Four stars (sorry)

The instrumentation rips. Unfortunately Morrisey sucks at singing. Still a great listen though.

Very good album. 4 stars

Enjoyed this although recognised less songs than I thought I would (not a bad thing)

Not their finest but ultimately it’s okay

1. the headmaster ritual: nice guitars, upbeat tempo, nice dreamlike vocals, very chill, depressing war lyrics, not much melody in vocals, cool post chorus, long faded outro, cool song 2. rusholme ruffians: fun bass, faster tempo, interesting vocal breaks 3. i want the one i cant have, upbeat tempo, nice vocals, deep lyrics 4. what she said: super reverby vocals and drums, cool guitar intro, short and fast 5. that joke isn't funny anymore: slower, calmer, dreamlike vocals, chorus guitar effect, long outro that fades out and back in 6. nowhere fast: fast again, blues riffs, interesting lyrics, short 7. well i wonder: nice, chill intro and vocals, nice guitar, relaxing, rain sound outro, cool song 8. barbarism begins at home: mid tempo, great acoustic intro, barking?, repetitive lyrics, longer song, nice vocals, long yet interesting outro, funky bass, cool song 9. meat is murder: strange intro with cow sound, nice effects, nice chill guitar riff, chill vocals, vegan lyrics, long vibey outro overall: pros-solid 80s production, relaxing, calm vocals and guitars, meaningful lyrics, good length songs cons-nothing super surprising or special, long outros rating: 8/10

A good for the list of Albums you should hear if you are a Smiths fan, but worth debating whether it needs to be among the 1001. Sandwiched between 2 stellar records, Meat is Murder is merely very good. Not the essential intro to the band, but a nice follow up. Clearly Smiths/ Moreisey are favorites of the author, but that doesn’t mean their entire catalogue needs to be on the list.

I jumped for joy when i saw this

Fuck Morrissey but this album is bloody excellent. Favourite songs: Barbarism Begins in the Home

they have better albums tbh but this one is enjoyable. headmasters did it better 🙄 ethically sourced morrissey

Great album. Really enjoyable songs and production, thoughtful lyrics. I need to spend more time with this album

Good but didn't change my life

It was nice, I should check their other albums too

I'm a pretty big Smith's fan (I can separate artist from art on this one), but I think this is one of their weaker albums. It is still really good and I love the title track, The Headmaster Ritual, and That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, but everything else is a little forgettable but not bad in any way. Johnny Marr really is the standout on this album (he and Andy carry this band). High 4.

straight and enjoyable indie album that gets out of the way. somehow everything from that period sounds gothy, maybe that's only the perception from the rearview mirror...

Love this really. They have their ‘own sound’.

LOVE the Smiths e questo album non è da meno, ha tutte quelle caratteristiche tipiche della loro musica come gruppo per cui mi manca il lessico appropriato. Ho però sempre trovato che parta un po’ debolmente. Stand out è Meat is Murder che mi ha sempre inquietato infatti la skippo sempre

Bien

Unas ganas de escuchar the smiths pero no sabía como empezar, la página lo eligió por mi y realmente me gustó, estoy seguro que si lo escucho más veces llega a 5 estrellas, una intro activa, muy disfrutable en todos los sentidos, un final por no decir curioso, me gustó me gustó, chevere, espero que con el resto de la discografía sea así, tal vez un poquito lenta pero vale la pena

Der opstår en form for magi når The Smiths blander Marrs jingly-jangly guitar rytmer med Morrisseys kritiske og humoristiske tekster og lidt triste vokale fremføring. Der var ikke en eneste af de The Smiths sange jeg kender på albummet, men hele lydbilledet er umiddelbar genkendeligt. Den er lige et par bangers fra være en 5er.

What a classic. Its sad, its moody, its longing but its also progressive, flowing and moving. I like how they experiment with different percussion, bass and even guitar elements. Morrissey's moody lyrics kind of keep you grounded and intrigued. I like that some songs feel more punk, where others feel more new wave and even folky here and there. This is a great record and one thats always fun to turn on every now and again.

3.5 / 5 rounded up This was my first introduction to The Smiths and also my first time revisiting since. It has really grown on me and I don’t hate it as much anymore as those years ago, but still my least favourite The Smiths album. The 5 track run from What She Said to Barbarism Begins at home was awesome, just a shame that it had to be followed by the title track.

Lalalalalalalala animals cry I think the queen is dead is better

A very good album. Not Smith-s best, but great nonetheless.

Nice to meat you 😅

A lot like Orange Juice. Kinda post-punk with a little funk.

The smiths are great, morrisey is not

To this point, I have not been very happy with what I've heard from Morrissey. Either his music's been shoulder shruggingly "ehhhh, fiiiine" like on VIVA HATE, or I just could not get past what an asshole he is like with YOU ARE THE QUARRY. I mean, for someone who used to be part of such a well-respected band, I'm a little surprised that the stuff he made without them hasn't been that great, at least to my ears. Well, today I got to find out at least one part of what that band was all about. My group, at last, was given an album by The Smiths — finally, an album with Morrissey that I figure people generally actually like! And, hey, it's the one with the title that relates to one of those things I hear Morrissey is very annoying about! But let's put that aside for the moment, though, and just answer the simple question: did Morrissey fare any better with a band behind him? Oh, goodness, yes. Absolutely, yes. I like this way more than anything else I've heard involving Morrissey. Seriously, all the credit to Johnny Marr for actually writing music I can be engaged with. It's often pretty rockin' and driving, and, ahh, mmm, it's so enjoyable. I'll take this tenfold over the "restrained and refined" whatever that VIVA HATE had going on. Y'know, that this is particularly wild or rough, but goodness, it doesn't feel the need to be nearly as uptight and respectable, y'know? Then we've got the lyrics, which, like usual, I wasn't able to catch all of. Jus' how I am. However, from the little bits I were able to catch, this isn't nearly as aggravating as YOU ARE THE QUARRY was. That album, at various times, felt either like Morrissey complaining about how awful everyone else is or Morrissey being smug about how **great** he is. Real asshole behaviour. Meanwhile, here — well, I can't pull any specific overarching theme out, but just the fact that I didn't wanna skoosh him for anything he said is a major point in this album's favor. Even the closer and title track wasn't as obnoxious about its veganism as I would've thought it'd be. Another point, too: I found Morrissey's voice better here than on any of his later solo albums. Which, maybe it's just a case of better backing instrumentals making him sound better as a result, but whatever the case, I'll take it. Big respects as well to the band for playing as well as they did, of course. So... Well, shucks. I'm pleasantly surprised! If this is what The Smiths generally sounded like, then yeah, I can understand just from this alone why they were held in such high regard. Even if it did lead to Morrissey becoming such a name on his own... Well, y'can't really hold that against the music, can yah But anyway, as for a rating, uhm... I'm really tempted to give this thing a 5? Which, goodness, ain't that an improvement from the 3's and 2's I've otherwise been givin' this guy's work? Ultimately I think I'm happy with a high 4. 'Coz I needa remember, the 5 is for big "Wow, this touches in my soul" reactions — or at least close enough — and as much as I like this, it just didn't quite get there. Still, it's the best thing I've ever heard from Moirrissey, and I can only hope their most famous album (THE QUEEN IS DEAD) is even better.

I’m at a 4. I mean, it’s definitely the best thing I’ve heard that has Morrissey singing lead vocals on it. Not the highest bar to clear, but not a particularly low one either. For a while, I was considering a 5, but I think “Barbarism Begins at Home” sort of rubbed me the wrong way with how much it leans into the “first minute is the whole song” syndrome without ever really getting that captivating. It wasn’t boring, at least. After that, “Meat is Murder” is like… it’s a good track, and its messaging makes sense & has a sort of gentle scolding approach I like, but it’s just a really heavy way to close out the album that I don’t think flows well with the general upbeat tempo on most of the tracks. Don’t get me wrong, I know this album leans into a lot of cynical & nihilistic lyrics, but it covers and shadows them under some excellent production that stands up next to some of the greats of new wave / indie rock at the time. “Meat is Murder” is just really heavy overall, though I can’t blame them for making it the last track. Whoever’s gonna skip it because of the message would’ve skipped it no matter where it was in the track order, and it’s better to make the last one skippable than any of the others, I guess. I really did like the rest of this album, though. “The Headmaster Ritual” is also kind of a heavy track lyrically, but the instrumental really, really makes it digestible with an R.E.M.-ish feel. I kind of bounced off of “Rusholme Ruffians”, but it’s a fun listen, at least. “I Want The One I Can’t Have” is REALLY good (or at the very least, the vocal structure is super catchy and appealed right to me).“What She Said” is fine & has a cool instrumental, but I don’t think Morrissey’s vocals are as strong as they could be. I loved the lyricism on “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”, but that long swirling section didn’t click for me as well as it could have – I do think it could’ve had a little more after the initial fake out ending from a lyrical standpoint. I listened to “How Soon Is Now?” even though it’s only on the US release, and… yeah, that’s just an awesome track. “Nowhere Fast” is fun, and a little goofy (the only time Morrissey has felt endearing to me in a while), but “Well I Wonder” might be the standout of the album – it perfectly captures a sort of innate human fear that’s usually hard to put into any kind of form, but they did it somehow. So, yeah, there are a few too many flaws for my tastes to really go up to a 5, but it’s absolutely worth giving a 4. I liked it a lot, and I can only hope Morrissey’s slow descent into madness doesn’t get documented on the rest of The Smiths albums on the list. Fingers crossed.

I heart birkinhead would go mad on a t shirt

What a band, shame morrissey is a prick. Prefer the queen is dead

Bittersweet listen considering Morrissey is an absolute weapon these days but I still enjoyed this album. It was the first Smiths record I bought so it was nice to revisit and confirm that Barbarism Begins at Home still goes incredibly hard. A record which also showcases that the Marr and Rourke duo matters just as much as Marr and Morrissey did for the band and its sound.

7/10 I love the Smiths, this album is my least favorite. Nothing wrong with it, but it sounds like the music you would put in a biopic to avoid copyright to the good songs. 1-10-2025

Listening to this, I had a strange revelation. As much as I dislike Morrissey, I can’t help but really like this album. So respect to the rest of the band for making a succes despite the presence of Morrissey.

Morrissey is a twat

4.5

Favourite tracks: meat is murder; headmaster ritual; that joke isn't funny anymore

Not their best album but still a classic

Not quite their best, for me, but there was still nothing else like them.

Судьба говорит мне: не еби головы и купи Ягуар. Лучшая песня - Barbarism Begins at Home.

This was a solid album, I think this is classified ad english rock. I have never heard of the smith's before and this was my introduction.

-this is SO GOOD oh my god i love it. i got really into a few songs on here about a year ago but never listened to the full album, honestly it’s a no skip. something very haunting and intriguing about the vocals too -definitive 4.5 stars -Favorites are The Headmaster Ritual, Rusholme Ruffians, and I Want the One I Can’t Have

Not as good as The Queen Is Dead, but still excellent. Morrissey's croon can border on grating sometimes, but other times it just yanks emotion from me. There's this desperation in his voice in "I Want the One I Can't Have" that just pulls me. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is a sorrowful oddysey. It's a song that's easy to get lost in. "Barbarism Begins at Home" milks a single bassline for nearly seven minutes. Luckily, it's one of the best ones I've ever heard. Fav tracks: I Want the One I Can't Have, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins at Home

I have the same experience most do nowadays with the Smiths where I really like the music but also “yeugh Morissey”. Still the album is very good.

Ignoring the fact that Morressy is a complete dickwad now I think this is my fave Smiths album and just eclipses Queen is Dead. Mighty stuff.

No one can do The Smiths like The Smiths. Meat is Murder is a great album that still holds up. I enjoy the guitar riffs that still feel etched into the indie psyche to this day. And without Morrissey's vocals, this album wouldn't hit the same either. I don't think this is their best work, but it's definitely worth a listen. Best Songs: Headmaster Ritual, What She Said, Well I Wonder Worst Songs: Rusholme Ruffians

Love his voice, very depressing though!

Every song on this album was new to me, and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Surprisingly liked it more than “The Queen is Dead”

Weird hearing a smiths album where I don’t know any cod the songs. Still good

i want to go home. i don’t what to stay lallalalallallalallalayeaaa

Meat is Murder is ironically the worst song on the album 8/10

I love The Smiths, despite (and also because of) lol Morrissey. Not only were they formative for Britpop, but they were formative for 2000s era livejournallers, and therefore, me. Lyric-heavy, unique voice, emo. As the Brits would say: tick, tick, tick. One thing that stood out to me is the A-A B-B C-C kinda structure a lot of these songs have. The general theme of this album seems to be "punishment", broadly construed. Or maybe that's my internalized meat-eating guilt, idk. Highlights: 'I Want the One I Can't Have', 'Nowhere Fast', 'Meat is Murder'

LP

Meat is Murder - The Smiths (1985) Not sure if I like this one as much as The Queen is Dead (an album I have grown to like a lot more following my review of it). I would say it has a comparable number of standout tracks that I liked, maybe not to the extent as those other songs but the quality is consistently high. Morriseys sad bitch boy antics that sorta snap you back out of what you're listening to continues here, though not quite as funny as it is in There is a Light That Never Goes Out. I guess that's what troubles me about rating this is feeling how it compares to the previous album. I still enjoyed this a ton but if I had to choose one over the other I would have to pick the previous album. Highlights: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins at Home, What She Said

Not the best from the Smiths but still good. Extremely backloaded, had never heard the title track, what a Masterpiece. 7/10 Fav tracks - I want the One I can't have, The Joke isn't funny anymore, well I wonder, barbarism begins at home, meat is Murder Least fav - idk

# Playlist track - The Headmaster Ritual # Notes - I hope you have the chance of listening to this without knowing anything about Morrissey. - Having said that, the arrangements are top-notch! Marr (the guitarist) is really an underrated musician. - Meat is murder is kind of a pretentious, self-righteous track, but that's in-character for them.

I have never listened to this one. It was cool :), particularly Barbarism Begins At Home

# Album Name: Meat is Murder # Artist: The Smiths # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Pretty good listen overall. I would say its a safe album. I can see why people dont connect with it. That joke isnt funny anymore is a classic smiths sound which i associate with the band. This is a helluva track. Sadly the majority of the album isnt of the same standard. Marr is great as always. I was torn between a 3 and a 3.5 for this album. However, ive heard some real average stuff recently which i gave a 3. This album is probably better than those so ill round up to a 4 ( a very low one) # Top Tunes: That joke isnt funny anymore / Barbarism / well i wonder / # Would I listen to it again? Parts of it.

Another very surprising outcome. This is the 3rd Smiths album I've had on this list and the previous 2 were split between good and bad experiences. This was another good experience. A couple of really good tracks, and the rest weren't bad either.

Love the smiths me

Very good album. I've heard it several times and still like it very much. I also happen to be vegetarian so that's a plus. My Top 3: 3. Barbarism Begins at Home 2. Meat is Murder 1. The Headmaster Ritual

I've been meaning to listen to this for years holy fuck

Once again we arrive at the juxtaposition of Morrissey's assholery compared to his lovely, softspoken vocal style. However, this album has the interesting case of almost feeling like Morrissey knows he's an asshole. It doesn't peek through crystal clear or anything, but the topics this somehow darker Smiths album takes feel like Morrissey just doesn't care anymore. This is funny, of course, as it's their second record and they frankly didn't have the multitude of massive hits to fall back on quite yet, but that gives this album a sharper edge that feels fed up with the world rather than accepting being just another pawn in it. It wants to do something, but it can't, and I really enjoy that. It knows what it wants to say, and it gets in and says it then dips pretty quickly. Do I agree with all of it? Maybe not, but if the message "Meat Is Murder" resonated with my mother enough for her to become vegetarian, then it must be doing something right.

Meat is murder but it is also delicious.

4/5 for the Smiths. 1/5 for Morrisey.

Album bom mas com nome de lacrolandia. A voz do Morrisey é meio chata as vezes e a qualidade é a mesma dos outros albuns

Classical Smiths: simultaneously good music and depressing subjects. I don't think there were any big hits on this album, but there was a bit of experimentation. It's a soft 4: better than some of the things I've given a 3, but it could be better. Art can push us to consider uncomfortable things.

Not bad.

I like the Smiths without really liking the Smiths all that much. But I listened all the way through and was rewarded. Several quality songs on this one, and by the end I could appreciate it. Favorite songs: "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore." "Well I Wonder" "Barbarism Begins at Home"

I used to really like The Smiths when I was younger. This is still a pretty decent album, even if Morrissey isn't a decent person.

Stunning riffs in this. Below the queen is dead for me. But still a stellar album in my mind. Morrisey tends to be extra mumbly mumbly in this tho. Maybe that adds to the aesthetic. Maybe I’d hate it if I could fully understand what was coming out of his racist mouth. Idk.

Great album.

I enjoyed feeling like a coming-of-age movie protagonist on this totally grey-skied Halloween eve. The Smiths vibe always has that jolly melancholy. Bass had no business going to hard in Barbarism Begins at Home too. I'm not going vegan for Morrissey tho. Last track was the worst one by miles.

In spite of Morrissey's..everything...and in spite of this being probably my least favorite Smiths record... I really like their sound and this is a very solid and listenable album. Probably like a 3.5 for me but I'm gonna lean towards a 4.

i love the smiths but this shit is funny sometimes

Bangers

As someone who is only familiar with their hits I liked this.

Fairly ashamed that I've never heard this album before. It's great. Falls short of a five for me, though. Not big on the title track. 4.5

Letting Johnny Marr off of his leash, while tightening Morrisey's (the title track 🐄 excepted) proves to be the most enjoyable way to make a The Smiths record. "That Joke's Not Funny Anymore" is a really great song, and "Barbarism Begins at Home" is a better Gang of Four song than anything GoF was doing at the time. Good songwriting makes a difference, and letting the band run is, as I said, the best version of The Smiths. Minus one star for not putting "How Soon is Now" on here. WHO'S THE REAL MURDERER?!

This is a pretty good Smiths album. I liked this one just as much as The Queen is Dead.

See Smiths. Give high review. But for real, this doesn't have any singles I know, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. 4/5

Somewhat enjoying The Smiths and anything Morrissey has touched has been the biggest surprise of this experiment

I thought this was solid - Barbarism begins at home was a great track. Still gonna eat meat though.

good

morrissey shut the fuck up

Very good album still love after all these years

THEY PUT A MORRISSEY TRACK IN A SMITHS ALBUM! NO WAY :shocked_face:

Il faut vraiment que je retourne à "The Queen Is Dead", car avec tous les albums de Morrisey, je me suis enfin habitué à sa voix et cet album a été beaucoup plus agréable que les deux autres que j'ai eu du groupe. Peut-être aussi que le style généralement plus accrocheur était ce qui m'a fait plus aimé cet album. Pas un album parfait mais je comprends beaucoup plus l'attrait du band. Obligatoire : fuck Morissey. 7.5/10

Fav: Barbarism Begins At Home Least Fav: Meat Is Murder I’ve put off The Smiths for a while, but if all their albums sound like this maybe it’s worth giving them a shot

I'd never heard the Smiths before but this was pretty good. Guitar, bass and drums are all highlights on different songs.

BANGERS <3

*i’ve seen this happeeeen in other people’s liveeees….and nooow it’s happening in mineee………….* i assume that this will be as difficult for me talk about objectively as all the other smiths albums on this list*, although i will be honest and say that this one has never been a favorite of mine. it’s certainly not BAD but it just doesn’t have the same kind of pathos that i associate with their debut and *the queen is dead* (not enough slow, contemplative songs maybe?). but something about them just cuts right to the quick no matter the context. ever since andy rourke died i’ve been a lot more conscious of how integral his bass was to the smiths’ sound: defiantly melodious, insistent, full-throated. rusholme ruffians??!?? he was crazy for that. of course moz is always Doing Too Much and his yelps and caterwauls are frankly distracting. the animal sound effects on the title track are goofy ahh hell and (dare i fucking say it) hamfisted. tbh they kind of ruin the song for me. but nevertheless we soldier (haha!!!) on. fav tracks: i want the one i can’t have; that joke isn’t funny anymore; nowhere fast; well i wonder; barbarism begins at home; meat is murder [minus the animal noises] *sorry i keep saying this in like half my reviews btw. a lot of these albums were ones i listened to as a teenager!!!

I really liked this too! I think I liked the other smiths album better but really enjoyed both. it’s a little late for my “you guys should check out the smiths they’re really good” phase because i’m not fifteen but alas here we are.

No hits on this one but still a solid effort, very upbeat in places and the jangly sound is great. Maybe the Smiths are a singles band with an impressive catalogue of top songs but no killer albums? Not sure, but I have liked all 3 I have listened to.

The drums are tight and steady, the bass is really interesting on this album actually, Marr is amazing as always, and the lyrics are top notch while the actual vocals are polarizing. All that being said, this is the first time I've listened to this album and while it's good, I still don't think this is the best Smith's album, though it is growing on me.

Have to listen again 4.0

Love this album but it’s not quite as good as The Queen Is Dead

Another good album. More of what I enjoy from The Smiths. I liked how Morrissey depicted eating meat, even if I disagree. Entertaining. Well I Wonder is one of my favorite Smiths songs. Standouts: Rusholme Ruffians, I Want the One I Can’t Have, Nowhere Fast, Well I Wonder, and Meat Is Murder.

more like a 3.5. love this album but not my favourites if there’s

its pretty great thank you The Smiths

The Smiths record I listened to the least, and so the one that's stayed a little fresh. Also The Smiths record that the hipsters claim is the best, probably because it has the fewest universally recognisable songs on it. By God though, it's the one where Andy Rourke's bass stands out the most. Obviously on the fantastic Barbarism Begins at Home, but The Headmasters Ritual kicks off with a pretty decent lesson to any budding four string wanker. There are a couple of weaker songs here, What She Said feels throwaway. However the second side is all gold. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore starts off well enough but absolutely blossoms after a minute or so. And the album doesn't let up from there.

The singer confuses the heck out of me. Guitarist is fire though. Bit of droning on. Looked up the singer. It makes sense now. I quite like it - it just scratches my brain funny.

An old favorite

Album full of feels. There were some cool songs and some redundant ones. But this is one I'll probably come back to. Song I Saved (and felt): - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

Love Morrissey’s voice and Marr’s guitar work. Prefer their album the Queen is Dead. Saw them live around this time in Massachusetts

The Smiths - nie gehört! Interessanter Gesangsstil Gegen Körperstrafe Und eine Hymne für Vegetarier

Really goof album, not the best Smiths album in my opinion, but some great moments.

Sometimes assholes make great music, I don’t make the rules 🤷🏾‍♂️

Prime morrisey

Very nice

Fuck yeah. Classic smiths album.

Gah, the list does it again, and changes my opinion on a band. Having already reviewed The Queen is Dead on which I only liked the couple of hits, I wasn’t expecting much from this hitless affair. My main issue is Marr’s usual jingle jangle indie style. However, musically I found this much more interesting, however, I cannot find an obvious reason why. The general vibe of the album seemed more upbeat and less spikey. So I really enjoyed it, and there wasn’t a bad song on there. Meat is murder maybe the pick of the bunch at the end. That all being said, obvs it doesn’t change the fact Morissey is a massive nob now, and I will continue to enjoy a nice lamb cutlet.

Morrissey is talented but Marr is the star of this band.

I imagine this album will be pretty divided amongst the group. Chalk this band up to one of ‘em that probably has to be experienced at the time. And in 1985 this band and album received heavy rotation in my high school angst ridden soundtrack. Was always a huge fan of the Smiths. Such a short-lived band that was producing some of the more unique non-synth pop sounds of the time. An ever bigger fan of Johnny Marr, a very underrated guitarist.

Not their best but a thoroughly solid sound

Great stuff, classic smiths. All good.

The Smiths (and Morrissey) remind me of high school girls. It was the first time I saw band t-shirts of bands that I was unaware of and had disbanded prior to the people who wore them were old enough to buy a band t-shirt. So far so good. Clearly these guys are Beatles fans. It feels like The Smiths and The Cure either would have loved each other or hated each other. After listening to Nowhere Fast, I get why the Morrissey shirt wearers also seemed to always like rockabilly. Barbarism Begins at Home is the first song that I get being called post punk. Maybe this list is helping me understand pop music better. There's a The Clash vibe about it. If The Clash covered this it wouldn't be out of place on one of their albums. I now have one clue as to why vegetarianism was popular with women of a certain age at a certain period. Man, this guy "FEELS" things. I like the bluntness of the lyrics from the title track, no symbolism, just violent imagery and animal sounds.

Need to listen more but sounded good, would like to hear more of The Smiths

Meat is Murder absolutely kills

“When I'm lying in my bed, I think about life. And I think about death. And neither one particularly appeals to me.” What an incredible line from “Nowhere Fast.” Morrissey is a great lyricist. I also really like this line from “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”: “I've seen this happen in other people's lives. And now it's happening in mine.” It’s a simple but potent sentiment about realizing that hard times fall on everyone. I love the sound of The Smiths. Their harder songs have great riffs, a muscular rhythm section and Morrissey floating on top of it all like a sad angel. And the ballads are gorgeous and melancholy. I like this album a lot. It’s definitely the album of theirs I’ve listened to the least though and when I first heard it in college, the version I heard included “How Soon Is Now?” which, for my money, is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. I guess that was a single from this era and not on the original album. On one hand, it’s so good that it might take over the album but on the other hand I wouldn’t be mad if you swapped the closing title track for “How Soon Is Now?”

Barbarism Begins at Home (2011 Remaster) I like the bassline.

Musically alluring. Legendary combination of vocals and guitar. Not the the strongest collection of songs but haunting instrumental tangents make it stand out

My favorite Smiths album. There's not a bad song on this record.

love this album sooo much. not quite as good as The Queen Is Dead, but it’s close.

Solid 80s English rock. Talented instrumentals. Highly enjoyed.

Easy listening

Great album.

Rourke and Joyce sound muscular, some pretty timeless jangle from Mr. Johnny Marr, and Morrissey in his prime.

Rating: 9/10 Amazing album overall. Jangly guitar riffs, melodic bass lines, and Morrisey's signature vocal style come together incredibly well throughout the entire album, especially on the second half. This album contains some of the band's best material and melodies and is great from start to finish. Favorite songs: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins at Home, Meat is Murder. Least favorite song: I Want the One I Can't Have.

Maybe because I wasn't as familiar with it as The Queen is Dead, but there were fewer standout tracks. Still excellent guitar work and the final 3 tracks finish things very strongly.

It's a good album and very representative of much of The Smith's music. Some great songs that hold up decades later, and a few others that are just ok.

Another Friday, another Smiths album... and another winner. I never thought I would be a fan of The Smiths, but this was great.

That bassline on the second to last song is yummy

I like The Smiths, but probably don’t love them as much as I thought I would when I started diving in several years ago. I definitely like Johnny Marr as a lead guitarist more than I like Morrissey as a lead singer. This is most evident on Meat Is Murder, an album full of great sounding songs for Morrissey to whine to.

Everything is really good about this album except the personality of the lead singer.

I only really managed to get into one Smith album properly, The Queen Is Dead. I have copies of their Debut, and Meat Is Murder and I have listened to them both, but neither really struck me in the same way The Queen Is Dead did. Relistening with fresh ears has confirmed two things for me: Johnny Marr really is a genius, and Morrissey is thankfully pretty ignorable. He’s mostly in the back of the mix, and so I find it quite easy to tune him and his lyrics out, allowing them to just become another texture of the music, which has definitely allowed me to continue to enjoy this music since Morrissey became, well what he is now. I don’t think it’s the best of The Smith’s albums that I’m going to have to listen to, but if I catch the bug again, I can definitely see myself coming back to this

I hadn't listened to this album before, but I knew it as the most popular album by The Smiths, so I figured it would be an easy 5 stars. However, it didn't really gel with me as much as I expected, and actually sounded a bit all over the place. There's a couple of stand out tracks, but everything else came over as weaker.

A levada de baixo em todas as músicas é fenomenal. A voz fica um pouco irritante depois de um tempo, mas isso é um problema geral do The Smiths pra mim. Ironicamente a música que da o nome ao álbum é a que menos gostei e também é a menos ouvida segundo o Spotify.

Just listen to this album and focus on Andy Rourke's bass. It's an incredible way to spend 35 minutes.

Why not 4, can’t hate this enjoyable to listen to. Even as a carnivore

So many foundational tones for the emo starter pack

Great songs, great album

Elska þennan gítar, elska þennan bassa. Mikil áhrif á unglingsárin.

nämen detta gillade jag starkt!!! Väldigt mycket min genre. Jättehärlig lyssning. Rätt mängd av rätt gitarrljud, kryptisk men tydligt icke-munter text och sång till stundvis lättsam och stundvis hemlighetsfull instrumental och så brittisk engelska på det tjolahopp tjolahej det kan man ju inte gå fel med 😁‼️ Bästa låt: well i wonder

Already listened.

Everything I know about The Smiths I mostly heard reading Morrissey jokes on twitter. I know he's a turd but this is kinda good. Incredibly pervasive emo lyrics aside (I know that's a trademark), the riffs on this are pretty good. The Headmaster Ritual" opening riff is weird enough to catch your ear and then they start going all over the place from country style to rock and mixes in between. There’s a lot of talent on display (ironically, to me, Morrissey himself is the weak point, he sounds too goofy a lot of the time) and all the instrumentalists have a good amount of range. “That Joke isn’t Funny Anymore” is my favorite of the bunch. The content and the instruments fit the voice perfectly, built to a nice crescendo by the end without fumbling half rhymes and unnecessary poetry in the lyrics. I really enjoyed that track. “Barbarism Begins at Home” is another good one, similar to the aforementioned track in that there isn’t too much wobbly lyrics and the groove is good. There’s probably several 60s bands that sing about the problematic nature of eating farmed meat but the tone and lyrics (and animal sounds) really drive the point home in “Meat is Murder”. I actually wonder if all of the band members were vegetarian. That might be the saddest song on the album. Anyway I liked this more than I thought I would.

4- Kitarahelinää ja tarttuvia biisejä = hyvää matskuu!

pluh 🗣️🔥

Andy Rourke is such an underrated member of this band. Happy to hear an album where he gets to shine. This is more uneven than their other albums, but I still love The Smiths.

A really enjoyable listen, especially if it’s the version that had How Soon Is Now? on it. But… their stuff has such a high bar and I think this dodges all their best songs, of which there are LOADS. Would be 5 for anyone else but for The Smiths, a 4. Though as vegetarian I do agree that Meat Is Murder.

September 2022, Queen Liz dies and I hear The Queen Is Dead for the 1st time. That was album #160 Nothing would be heard from those boys in the coming months, until this website gave me a solo Morrissey album, Your Arsenal, to listen to (#421). Album #591, #605, and #761 were also Morrissey, as it turns out. I guess my interest in The Smiths wasn't high enough to dive deep into their work in the meantime, but I always knew there was more to come on the website, so... yay? For the most part, this is a solid album. The lightness of the jangly guitar and rockabilly rhythms strike a good balance with Morrissey's heavy-handed lyrics. The only time I found the balance was off was in the title track, which is a decent sound effects-driven dirge but feels more like a PSA than anything. HL: "The Headmaster Ritual", "Rusholme Ruffians", "Barbarism Begins at Home", "Nowhere Fast", "How Soon is Now" (bonus track) June 15, 2024

This album didn't really have any standout tracks for me, but was still a great listen overall (minus the cow sounds at the end - they didn't have to go that far, even though I understand and mostly share the sentiment).

First of all I have a weird memory from loong ago about some humour in pronouncing The Smisses. Ze Smiffs? Anyway. I could get into this, I absolutely understand how a lot people seem to have, but I have not and I don't feel like I need to. Bit grating how Morrissey likes to change the key every now and then without telling the band, but it's alright.

A great example of the Smiths from the 80's featuring Morrissey's thoughtful lyrics full of yearning, views on politics all intertwined with hints of humour and of course his strong vegetarianism with the final melodic abattoir that is 'Meat is Murder'!

musicianship is top notch lyrics are pretty, and it's adventurous! Lost me a bit in places (also morrisey)

Excellent

Great early Smiths. Love all the bitching about Morrissey in the reviews.

I love this album but I can see that it's not perfect by any means. Morrissey is a cunt is such a cliche at this point but yeah he is and you can't really stop yourself from rolling your eyes at some of the pompous language he uses in his lyrics (especially when English is not your native language). Mixed with his vocal style it really makes you think of a spoiled privileged Brit who doesn't know any better. Marr and Rourke are amazing though, especially on tracks like Headmaster Ritual, Joke Isn't funny anymore (that outro!), Nowhere fast or Barbarism begins at home. Coming to think of it I love almost all of the songs on it, maybe with the exception of Rusholme Ruffians and the title song. And that last song is an immediate skip, even for me, a person who cares dearly about animal rights I just can't force myself to listen to this shit while walking around the park or something. It's a 4.5/5 because the Queen is dead is slightly better and I'm going to give it a 5, although I find myself coming back to this one more often.

I couldn't listen to the song. You know.. the one. Otherwise, I liked the album.

Genuinely never listened to the Smiths before, I think in general I was scared away by Morrissey and in general I’m not the biggest fan of the moody British rock they play. That said the first track is very nice. Shit I love the lyric my faith in love is still devout, a really good closing lyric. I actually really liked this. The rare album where title track is the worst song, really too preachy even if I mostly agree with it. This song is probably part of why vegans have such a bad reputation

Pretty goo

Love their unique sound. Especially annoyed the joke isn’t funny anymore and well I wonder

why do i enjoy how he sings

Nowhere Fast is enough to make this album for me (not my favourite from The Smiths) but here and there the guitar is really mesmerizing

I LOVE The Smiths and I have not heard this album (and I also believe meat is murder, so how have I avoided it!). If no one has heard the group this might be the worst entry. They are a strange band that released a lot of charting non-album singles that were later compiled on albums that are not eligible for this list--even the US version of this originally added How Soon Is Now which is their most recognizable song and I wonder if this inclusion to the 1001 list thinks it's still there. Personally I would've left this one off, but for me it's a 3.5, bumping to a 4 based only on the lyric: "It was dark when I drove the point home.'

I absolutely love the Smiths and Morrissey’s music. Excellent album. The Queen Is Dead is still my favorite though.

Somehow, this is the first time I’ve listened to a full Smiths album. Knew a couple of the songs but a few were new to me. Generally, The Smiths are very up my alley, especially the guitar work, which is exceptional. This is a solid collection of songs, but it doesn’t feel as cohesive as I’d hoped when it popped up. Sometimes it feels like Morrissey is singing whatever he wants, without much regard for the rest of the music. That’s a nitpick though - overall I loved this album, even if it isn’t quite perfect.

Jangle pop, indie pop. I am not a fan of The Smiths. Morrissey is one of my least favorite singers of all time. Unfortunately, I love the instrumental parts but and Morrissey writes some pretty great lyrics. I love the jangly guitars, bass guitar is really groovy, and the drums hold it all down. If I just tune out Morrissey then I can have a pretty good time listening to it. The album has a good length, but some songs feel like they drone on a bit too long. Overall I enjoyed the album enough, I still have my issues with the band, but I can recognize good songwriting. Not likely to revisit any time soon, but maybe eventually. Strong 3.5/5

Music so good I didn't give a fuck what Morrissey was moaning about. Docked a point since Nowhere Fast goes exactly where it said it would, and Meat is Murder made me wanna open an abattoir.

i wouldn’t say i LOVE the smiths but i do like this album

Some really great guitar riffs on this - I can imagine listening to some of these a lot and not getting sick of them. Morrissey is a little whiney on this, and his vocals have never really appealed to me, but I think there's some really interesting lyrics in this. A lot of the album seems to be about adolescence, depression, and being suffocated by a hypermasculine school environment. I can see why so many people relate to these songs even when Morrissey seems like the strangest person to have written them. Best Track: Barbarism Begins At Home Worst Track: I Want The One I Can't Have

Love the guitar work, parts and tones are both beautiful. Morrisey easy to listen to his smooth vocals. Ironically not as easy to hear him interviewed…although Im one who appreciates alt views as I share some of my own. Thoughtful discussion is so lost in our society today. Shame everyone takes everything as either a threat or a corroboration…as opposed to an opportunity to learn, empathize and or tolerate.

More of a 3.5

Standouts: How Soon is Now! Rushlome Ruffians, I Want the One I Cannot Have, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Meat is Murder. 4/5

i really enjoyed a few songs (the sad ones) plus the title song. sometimes i enjoy Morrissey's voice, sometimes i don't, so wether i like a song or not really depends on the music.

Morrissey smells it's a shame i like some of these songs

Might be the best smiths album. I didnt like the ending of the album. Started off very strong

its ok

A surprising texture. In theory Morrissey's nasally, feminine voice shouldn't gel well with how hard the rest of the band goes with some of the instrumentation, but it just comes together interestingly well. Definite surf rock inspiration, strong post-punk vibes. Mixing is excellent and nuanced, and overall the LP is pretty bopping, for lack of a better term. "Meat is Murder" is unfortunately a pretty dour ending, but it's pleasant enough to listen to anyway.

This was actually really good - surprised myself

3.5 - It's not quite as good the other two I've listened to, as the middle section lost my attention a bit, but I still liked it.

Wildly good instrumental, headmaster ritual is wicked cool.

was oddly in a smiths mood. Sounds like the smiths.

Didn’t listen to this very closely, just had it on in the background while making dinner. Enjoyed what I heard!

It was a smiths album really good.

I'm not sure but I feel like this guy might be a vegetarian.

Yeah Fav songs: I want the one i can't have '_'

Has anyone mentioned yet that Morrisey is a cu....... oh, OK, as you were then. Can't deny the Marr / Rourke combo is superb, and "How Soon Is Now" probably my favourite Smiths track. Really quite hard to view them objectively anymore though. Went for a solid 4 in the end because the jingly jangly is still damn catchy.

I like the Smiths, this wasn't my favourite album, but lots on here I hadn't heard before and I did enjoy it.

Never got into The Smiths but it was fun to listen to. Solid album.

I like these guys! Nice mellow music 4 stars

Pretty good. Amazingly (to me) I had never heard any of the songs on this album before. It's all tinted by Morrissey's increasingly unpleasant world view, but taken in the context of it's time, it was really good. Johnny Marr's guitar is, as always, fabulous.

As always, try to ignore Morrissey and focus on Marr and Rourke. Awesome compositions, but not quite on the level of The Queen Is Dead.

A little overwrought, but has some good songs, vocals, and instrumentals.

4+ Stars (12/15)

When I lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, my friends and I often went to see a Smiths cover band play in a dance club. Good times, great cover band. I love the music of the Smiths. Pity that Morrissey is such a jerk. 4

Pretty good for Morrisey being a shit. 4 stars.

Finally listening to my first Smiths album. It's more pleasant than I expected. The bass work on "Barbarism Begins at Home" alone is worth the listen. And the whole album is pretty nice! Though... it probably could have ended one track earlier. -_-

Sad racist and jangly guitars

Great listening. I love Morrissey's singing style. It has a 'lazy' drawl/croon that I enjoy. I've wanted to get into The Smiths but was always intimidated by the choices. Glad I finally dipped in.

Fucking fine. Four stars. Whatever.

Conflicted about this album. Not because apparently one of these guys is an asshole, but because I think the backing tracks do sound good, but for some reason the vocals sound super grating to me. Almost dissonant. I’ll give them a soft 3 but not sure I will come back to this ever. Maybe it’s an acquired taste. Ok on further listen ‘What she said’ is kinda sick. I’m now not sure about anything somehow my opinion has taken a 180. I’m a mess. I feel like the instrumentals are awesome but the vocals… but then again maybe that adds to the charm??? I think this one needs more than one listen. Scratch what I said not coming back to it. If anything, this is a reminder that these albums deserve to be listened to all the way through…. Maybe except kollaps…

Used to hear The Smiths all the time as parents played them on car trips and such. 4.

3.75

No proper bangers but very solid

It's annoying how good they are considering how insufferable they are

Feels like more than the sum of its parts. Liked this one better than Queen is Dead.

Strong album from The Smiths with Standouts in almost every track.

I'm late to the party but a fan of The Smiths. I enjoyed this album a lot, but really love the song "How Soon Is Now?", which apparently was on the initial US cut of this album.

I wish there were half stars. Would go 3.5 again. Rounding up to 4 on this one. Older brother got me on a Smiths kick for a minute back in high school. Brings back some memories. Groovy and chill. Two things I can enjoy with music. I would listen to this one again.

maravilloso

Revolutionary

The album is pretty great, but Morrisey is such a moaner he really ruins everything for me. If it wasn’t for Johnny Marr this album would be unlistenable. Full stars for Marr, deducted one for the moaner.

vegan type beat

the highs are so high but there are enough mids here to knock off a star

Great.

I had this on vinyl at one point and loaned it to a friend who never returned it. So I didn’t listen to this a lot back then. But it was better than I remember. Especially turned up loud. Loved the guitar.

I really liked this album. This was the first one I got as part of this project and I think it’s pretty fitting because I am vegan lol. I have listened to The Smiths before but this album all together is very cohesive and has a nostalgic feel to it. I feel it was ahead of it’s time. I wonder if my dad ever listened to this at my age..

You can hear the inspiration this album provides for others

GOod

Not my favourite Smiths album but still decent with some banging tracks on it. Highlights for me are ‘Headmaster’, ‘Well I wonder’ and ‘Barbarism’. A solid 4.

'I've seen this happen in other people's lives, and now it's happening in mine'.... beautiful, sad, true, my favourite Smiths song by a country mile, there have been times in my life where I've played it 4 times in a row (only twice on this listen). A quality album, Headmaster Ritual, Nowhere Fast, really good. I'm not a fan of the track 'Meat is Murder'. It would get a low 5. However, you have to discount 'How Soon Is Now' from the track listing (on my CD copy) as it wasn't on the original release! Therefore, it gets dragged down to a high 4.

Una gran banda y muy buena discografía.

Quintessentially British lyrics. Great musicianship.

This was ok, but not my favorite.

Not as good as Queen is Dead but still very enjoyable

Can’t help by love Johnny Marr guitar

Un álbum que, simplemente, suena muy bien. Interesantes riff´s en distritos instrumentos.

Guitarreo

One of th Good ones man

I like the Smiths quite a bit but most of my favorite songs hy them were not on this album. Overall, though, good listen. Really enjoyed That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Nowhere Fast.

None of their best songs are on this album, but it’s still a great listen. Never get tired of Johnny Marr.

Whiney af! Still awesome tho. I dont love morrissey’s voice but the rest of the band makes up for it. They have a lot of bangers it cannot be denied

so so good. I’ll take this over their other albums. also the last track lowkey rips idc if it’s like preachy

4/5

Morrissey is the person who I find myself needing to separate the art from artist the most. I love him as an artist—his sardonic and twisted lyrics, his strange yet beautiful voice, his gloomy and catchy melodies. And yet, he’s so problematic… And so it’s strange to listen to an album like this which is deeply political, and which I actually agree with most of his positions (or at the very least, can respect them). I do love The Smiths’ sound —Johnny Marr’s jangly guitars and Andy Rourke’s melodic bass lines are also standout elements. The songwriting on this album isn’t as good as on their follow-up “The Queen Is Dead,” but frankly (Mr Shankly), it would be hard to accomplish that.

Great texture, love morrisey’s voice. End to end the tracks sort of blend together but it’s overall a great sound.

BL: I believe this is my third Smiths album on the generator now and this is my second favorite record by them as it stands generally. So it'll be good to give it a relisten. AL: Just as I remember this is a really solid album the whole way through, though The Queen is Dead still beats this one it is certainly still a very good listen. I feel musically they were in their prime with this one. FT: "Rusholme Ruffians", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Barbarism Begins at Home" 4/5

Not as good as the Queen is dead but still good.

it's fine as background noise cause not every song catches my attention. very much dad road trip music. the guitars are nice. favorite songs: i want the one i can't have, what she said, nowhere fast

A little whiny, but certainly an influential album by the Smiths

4 stars for the album. 1 star for Morrissey's personality

This band is really growing on me. The singer kinda comes across pretentious, but he has this cool factor that makes it work.

really torn between 3 and 4. i’d probably never turn on the smiths but i also wouldn’t turn them off. i think a low 4 makes the most sense because it is a very solid album. i just don’t like his voice

I love The Smiths but nearly every song sounds like one of their other songs. Maybe this album represents the first pass at the other songs to come. In any case, it’s a great album and I always love the mood created by Morrissey’s voice and melodies. 3.8

Fewer catchy hooks than other albums, but earnest and intentionally juvenile. Marr carries this one.

Track 1: I like this one a lot and the riff it starts with. Track 2: I liked this one and his high vocals. Track 3: fun track Track 4: enjoyed this one a lot especially the riff in the background Track 5: I like this slower song especially with the guitars and bass moving the way it does. Track 6: I like the riffs in this song and just the drums sounding really good Track 7: I like the atmosphere of the song! Track 8: I like the main instrumental riff and repetitive the lyrics are. I like the bass version of the riff at the end. Track 9: Based lyrics. Also I like the drum groove and the piano in the back. Overall: 8.9/10. I wish there was more but this is a really solid album and I liked it a lot!

Fun album, although the lyrics were a tad too heavy in a few instances. Shocked I hadn’t listened to The Smiths before.

Required a second listen. Interesting reading the back story on The Smiths.

Love the vibe of The Smiths & Morrissey

Objectively, it's a 4/5. In my teen heart, it's a 10/5

Very well done album, especially the guitar bass and drums.

Favorite tracks: That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, Nowhere Fast, Barbarism Begins at Home, Meat is Murder

Solid effort by the Smiths during their heyday. Starts strong, wanes a bit on the backstretch.

It was fine until he went full Vegan Teacher mode on us.

omg do you listen to the smiths?

Worried now because I liked this, dairy is scary

Ate a ham sandwich while listening to this and didn’t even realize it. Those are some sweet bass lines, but I think it’s probably the weakest album of theirs.

love the smiths but still prefer queen is dead

nice, the Smiths as we know them.

Solid Smiths album. Jangly guitars, funky basslines, and mournful lyrics. Great listen!

Drab and grim most of the way through. Morrissey has a way with words. Love the guitar sound. 8/10

Well I wonder is my favourite track, very enjoyable album as a whole although this track was the only real standout. 4 stars as I could probably listen to the album on repeat for quite a long time

God I wish any other vocalist on planet earth was on this album Fantastic songs, very bad lyrics and singing. A very frustrating listen for that reasons Still probably 4 stars.

Quintessential sad boy music

Es ist gut aber nicht das beste smiths Album

Sure

Hat mir überraschend gut gefallen! Sehr schöne Stimme. Zwar auch teils etwas repetitiv , aber werde es mir auf jeden Fall noch mal anhören und andere Alben auschecken

The last song is creepy but a good album:)

Liked it! My favorite track was "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore".

The Smiths took the sound of New Order away from dance/pop and brought it back into the post punk realm. Morrissey always was fairly pompous but it was easy to ignore that when he was just singing about militant vegetarianism. It's Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke who really carry these songs. Some of the best tracks these guys ever made are on this album.

IF A TEN TON BUS CRASHES INTO US Meat is murder and so was that album nah jk fam Morissey is cool

Another good album. Highlight tracks nowhere fast and I want the one I can't have

I think I preferred The Queen is Dead overall but this was great too. A lot made of Morrissey playing off Jonny Marr's guitar but I thought the bass was brilliant on this

Barbarism Begins is outstanding Prefer viva hate and queen is dead But this Is pretty great 4/5

Ik ken The Smiths van het verschrikkelijke jaren 80 geluid van Panic. Dit album zat daar net voor. Dus ik had hier geen trek in. Maar het valt enorm mee. Ze lijken het overdreven jaren 80 geluid nu nog niet ontdekt te hebben. Of zij onderscheidden zich toen door normaal te doen. Het is mij iets te eentonig. Maar het zit wel prima in elkaar. 3.5 ster

The performances are great and the production on the 2011 remaster sounds great. But the tunes. Meat is Murder doesn't have the quality of other releases from the band. If you want to be a purest and exclude "How Soon Is Now?" then you're only really left with "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and maybe "Barbarism Begins at Home". RIP Andy

7/10 but there are parts here that can push it over to an 8. Could’ve liked more of those spikes but it’s a solid album overall.

3.8/5 - I was actually quite impressed by this. Smiths proved to me that the 80s certainty had some revolutionary music. It is beautiful how the band seems to play together - not competing w/ each other but doing what they can to help the other members be their best.   I will be listening to more of the Smiths based on this album, and for that they get rounded up to a 4.

4.4/5

The Smiths is one of those bands, I never really listened, mainly because of Morrissey but this was better than I expected. I love their jangle pop style and surprisingly I am not annoyed by hearing Morrissey singing. I really enjoyed the anti-corporal messaging through out this album but not enough to give up eating meat. The best thing about working through this 1001 albums list is finding bands and albums like this that I should know but never took the time to listen to. Standouts: The Headmaster Ritual, I Want the One I Can't Have, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Well I Wonder

Great guitar and bass. Morrissey’s voice is great too. Catchy songs. The Queen is Dead is their best album and should be on here.

An iconic singing style and poetic lyrics.

Ммм, какой хороший альбом, я под него семейный бакет кфс навернул 8/10

I really love the Smiths' music, especially Johnny Marr's playing. This is definitely not my favorite album by them, but its still really good.

I enjoyed listening to this album much more than I thought I would. I think its probably my favorite so far in this 4 year challenge, which says more about the previous 4 albums than this one!!!

I love The Smiths. Not my fave of their albums but I still enjoyed the listen through. I'm surprised this was the album chosen as part of the 1001? but maybe there will be more to come from The Smiths! Fave track: The joke isn't funny anymore

Jammin

This is my least listened to Smiths record, and also the one that I think takes the longest to click. Which is often a good thing in my books! There’s no big hitters on this compared to Queen is Dead / Self Titled / Strangeways, but that’s not to its detriment. Shows just how good a band they were that they can write songs of this quality. I was brought up to dislike Morrissey, and my Dad was right all along, but it’s just so difficult to deny how ridiculously good he was. Aye, he’s a total bellend now, and even then was very self indulgent which is never a good quality, but his song writing and delivery is just ace. Actually feel for him in Headmasters Ritual. No one delivers pain like Morrisey. Thankfully Johnny Marr turned out to be cool as fuck to ensure a less guilty Smiths experience. This is a bit funkier(?) at times, especially with the bass riffs. Not something I often think about with the Smiths. Obviously from the album cover to the last track its very political. But I like that.

The smiths/Morrissey's music has grown on me through this list, they have their own sound which is definitely 80s but has aged much better than other acts of the time. This album was enjoyable but didn't really have a killer single or two, wouldnt know which tracks to recommend. Nevertheless pretty solid, 3.5

I have not listened to a SMiths album start to finish before. Alwassy like some individual songs, this is album is really nice Marr's web of guitar rhythm is very interesting and beautiful to hear.

👍🏼

"It's like Moz once said, 'Hold on to your friends.' Morrissey. The Smiths. You don't know 'Meat is Murder'? It's one of the best songs ever written about industrialized beef consumption." Well, Eagleton Ron, let's see about that. I did not know what to expect going into this album. I've never heard a Smiths song before today, so going into an entire album might be somewhat of a risky move. Honestly, I thought it was pretty alright. I really liked the instrumental work. The guitar on tracks like "The Headmaster Ritual" and bass on "Barbarism Begins at Home" were pretty neat. Despite what I've heard about Morrissey as a person, his vocals are pretty good. I think some of what this album has to say is pretty good too. This is far from a bad album, and I see why it and its band are iconic, but I don't think I'll really ever get a hankering to listen to it again, and it's not going to stop me from eating cheeseburgers any time soon. 3/5. 7/10 if it was out of 10. EDIT: As it turns out, I actually like this album way more than a lot of albums on the list, I just didn't know that would be the case two albums in. This is pretty good. 4/5.

Good album. Well sung

Pretty good.

Now you’re talking! Awesome album full of banger after banger!

Just a touch below Queen is dead. I'd like to drop my trousers to the queen