Meat Is Murder

More Mozza etal. How many more albums!

I loved the last Smiths album I had. I was surprised, given how I've reacted to a lot of other British bands from the 80's to this point. This was no different than the last one for me. Just a really competently put-together album with catchy melodies, great instrumentation, and a driving rhythm section. And a sax, I think, on "What She Said." (Nothing in the personnel notes I can find indicates that it's a sax, but who knows). I never expected to give a Smiths album anything but 2 stars or fewer. I'm happy to have given one four stars and this one three stars. Who knew? One thing I also didn't expect was for the title track to be a literal protest song against the meat industry. I guess I thought they were a little more cheeky than to be so upfront about something. But hey good for them. Standout Tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, I Want the One I Can't Have, What She Said, Barbarism Begins at Home

Les daré otra oportunidad, los errores pasan

Middle of the road The Smiths album for me. All the things I like about the smiths is present here, just isn’t my fav from them.

We have another The Smiths album! Their albums all sound the same to me, which is fine. You could probably just put all their songs on one album and nobody would know. I like The Smiths, so it's a pleasant listen. I'm of the opinion you only need one The Smiths album on this list, and that would cover it. Maybe this list should be 1001 Bands To Listen To Before You Die. 3

Smiths

The hell of listening to The Smiths is that it's got good instruments, right up my post-punk alley, but then: Morrissey. Three star ratings are dual purpose for me - it can either indicate indifference or conflicting feelings I can't resolve within the day of the listen. This album gets a VERY conflicted 3.

Ok

Not one of my favorite Smiths albums. Some gems ("Headmaster Ritual," "How Soon is Now" if we're counting it) but more misses than hits. Given how many Morrissey/Smiths albums there are on this list, this feels like an easy one to leave off.

Good

Excepcional. Los odiaba. Ahora me caen bien.

…sounds exactly like you’d expect the smiths to. favorite song: barbarism begins at home (love a prominent bass!)

Well, it all seems horribly Smiths-y. As in, more Smiths-y than you would expect even from the Janglers-in-Chief themselves. I can’t speak to all of the themes here on first listen alone, but I doubt the overarching (and in the case of the title track, explicit) references to the meat industry’s barbarism convinced many to stay away from processed meats any more than, say, Hitler’s status as a vegetarian did. The title track itself reminds me of Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam, a repetitive album-ender that doesn’t seem to be enjoyed by many but one where I may find a certain hypnotism in its rhythm. Far from the best here by any means (see the behemoth opener of The Headmaster Ritual and the seven-minute bass-centric whirlwind of Barbarism Begins at Home for those), but a fitting bookender and failsafe for anyone who didn’t get the message from, well, the album’s name. I’m not one to take advice from Morrissey, so I’ll continue to enjoy meat as long as he enjoys his odd and often conflicting political views.

Really got hipsters out here acting like the just-okayest band is some revelation.

The instrumentals on this album were great, they were so well arranged and they had nice textures. What really kept me from properly enjoying this album was the pretentious lyrics and Morrisey's at times obnoxious singing. It's a real shame because I was really hoping I would enjoy this more.

Good album, Smiths are not totally my thing, but enjoyed it.

🎵 Album #52 / The Smiths – Meat Is Murder (1985) 🗯 Yeah… dunno. I like The Smiths, but this one doesn’t do it for me — never has. For all of Morrissey’s wit, this feels more like passive-aggressive moaning set to Johnny Marr’s jangly but strangely flat backdrops. It’s not unlistenable — far from it — but compared to the sharper edges of their debut or the brilliance of The Queen Is Dead, Meat Is Murder just comes off a bit toneless and uninteresting. Sure, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore lands, and How Soon Is Now? is a classic (though technically tacked on later in some versions). But as a whole, it doesn’t bite the way it should. Verdict: Meh / Not for me (I love The Smiths, but not this one) For fans of: The Cure at their moodiest, Echo & The Bunnymen, Morrissey in martyr mode

Good album. Enjoy the Smiths. The Queen is Dead is better in my opinion. M

Mmmmm, steak.

I like the music but I am not a fan of the vocals - they make every song sound so similar.

Not the best Smiths album, but carried a cool vibe. 6/10

Another example of album recorded as a political statement. Despite the fact that I consider this record talented (and individual tracks BRILLIANT), «Meat Is Murder» is so far the weakest album I've listened to from The Smiths. There is no enthusiasm of their debut album and there are not as many bangers as in «Queen Is Dead».

The Smiths are great, but Meat is Murder is one of their weaker albums. I prefer almost anything else they made over this one.

It’s alright, hard to get through

S'ok Smith's Morrissey Moaning. Enjoyed

This was a pretty nice album. Lyrically strong, and vocals and music were good. The titular "Meat is Murder" track was a hard listen, but that is kind of the point. It's political, it's deep, and it has a darkness to it that carries across the whole of the album. Interesting listen. I can't say I disliked it, but it wasn't my favorite either.

Incredible mix of basslines on the first track, definitely knocked me on my ass

Consistent catchiness and the kind of insights you’d expect of The Smiths, but nothing sticks w you once it’s all done.

Not the best Smiths album

7/10

There are nearly 1,100 albums on this list, so why do we need to cram so many Smiths ones in so early? This one is fine. And the song "Meat is Murder" offers a glimpse into the insufferable prig Moz became.

The Smiths were a very fine band of the post-punk, Brit pop, New Wave of the early 80's and I actually enjoy their sound a whole lot. Meat is Murder is not my fav album from them, but still is one of the most reknowned and capable works of this band.

I really like sound of The Smiths, but admittedly, it's sort of a chore to sit through an entire album sometimes. It's like eating a really good dessert, but the flavor is so strong you can't eat all of it. Honestly, I think the too-strong flavor is Morrissey's vocals. Again, very good, but sometimes too much to enjoy in one sitting ⭐⭐⭐

Feel weaker of their bigger albums. Morrissey already starting to become grating. Enough on it for a 3

I enjoyed the funky guitar and bass riffs. Not so much the whoo and hoot of Morrisey.

Another Smiths LP. Pretty good. But it all gets boring after a bit, not matter which album. 3.5/5

It was fine. Classic Dad Rock.

Not the best smiths album. However the guitar work from Marr is sublime. Hints of disco, classical and 60's Beatles throughout. Couple of real bangers in this album though

Pretty good, not my favorite.

I have mixed feelings about it, I really enjoyed some songs and thought that I would listen again but in general it felt a little more boring than the previous album

Music is great but then there is Morrissey - maybe I should just call him Steven. That will irritate him as much as his voice irritates me. Some Smiths songs are really good in spite of Steven but this album (the UK version without "How Soon Is Now?") was just OK. If I would have heard the the earlier US release with this song on then maybe, just maybe it would have gotten 4 stars. But that didn't happen so it just is an OK album for me. Sorry Steven - just don't be too sad now!

Sigh...more Smiths. Alright, here we go! Track 1 is a straight-forward complaint of the British school system. It's well done. Track 2 is downright jaunty. I had to make sure I didn't mess up playing the album straight through. I really like this one. As a whole, this album has more energy than I've heard from a Smiths album. It makes me enjoy the music tenfold. 3.4/5

Love The Smiths, but this is my least favorite album of theirs.

Good stories can only carry that singing so far

I liked the lyrics (4). Musically a 3.few stars. I also liked the Album's title track. And the depness "That joke isn't funny anymore" (close to home?). However, I am not sure I would re-listen this album (maybe if in a depressing mood). Not a fan of the style neither of singing, but at least is quite unique. This would be a 3 stars album.

Kurant. Ikke helt mitt syltetøy. Barbarism-låta er nødt til å ha inspirert Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine. Klink lik basslinje.

If meat is murder, what is plant?

3.5 stars. I like it a lot, until Morrissey just doesn’t stop and then I’m ready for it to be over.

First song had me intrigued, the rest was pretty mid

I didn't hate it, but the meandering vocals grated on me. And boy, do I dislike the 80s recording style where every instrument sounds like it is recorded in an isolated soundproof room, then mixed together to form a semblance of a performance.

Nothing really stood out, but enjoyable.

I’m okay with the smiths, can’t say I’d seek this album out again though

Solid album but I never get as excited about the Smiths as I think I am going to. The album was interesting and easy to listen to but lacked a little bit of energy and the stand out tracks that I would want to give it a higher rating. 3.5 but going to round down.

I never really loved Morrisey, at all, and he still annoys me, but this album helps me see why people REALLY REALLLLLLY dig him.

Idk why Morrissey started barking in the second to last song. Liked the general vibe but disliked the more experimental songs. 7/10

Excellent Album but not one of my favorites of the smiths

Another one that's hard to listen to. Maybe it just feels like a forerunner of much better indie rock? The title track could be heard as innovative, maybe, or it could just be droning and didactic.

Not impressing. Does not worth being on the list

Liked that a bit more than I expected. I figured it would be more of the doom and gloom I’ve come to expect, but it was a bit more jangly and pop- oriented - almost pleasant at times. The title track was not so much fun.

Wasn’t expecting to like this as I don’t like Morrisey and the other Smiths album I’ve listened to so far didn’t impress much. However, there were a few good tracks on here. Lots of variation as well, which was nice. Meat is Murder was odd though.

never had these guys really grab me

Johnny Marr's excellent guitar work saves this album from the only two vocal melodies Morrissey seems to know. 3.5/5

i like some songs by the smiths and want to love this album but morrissey’s voice kind of reminds me of a muppet highlights: Barbarism Begins at Home

Like the vibes and instrumental, but sometimes his voice is too unique for me to like.

Good album. Liked more as a kid now I can see all songs are way too similar and became boring after the 5th song. Good writting and vocals

I know What She Said about this album, but That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore.

As uncompromising and provocative as ever, The Smiths' second album lays it all out on the table. Interesting that one of their most well-known & beloved songs "How Soon Is Now?" was only included on the US release and not the UK version.

Ja the Smiths. Anfänge der Goth / Emo Bewegung. Viel Teenage-Angst in den Texten, dazu lustige Rhythmen und Musik. Hat mich an Wasps Nest erinnert.

A strange entry. As at least a peripheral Smiths fan I have always considered this both their weakest album and the point at which it became clear that Morrissey was pompous tool. Nevertheless the Smiths don’t really have a bad album, and I take its inclusion to mean there are more Smiths albums to come …

I hate Morrisey’s voice. Music is ok though.

Senti rebeldia nesse álbum, é como um big bang para o punk, bastante agressivo melodicamente mas com guitarra e bateria equilibrada, achei tudo muito bem feito, mas pra mim o ponto destaque é o lirismo.

My least favorite Smiths album, but still a solid showing. And it is not my least favorite because I eat meat, the vibes are just a bit to slow and whiney to me, more so than most of their music. They can and usually do have great tempo and Morrissey has more rhythm to his voice, this album is a bit of a drag comparatively. With several other Smiths albums on this list, this one feels like the editor's reaching for a favorite band situation, it does not belong on this list. Again, I still like it, but I own several Smith records, this one is not one of them though. 6.5/10 106/1001

The Smiths: Meat Is Murder: Its good, but I wouldn't say that I love it. The instrumentation is nice, but the album kinda blends together and the vocals are just alright. I liked every song, but I don't see myself going out of my way to relisten to anything. 7/10

little too weird

Didn’t love this one. Early alt kinda whiney maybe original emo stuff. Give me the cure over this any day.

It's OK. Some good songs but not packed with classics like I thought it would be...

Not as good as the other Smith albums on the list.

He may be really racist but at least he doesn't eat meat 👍

meridiano de greenwich

This was a pretty good album! I hadn't heard it before, but I did really enjoy it! I like the Smiths too, haven't listened to much of them but I do like them!

It was good noise, but nothing really stood out to me

If meat is murder then I am the Son of Sam

An interesting mix of mild music and powerful lyrics 3.5/5

Not the best smths record

Not bad. I like their sound. Some good songs.

The cover doesn't match the vibe. The music is good though.

great guitar rifts, questionable lyrics, unsettling end

A bit meh, bla bla bla

This is another 3.5 album for me. Never wanted to skip tracks, but it didn't really stand out, either. Interesting that I had one of Morrisey's solo albums a couple days ago. This Smiths album was notably better.

Tengo un conflicto con este grupo de música que es lo mucho que me gusta musicalmente y lo poco que me gusta escuchar cantar a Morrissey. Además de eso reconozco que este disco suena a The Smiths pero no me ha descubierto nada nuevo. Aunque algunas líneas de bajo como la de Barbarism begins at home son buenísimas.

This album is ok at best. Morrissey has always been ok with a couple of good songs. This album is average at best...

I dont like morrisseys voice

me ha gustado mucho, viva el veganismo

Smiths are great, honestly usually too mellow for me, especially lately. Lovely music, not in a hurry to re-listen

Opinion time: I think this is the weakest Smiths album. The score is maybe harsh, because I'm judging it on that basis. Meat Is Murder, for me Clive, doesn't really have any standout tracks. It's still good, because it's still Morrissey and Marr in great form, but compared to The Queen Is Dead or Strangeways, it's just not quite there.

Hmm love Smiths, didnt love this, perhaps their weakest album. Its not that I hated it but didnt really appreciate it as much as I would do.

There is some solid music here. But Morrissey is seriously insufferable.

Worst smiths record queen is dead is way better

Might break my vegetarianism after listening to this. Thought I liked it after listening the second time but really it's the instrumentals I enjoy.

What bothers me about the Smiths is not Morrisey’s voice or his general shitheadery. What bothers me is that when he sings he sounds like a kid making up his homework on the spot. The 10 seconds of every song without vocals is some of the best music I've ever heard. The Smiths are maybe the objectively best band that I hate. Gonna think about who else fits that category. Probably other Tylore-core bands.

3.5

It's too bad, if Morrissey wasn't such a cunt I might actually enjoy the Smiths. Musically some great stuff going on but as soon as Moz opens his mouth it takes on this disgusting slimy feel.

the first song was a banger and the guitars kind of reminded me of the cure (yes, i said it). but it went off a cliff after that 😆 ‘that joke isn’t funny anymore’ was decent. ‘well i wonder’ was quite nice. ‘barbarism begins at home’ - yeah, i like this, it slapped and it was a bit funky too.

It's fine. I don't love it, and I don't hate it. I might listen to some of the songs again in a mix playlist, but i don't think I'd listen to it as full album again.

Barbarism begins at home is a bop

The Smiths don't really do it for me. Nothing offensive here, but nothing too captivating either

That's not my taste in music - But ok

Cover: 6 This had some decent songs. Title track is the best. Overall, mostly ok songs.

My least favorite Smiths album

Johnny Marr is great Morrissey is not

I like the funky base on the 2nd last track Edit Apr 15 2026: 4 --> 3

fine to listen to but not nearly a standout or as good as the other Smiths albums we've had so far (or their other ones that I enjoy)

Overall good. Great cleaning album. I like 'Meat is Murder' and 'Rusholme Ruffians'. Not my faaaavorite.

SO WHINY, GREAT INSTRUMENTAL, LEAD SINGER DOESNT NEED TO MAKE HIS VOICE SOUND LIKE THAT, SO FORCED

Bit of a zzzz

My head cannon conspiracy theory is that PETA paid The Smiths to write the the title track of this album. It has all the hallmarks of PETA's rhetoric after all. If I wasn't already vegetarian, I feel like that song may have been the one to make me.

Barbarism Begins at Home is a great song. Well I wonder is a good song too 3/5

I love The Smiths, but sadly their legacy is a bit tainted by Morrissey’s antics. Favourite tracks: The Headmaster Ritual, Rusholme Ruffians.

Music is good, vocals are annoying. I liked this a lot less than I thought I would.

A few bangers, but plenty of whiny songs

3/5

ts was ok 4.5/10

Sumisu

I liked the music in this album. I'm a big fan of the lead singers voice, and the bass guitar in "Barbarism begins at home".

I'ma savor that flavor, gat damnit. Ok, despite this being their most successful album (I can read Wikipedia articles, hooray!), none of the songs I think of when I think of this band are on this one. Good on them for taking a stand on a principle, and the music definitely sounds The Smiths, which if they're your thing should suffice to round out your fandom.

Okay, so I have to say there’s way too much Morrissey on this list. Setting that aside: Good album, and and important one for The Smiths. I liked it way more than Strangeways, but less than The Queen is Dead

Meat is delish

I wanted to like this one more, but it wasn't meat to be.

Morrissey must have some dirt on the author of this list for there to be so many of his albums on here.

- Once again, unoffended but also unimpressed. - The Smiths' unwillingness to ever shift rhythms or tones when a song starts irks me. They just hit a pattern and it does not change until the next song starts. - "Well I Wonder" was a welcome change due to its more solid bass. I also appreciated the opening bravado and important message of "The Headmaster Ritual." - Appreciate the sentiment of "Meat Is Murder," but it is heavy-handed and not exactly an enjoyable listen.

Morrissey warbling like a distraught ghost.

118/1089 - All I know about this band is that the lead singer is an annoying vegan. After listening: not bad! Kinda reminds me of the Cranberries lead singer for some reason. I think the melody notes stay on the same pitch too much throughout all the songs, making them directionless at times. Also all of the songs blend into each other (except for the funk one near the end, but that's mainly the bass player adding variety) and don't really stand out.

The Smiths are always mmmmmm... okay

Stor kulturel influence. Med til at inspirere mange indenfor britisk indie musik. Det er bla oasis, blur, radiohead osv. Det var det første the smiths album til at være nummer 1 i UK. taler for animal rights.

S erste und s letzte Lied sind recht cool, alles dezwüschet het mich ned vom hocker ghaue

Der erste Song gefällt mit sehr gut: Macht gute Laune, ist aber nicht langweilig. Die Stimme des Sängers gefällt mir: Er singt klar, ist aber auch wandelbar zu etwas luftigerem Klang, und seine Stimme ist sehr beweglich und flink. Rusholme Ruffians etwas zu viel übereifriger Country für meinen Geschmack. In I want the one I can‘t have gefällt mir seine Stimme gar nicht mehr, er singt einfach falsch, ich glaube er ist generell zu hoch von der Intonation her, was ich erstaunlich finde. What she said: Irgendwie wird das Album je länger es geht, etwas mülliger.. Der Refrain gefällt mir aber relativ gut, sie machen irgendwas, das hittet jedes Mal, wenn er what she said singt. That Joke isn‘t funny anymore: Ein bisschen langweilig. Nowhere Fast und Well I Wonder: Noch cool. Barbarism Begins at Home: Hier gefällt mir der Bass - und der Song auch recht gut. Meat is Murder: Sehr gute Message der Lyrics! Ich liebe auch die Kuh am Anfang des Songs. Generell eine starke Drei, vor allem der erste und die letzten beiden Songs gefallen mir:)

This album was constantly floating between three and four stars for me. The vibes were nice for my spring evening walk, but nothing really grabbed me except the last song. As an album it is just ordinary, but it feels a bit dated.

3 stars Starts off great but peters out towards the end.

I’ve only enjoyed a few songs from The Smiths. while i still enjoyed the album, i wouldn’t say any song really stood out.

Being a younger Gen X, I'm fully aware of the person who is obsessed with The Smiths. I've never really gotten what magical hold they seemed to have over some people. They were fine. I like maybe one song of their's "How Soon is Now" and I'm not crazy about it. I'm sure there will be one more The Smiths album on this list. I will likely think it's just OK as well.

why did he bark

I like the Smiths or a least the “hits” however some of the songs on here are awful!

In the middle. I love the style but it’s a little too relaxing.

Some really great guitar parts, a good rhythm section, but I dont particularly like Morrisseys voice, and the songs dont stick for me.

This sounds like a long car ride late a night falling asleep sprawled out in the back of Grandma's car in the 1980s

Decent album, wasn't hooked, though. 6/10.

A few bangers, but a lot of filler. Oh, and the obligatory mention that Morrissey is an insufferable prick.

Only three stars because I’d feel bad putting two. There are some good tracks, but it all feels like one huge song that’s just kinda ok.

An ok album. Handful of great songs but few standouts

I enjoyed this album because there was more of a mix in style, however this is not my favorite kind of music.

Favorite: Barbarism Begins at Home

Morrissey is a prick. And Meat is Murder the song is especially cringy in light of him as a person. The music is good enough. Johnny Marr on guitar is pretty memorabe. And I like Morrissey's voice. Overall, the album is fine. For some reason 'How Soon is Now' is not included on the Spotify version (I know it's only on certain versions of the album). This is clearly the most famous Smiths song and really the only thing on this album that stands out to me.

Fine album but I can't stand Morrissey.

Morrissey is a cunt - it says a lot for this album that I can give it 3 stars

Enjoyable

Aucune chanson ne m'a vraiment marqué, la voix du chanteur reste "iconique"

At the time it came out I liked it but now when I listen I think what a whiner.

mid

Heard it before. I know for lots of people this is their favourite Smiths album but it's my least fave </3 Still, it's The Smiths and Barbarism Begins At Home is on this album so I can't complain 3/5

Morrissey is a twat. Now thats out the way, this is a good album musically, Johnny Marr is inspired and the rhythm section of Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce are tight, but Morrissey is still a twat...

prefer other smith albums but of course love “i want the one i can’t have”

Oh look, the second Smiths album that's popped up for me this week on this website. The author must really have a hard-on for Morrissey. It's good. Or is it great? Or somewhere in between... fuck if I know. I was a twinkle in my mother's eye in the mid-80s, not listening to 80s Britpop doing mountains of coke in the club while questioning the meaning of my life.

Good stuff. Feel similarly to other smiths albums. They’re a song band not an album band. When I listen to too much of their stuff together it begins to blur. So unfortunately not my fav but has some really incredible songs.

Another solid album from a shit person. Still don't know how people think this is better than the Cure. 6/10

'Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools / Spineless bastards all'; 'On the day that your mentality / catches up w/ your biology'; 'Happening in mine, happening in mine.' Only the final song, which is an experimental gem, has anything to do with vegetarianism, but the themes of cruelty and empathy run powerfully thru the entire record. It's not an album that I look forward to returning to, however, even tho Marr is incredible on 'What She Said,' and Morrissey's lyrics are no less impactful. It may be that it's too dark, too despairing in the end, not joyfully cynical. W/ the exception of 'Barbarism Begins at Home,' which vigorously bears witness to the catch-22 of a vicious school system, no track here properly gets me going.

Ste, Ste, Ste. Ste, we get it - you were subjected to corporal punishment at school and didn’t like it. A lot of people were, and I’m going to say most of them didn’t like it either. You aren’t special. I quite like a The Smiths, but I have to admit it’s in an Alan Partridge-esque “Very Best of The Smiths” kind of way. Give me the good tunes, filter out the filler - I think the fact that only ‘That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore’ is regularly anthologised in best ofs kind of sets out where I stand on this. No better than ok, the self-titled debut and The Queen Is Dead are both far superior.

The Smiths always kinda bring me down but there's nothing wrong with them. Just not my cup of tea

Decent

En terme des Smiths, c'est pas le pire. J'ai toujours de la misère avec la voix du chanteur, mais il me gosse moins que les premières fois. Bref, c'est du post-punk, jsuis pas la bonne personne pour en faire l'éloge malheureusement

Pretty good effort from the Smiths. It sounds a bit more like they're coming into their own on this album. I really love Barbarism Begins at Home with its lyrics about children being mistreated by parents and it's funky bassline and song length 7/10 Favourite: Barbarism Begins at Home Least Favourite: Meat is Murder

The Smiths. Si.

2.5 stars

Decent British pop rock

This was significantly better than the last "Smiths" album we listened to, but God...could this singer please sing in tune. I'd love to hear this band with a different vocalist because the instrumentals are sooooo fantastic and interesting. Like the other album tho, the beginning was strong and then it got mid. Most songs I liked everything but the vocals Liked Songs: "The Headmaster Ritual" , "Rusholme Ruffians" , "What She Said"

Not their best

Jumpy - driven by melodic bass lines and a great guitar jangle playing off against the neurotic, and sometimes soaring, vocals. Can see why it's as loved by those who love it, but I'm not totally grabbed as it bounced around - at its best when stretched out and slow. Favourite tracks: What She Said, That Joke's Not Funny Any More, Meat Is Murder

Not my favorite Smiths album but still a decent listen.

This is an alright album that you may hear playing in a pub, but I don't think that it would be very popular nowadays. There isn't a lot better, a bit meh.

This was fun and moody.

Has its moments

A balance between bouncy, fun tracks and sadder, slower tracks. The music is solid, finding a balance between poppy, jangly, dreamy, intense, even some rockabilly - with bass and guitar really shining. Morrissey’s usual sad, ironic, intellectual croon didn’t really hit for me here. The music held a tighter grasp on my attention.

Eh I never really liked the smiths

Not my favorite album by The Smiths. The lyrics are still moody and sexual but they're often paired with a more upbeat sound that creates a bipolar discordance I wasn't enjoying. May need more continuous listens to get the bigger picture.

Good album, but I prefer The Queen is Dead.

OK

Mér finnst eitthvað afskaplega leiðinlegt við að hlusta á Morrissey þótt það byrji vanalega ekki þannig. Get ekki sett fingurinn á hvað það er. Mér finnst þetta allt saman verða svo niðurdrepanlega eins eftir smá stund og þessi plata er ekkert öðruvísi

There’s no doubt the Smiths were a force to be reckoned with in their day. Not as good as the Queen is Dead but still of a good standard

It seems that the lead singer of the Smiths is controversial and I'm probably to much of a kid to know anything about the background surrounding this band. I've always listened to some tracks of the Smiths but never attempted to go through an entire album. I generally have a positive view of their work from the few songs that I listen to. Meat is Murder didn't really convince me all that much, it's a bit of a hit and miss for me but man there are some bangers on here. I absolutely adore the post punk jangly guitars and infectious basslines inhabiting some of the tracks. The Headmaster Ritual was just a joy to listen to and I particularly enjoyed The Joke isn't funny anymore. Honestly, I cannot judge these lyrics or if Morrissey comes off as a pretentious tosser. Overall, I think there is just a really good instrumentation going on which carries a lot of the tracks. There are just a few songs here where I didn't feel much and were just a bit forgettable. I enjoy the album but it's not a classic for me but I admit that it still evokes a nostalgia for a time where I wasn't even alive, it does feel timeless.

I've got three Smiths albums, and like them all more than this one. Too flat overall for me.

I don't like Morrissey's voice (or some of his political views for that matter, but I try to put things like that aside), but despite that significant blocker I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

I'm not very familiar with The Smiths. This album is growing on me. It's a high 3, and I could imagine it eventually bumping up to a 4.

My brother had this album, growing up, so I'm probably more familiar with it than any of the non-Best Of albums. Would be an easy 4 star, but charging the -1 star Garbage Person Tax.

Decent Brit pop

“One or two songs rocked harder than I thought was their gestalt.” It’s very much of its time.

Really just kind of somewhere in the middle and I wasn't expecting a cow voices on that last song

It’s ok, definitely not their best. There are a few good songs, but it sounds uncharacteristically poppy in parts.

Johnny Marr is a great guitarist, and if Morrisey just wrote lyrics he would be fine. But I can't stand Morrisey once he opens his mouth. 3⭐️

This was like an early 200’0’s rock album. Not offensive not innovative

yeah nah

This album was dead middle of the road for me. Not impressed or annoyed by the group, so it’s like a 2.5.

3,5

Bad vibes of Moz aside, it’s an alright album. Title track’s a bit boring though, we get it. Meat bad, fascism good.

Morrisseys a douche

good album. they really had a unique style and sound. but for me the instrumental part is carrying throughout the project. still songs i love

It’s a solid album, enjoyable listen. I prefer the smiths in smaller amounts bc the lead singers voice kinda annoys me after a while. But the instrumentation is good, slightly repetitive but the album flows together really well.

Favourite song: - That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

Still my least favourite Smiths album, but Barbarism Begins At Home is a banger, and the guitar on That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is beautiful

3/5 Not what I thought it would be. Fine. Not great. I don’t get the hype.

Plus 5 for Johnny marr minus 2 for morrisey

My favourite was Barbarism Begins at Home. What an outro on that song.

🎧This is a fine Smiths album. I feel like it doesn’t have any big standout songs like all the others do. Baseline on Barbarism Begins at Home absolutely slaps. Favorite track: Well I Wonder

With the saddest person on the planet, Morrissey, the Smiths played sad music. Emo music before there was Emo music? This is a good collection of jangly guitar alternative music from the golden age of alternative. It is much better than I remember, which, ironically, made me kind of happy.

This is a pretty decent album, but I don't think I'd ever choose this over Strangeways or The Queen Is Dead.

хмммм не совсем моя музыка

Boooooo

The music is OK for what it is and what is represents from this period of time. It's good, especially the guitar parts and the overall atmosphere, but a bit too dated (this kind of sound, cold and with lots of (too much of?) reverb is so 80s). OK but not overly memorable.

Okay.

Generally, I'm not that impressed with The Smiths. They had several critically acclaimed albums, that never resonated with me despite having my sister's, The Smiths LP's around the house. On paper, I should like this more, I'm not against Brit-pop, post-punk rock and I like jangly guitar riffs, but it probably has something to do with the singer, Morrissey, who is an arrogant twit. I really love the opening track, a great start that rocks more than most of their songs, but they settle in for a bland, less interesting ride to the last track, the annoying, "Meat Is Murder" title track. I will say, Johnny Marrs guitar is underrated and worth the listen and I wish he never met Morrissey.

I never listened to the Smiths much during their heyday. But the more listen, the more I like it (even though it’s as sullen and morose as you can get)

I wanted to like it more. The highs are high with The Smiths...lows are pretty low though.

Sær, men spændende stemme. Det samme om de skæve rytmer. Det er et kort album, men et svært lyt for mig.

From a very young age I remember singing "And if a doublе-decker bus crashes into us, to diе by your side is such a heavenly way to die" because my mom was always singing it. She loved the Smiths so they always makes me think of her. Some solid guitar work and basslines in this album. Overall I liked it but it's not really an album I think I'll revisit very much if ever.

Rätt bra groov, lite för deppigt för min smak dock. 6/10

mostly average, last 2 tracks in the album really good. Barbarism begins at home and Meat is Murder

Marr FTW on this album

There’s individual songs from The Smiths that I love. But I struggle with full albums. Kinda mid honestly. 3/5

holy shit i finally actually liked something associated with Morrissey wtf this a good album wow

Chill

Pleasant surprise.

While this is far from my favorite Smiths album, there is still a charm to it. The lyrics are unmistakably Morrissey. He toes the line between cheesy and endearing- and usually accomplishes both.

That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is the best track but never been a massive Smiths fan

Thought it was an ok listen overall, but not great. The standout tracks for me were That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore and Barbarism Begins at Home. I enjoyed the musical side of the album, especially Johnny Marr’s guitar sound. That said, some of the tracks felt a bit repetitive, and I found myself zoning out of Morrissey’s lyrics more often than I expected. While there are highlights, the album didn’t fully hold my attention throughout.

I've never given a Smiths album a listen until now so I'm not sure if they have any better stuff It's very typical of the 80s British indie rock that was being put out at the time, and I think this album does it ok but pretty standard Marr is getting the praise for his guitar work but I think the true hero of this album is Andy Rourke's bass, especially on Barbarism Begins at Home. I can't make my mind up on the vocals. They suck sometimes, but others I think they suit the music well

Great album, but it's far from their best.

Day367 -if there’s three or four smiths albums on here this is my least favorite

It's amazing how The Smiths can write so many different sounding songs and then when Morrissey starts to sing, it turns into the same song as all the others. I mean I like The Smiths but they're one of the bands that is only good in short bursts. This album is ok, not as good as The Queen Is Dead but still decent. If you like The Smiths anyway. I totally get how this could be insufferable for a lot of people and after more than one play through, I think I would be ready to move on. I love that this album is more political and maybe a little more intelligent than their first album, it shows growth in that aspect for sure. Instrumentation is great as well. I think that the real strength of The Smiths is the lyrics and the big weakness is the vocals. That's sort of odd to think about - the words are great but the delivery leaves something to be desired. Morrissey has such a unique voice and I can't ever decide if I like it or not. I think I do but today it seems that I only like it for 15 minutes or so before I start to wish that someone else was singing. 3.5/5 rounding down.

This is one of the albums that you have to give a second listen to actually appreciate. Nice overall, especially for late night studying.

2025 is here and I am being tested. I wish to be less immediately-cynical about artists I have relative knowledge of, but haven’t listened to a majority of their discography’s. I believe I accomplished that by stumbling into the correct circumstances to appreciate what this album has to offer. It’s been a cold, grey day so I went to the gym to run on the treadmill. I think this was a great backing track to that setting. It also made me realize that the smiths/morrisey are functionally similar to Lana Del Rey but for gen X white male teens/20 somethings. Both are very whistful and often sing with a sense of yearning for something ephemeral. As for this album specifically, it was still what I would expect from a Smiths project. Maybe a bit more based in reality, which I could appreciate, considering the albums topics about war, unnecessary human suffering, vegetarianism, and ethical consumption. My favorite track is probably Well I Wonder, I liked that slightly surfer guitar riff. The final track, the title track, is interesting to me. It had the best instrumentation, cutting edge production, but felt a little on the nose and melodramatic, lyrically. All in all, I honor the in-depth experience I had with this album, one I could’ve very easily half-assed and passed over easily. Soft 3/5.

I can't much be doing with this record in truth. I like a wee bit of Smiths but this is peak whinge-era Morrissey.

Good album. Marr’s guitar shines throughout. Rourke’s bass line really stands out on "Barbarism Begins at Home". Morrisey is… Morrisey.

The title track was gross, but otherwise, the album was tolerable.

i always think i’m excited about The Smiths, but three songs in and it was already way too much Smiths for the day.

Pretty nice sounding album, I do like The Smiths and their sound. Nothing really stood out to me, the title track is as preachy as you'd expect and grated me a bit.

"The last night of the fair From a seat on a whirling waltzer Her skirt ascends for a watching eye It's a hideous trait on her mother's side From a seat on a whirling waltzer Her skirt ascends for a watching eye It's a hideous trait on her mother's side" ok i have to admit that was pretty funny

An alright album, not my favourite sounded very stereotypically like the smiths but most of it was enjoyable enough.

the sound doesn’t appeal to me. snare sound is very 80s and morrissey’s voice just really doesn’t do it for me. his lyrics also don’t really resonate with me. i get why the smiths were so influential but personally it doesn’t scratch the music itch for me.

Bin kein großer Fan der Band aber das war besser, als ich erwartet habe. Ganz nett, teilweise tanzbar. Nur der Titeltrack am Ende hat mich irgendwie verstört. Ja, ich verstehe die Botschaft, aber die Metzgergeräusche und das alles passen einfach nicht auf das Album.

The Smiths are so smithy

I mean, it's the third smiths album I've gotten, I don't have anything new to say about them.

Favorite Track: Nowhere Fast

When I was younger, we went on a trip to visit my older brother in college. This was my first time being in a big college dorm room with the community bathroom, a payphone on the wall in the hall and tiny two-up rooms. My brother roommate had the poster for this album on the wall next to my brother's U2 posters. Those formative days of youth are what makes you the person you become and by having two older siblings that educated you on good music you become used to hearing everything and learn to like more than you knew you would. I wouldn't hear too much more of the Smith's until I got to college, but the head start I got at that small college in rural Pennsylvania has helped open me up to a lot of music. The Smiths 'Meat is Murder' is the band at its rawest and best energy-wise. Morrisey's lyrics combined with Marr's guitar licks serve up a great postpunk / indie album 3.5/5

Oh, The Smiths. I listened to them way too much at a time when I was in a mad place mentally, so it’s hard to listen to them now, plus Morrissey has gone off the deep end. I love their sound but this album was never a favourite so rating it 3.

ну норм но не вау

Another British group I never heard of, although apparently they were quite influential. Their sound is typical 1980s. If the ratings allowed I’d give them a 3.5, a bit above average.

Not their best, some good tracks towards the end but the beginning is beans and toast level bland

Honestly really good, my biggest gripe is that all of the songs sound the same!!!

Another school year memories album. Glad to have listened to it through, can't say there's a single favorite but the album holds up

Je suis allergique à Morrissey et cet album ne m’a pas révulsée, il ne doit donc pas être terrible

Not my favorite Smiths album, most of the tracks sound like filler/B sides to me.

Shitting on Morrissey in a Smiths review is such low hanging fruit it may as well be a root vegetable. I’m gonna do it anyway. This retarded faggot is genuinely a disservice to an extremely tight musical outfit. You put literally any other vocalist in front of these guys and I would rate every album five stars. The unique combination of Morrissey’s annoying as fuck moany voice added to the moments when my zen master mental filter fails me and I actually comprehend the lyrics instead of my brain scrambling them to just be another instrumental track he becomes so insufferable I feel like pushing him into a locker. I’m not surprised he doesn’t fuck. What a loser. The worst song on this entire album has to be the title track. I can’t imagine anyone being inspired toward ethical vegetarianism by this tosser. The real curiosity for this one came though when I did a bit more research on Morrissey’s views. On one hand he is an ardent militant vegetarian, and has compared eating animals to being a pedophile - obviously implying he thinks pedophilia is bad. On the other hand though, he seems to be some sort of British patriot - you see my confusion. How can one be a British patriot while slagging off their national pastime? It boggles the mind. Regardless this album is alright if you skip the last track and do your best to ignore the retard frontman. Props to the band for making this at least listenable.

It’s a very ‘The Smiths’ sounding album. Musically they’re always very good, Morrissey gets on my tits though and I’m not massive on his voice. He’s a very marmite character, and in my opinion, you shouldn’t put marmite in your ears all too often. Music definitely made it a middle of the road listen.

Es un buen disco, aunque The Smiths es medio monótono. Pero tiene algunos temakos.

Not a big fan. Vocals are better than the last from this band but still meh

Not bad at all, but being exposed to The Queen Is Dead feels like I was spoiled the best hits of the band, really. Hope that album finds me here eventually.

By some coincidence, I actually listened to this album earlier in the day before I revealed today's album. Not my favourite Smith's album though

This album was alright. Enjoyed a few tracks: Barbarism Begins at Home, Nowhere Fast and What She Said. Everything else was a bit ok. Meat is Murder has the line “and Death for no reason is MURDER”. I think that there is a reason though, delicious life sustaining food.

Remarkably listenable for post-punk

Meh, couldn't get into it

Probably my least favorite Smiths album, even though it's the favourite of a certain subset of Marr and the Mozz's fans, quite inexplicably for me. I suspect the iconic cover art, only bested by *The Queen Is Dead*'s Alain Delon, plays its part here. But for me, the music in the Smiths' magnum opus is as good as its artwork (if not more), instead of what occurs with *Meat Is Murder*. Musically and compositionally speaking, a couple of tracks indeed verge on ridiculousness in this LP (example, second cut "Rusholme Ruffians"). Most of the others are decent enough, even if a bit mundane at times (or they overstay their welcome, like the heavy-handed funk of "Barbarism Begins At Home", whose album version is twice too long). Fortunately, you also have a handful of stellar tracks that are part of the very best of The Smiths' repertoire: opener "The Headmaster Ritual", sinister "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and lively-yet-also-snarling "Nowhere Fast". But that's only a tiny minority in the track list (the old US version also including "How Soon Is Now?" makes the album better, but it's not considered a "cannon" version today, I'm afraid). Lyrically and vocally speaking, early Morrissey does what he does best: grating your ears with over-affected simpering for one second, suddenly impressing you with an unexpected change of pace in another, and delivering strings and strings of striking one-liners and punchlines about how miserable and inadequate his borderline-autistic narrators all feel. One of my favourite examples in that realm, found towards the end of "Nowhere Fast": "And when I'm lying in my bed I think about life And I think about death And neither one particularly appeals to me And if the day came When I felt a natural emotion I'd get such a shock I'd probably lie In the middle of the street and die I'd lie down and die Oh, oh" I mean, there is some obvious form of self-deprecating humour at play here, and that triggers tender feelings on my part (whereas latter days Morrissey triggers nothing but scorn from me). As for Johnny Marr's guitar playing, nicely assisted by Rourke and Joyce, it's constant fireworks after fireworks, as usual. And this even on the disappointing compositions, and in spite of the unimpressive, paper-thin eighties production values -- admittedly less annoying than on the band's debut, but still clearly doing a disservice to the guitarist's work decades after the fact. So, overall, it's rather a mixed bag for me. But it's a mixed bag by one of the most idiosyncratic rock bands that has ever graced this Earth. That explains why the album landed on Dimery's list, I guess, even if I doubt it will ever land on mine. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 8/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3) Number of albums left to review: 5 (plus the 80-ish extra LPs listed on this app, included because different past versions of the book have mentioned albums that have since been dropped in subsequent editions) Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 428 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 255 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 315

It's okay. 3/5

I try and I try to like the smiths and I struggle to feel it.

bem the smiths das ideias. achei bom, bem político. a melhor música do álbum é Well I Wonder!

the og sadboys meat is murder não me converteu ao veganismo

I was disappointed. Their previous (compilation) album had a number of songs that I love. This one: a bit dull.

This album had tough subject matter to get through while suffering from a headache on a rainy November Monday. Lyrics aside, the music was enjoyable. I prefer their The Queen is Dead album more, though. "You should know, time's tide will smother you. And I will too"

Solid. Strong 3 but not quite enough for a 4.

Not the best smiths but better than i expected

as a vegetarian i find this shit kinda annoying

Favorite track: "Well I Wonder"

It's strange because i listen a lot to the queen is dead album and in this one the sound is very different. It sound more bright even though the singer voice is very malinconic. The song Barbarism begins at home is really good with a ripetitive (in a good way) guitar riff

There is a very 80’s quality in the vocals and arrangements that meets nicely with the guitar/folksy side. I’m glad we got some more Smiths to enjoy.

Good

Not my genre of music. It's inoffensive, but not my thing. Better than Morrissey I suppose, but not by much in my opinion. I'm also probably wrong. I listen to bad music all the time.

Damn I really like that title track....I can feel my Smith's hate slipping away....damn you Morrissey....

It's not my favourite Smiths album, but it's still pretty good. Andy Rourke shines on this one. The first two songs are epic. Liked Songs Added: The Headmaster Ritual Rushholme Ruffians

Overall, not a bad album. As soon as I saw the label (Meat is Murder) I almost decided to just click the 'Did not Listen'. I don't agree with that. Anyway, I decided to listen and found most track OK.

Never my favourite Smiths album. Too many dull tracks.

I really don’t have much use for The Smiths anymore, but this is probably their best album, even without “How Soon is Now?”. It has some of their strongest and least overplayed compositions and Morrissey isn’t whaling as hard as he does elsewhere. “Barbarism Begins at Home” is probably as funky as white British people can reasonably get. C

i like the smiths but a lot of their stuff sounds kind of similar

Not bad, not amazing. I really loved two or three songs. And I was pretty blown away by Johnny Marr’s guitar playing. Having avoided listening to The Smiths for a long time, I thought it was funny that they sounded almost exactly like I expected. But I didn’t expect to realize just how many of today’s artists are influenced by them. Jangle rock kings, maybe? I gotta learn more.

Well not my favorite but I said I love the smiths

I am not ashamed to admit I am a Smiths fan. However, for me this is their weakest offering. There are none of their best tracks here (the version I listened to does not have How Soon Is Now? which would take this up a notch). A tad underwhelming. Want to give it a 3.5

I had definitely heard The Smiths before- they typically had been "good" in my mind but not really for me. Gave this one two listens- its nice background music for sure. I like morrisey's vocals and the piano really excentuates the mood they are going for. Overall- similar to my previous experience with the Smiths: good, but not for me.

Very "The Smiths" sounding. They aren't bad, but one of those bands that just seems to have one sound that makes up every song. Meat is Murder (the song) was very interesting, and an album of songs like that would easily be 4 or 5 stars.

OK album, didn't grab me but I didn't find it hard to listen to or especially bland.

Good, not my favorite smiths from the anthology. Less whiny than other albums despite this overarching veganism theme. I like to enjoy this album with a glass of milk and a sirloin steak.

Were these guys hardcore vegetarians? It's very Smiths -- enjoyable sound but nothing stood out. 3* Barbarism begins at home had a nice bass groove.

Not a patch on the queen is dead but still a decent album. Some great bass lines in there

The Smiths are one of those bands where I’m just not sure if I like them or not. Musically it’s very listenable but the sound of Morrisey’s voice just doesn’t do it for me after a while. I think it’s fine when they come out with some bigger numbers or an album broken up with a bit of variety but this one just dragged by the end.

the smiths are at their best when morrissey isn't around