The Queen Is Dead

Good music thanks for that

The Shits®

Marvelous album. Was so glad to see it on the list and to be prompted to listen to it again (it had been awhile). This record is pretty much perfect. The Smiths set the gold standard for indie “jangle pop.” Listening to this reminds me of just how influential the Smiths were. This kind of sound wasn’t really around before them. Marr’s guitar is simple and so lovely and melodic. Morrissey’s crooning and lyrics match perfectly with the songs. Lyrics are clever, and sometimes downright funny even though he’s singing about serious topics. No one else like the Smiths; and this record may be their best. 5 stars easy.

I said I love the smiths ! 😁

Bigmouth strikes again triffts eigentlich dann auch ganz gut. 3/5

Muscially interesting with whimsical lyrics.

Interesting to see the influences of many modern alternative rock artists. The Smiths have a form of their own, somewhere between rock and a disappointed punkrock before either genre bore a characteristic. I hear the roots of the likes of Muse or The Strokes in much of the Smith's music, including the pretentious lilt that gives them a bite into the modern cunty insufferable nature that can often accompany the genre. Good and lacking humility; a lesson in modern democracy.

Morrissey and Marr at their best

Noget nær perfekt album. Hold kæft hvor er det godt.

Great

Absolutely love The Smiths, this had no contest from me. There is a Light is a song for the ages, and I'll always love Bigmouth and Some Girls.

Fantastic, peak Smiths. Morrissey is killing it. Somewhat nihilistic feeling, romantic, perfect 80s indie record

"I love The Smiths"

Who up frankly-ing they shankly

perfect album

je connaissais déjà cette voix. C'est très sympa, ça fait très automnal, mais j'ai du mal à retenir un morceau en particulier, c'est un peu plus un album atmosphérique

Good enough. ★★★

How am I supposed to rate this one? How much virtue signaling do I need to do in these reviews? Music good, Morrissey bad, splitting the difference and giving it a 3

Again, not sure why I’m supposed to be mad at Morrissey, so I’ll go ahead and say this is great. It’s almost like a mini greatest hits (vol. 1).

*listened before the project* I don’t really like it, nothing good without Johnny marr

So... been for the most part enjoying the album but... turns out the singer is not a great person so... I'll try to somewhat separate the art from the artist. It's pretty alright, not what I'd listen to usually but, I can see why people like it. It's got a good mix of more upbeat and entertaining songs and of sadder, more reflective ones. Not a huge fan of the singer's tone of voice, but for the songs he sings, I think it works and I appreciate that they left a lot of his imperfections in the recordings, made it feel a lot more personal and real. Overall, it's a decent listen if you can ignore what I said at the beginning.

Really good stuff, some classic songs I already knew and enjoyed my introduction to The Queen is Dead. Funky with fun lyrics and different emotions throughout. Really showcases Morrisey’s unique vocal style. Top Tracks: There is a Light that Never Goes Out, Bigmouth Strikes Again, The Queen is Dead

Flawlesss

If I had to choose the best album of all times, this would rank on place 3 (the top spot of course being shared by Songs In The Key Of Life and Rust In Peace).

An enjoyable 80s British pop album. 4/5

Some weird lyrics

Ehhhh

Love this one. Always have. One of those rare albums that is utterly perfect. 10 tracks, all wonderful. My favourites are Bigmouth Strikes Again, Cemetry Gates and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. Lyrics are a work of genius.

Dette likte jeg. Ikke helt vibet med The Smiths tidligere, men når jeg først kom inn i stilen var dette både fengende og bra musikk.

Liket dette, nesten 4.

Veldig godt levert av Will, Jayden og gjengen. Digger vokalen og basslinjene. "There is a light..." er dritbra. Litt kjedelig tidvis, men dette holder til 4 for meg

Bra band, kult album. Jevnt over solid pluss et par sterke låter, så er vi på 4ern

A strange product of strange parts. Obviously it's not inaccessible or experimental or especially weird, but trying to listen with fresh ears, it feels like the rhythm section, Marr and Morisey are all quite strange unique voices and the combination is a bit odd. Makes for an interesting listen! I love this record. I know it's over is a particular highlight

i'm kinda on the fence about these guys, clearly very influencial on bands like radiohead. I'm very close to giving this a 4 but there's just a little too little variety here for me

7/10

Album : 49/1089 Songs known going in : 5/10 Favourite song : Cemetery gates Rating : 5/5 Notes : it just is the best smiths album, everyone glazes hatful of hollow too much because this just is the best smiths album

Peak sad boi shit

Not to be one of those "I never liked him anyway" about Moz, but he's easily my least favorite part of The Smiths. Marr and Rourke carry the day, but I still the insane amount of love this band gets is baffling to me. Just one of those things I guess.

Morrisseyn ääni pilaa albumin melko tehokkaasti. Tämän albumin kuuntelu oli raskas kokemus mikä on tosi yllättävää, koska aiempi listalla ollut albumi (Strangeways, here we come) oli erinomainen. 2/5

Nothing less than a masterpiece. You may not like Morrissey, but you will love this one if you have any interest in Music. (Listened to it on vinyl)

Literally let this run all day, I love this album even though Morrissey sucks Playlist add: “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” obviously but other strong contender is “Bigmouth Strikes Again”

do i like this album? yes. but do i mostly like the songs i already knew? also yes. "some girls are bigger than others" is kinda crazy 💀 but ofc i love "there is a light that never goes out", "cemetary gates", and "bigmouth strikes again".

Loved the last song but I think I need another go around to appreciate

Ой навсегда в сердечке

Iconic Smiths sound, a standout or two. Not the best but enjoyable, 7/10

This album was very good and I loved it a lot. Point docked for Morrisey being an awful human being, but man could he make music.

This album is way too damn short. I enjoyed every second of it thoroughly, and this is my first Smiths album on the list. This was great.

Bad guy. Got me today

man bigmouth strikes again is like such a song about ME... anyways i guess its just true that There Is a Light That Never Goes Out is the best song ever of all time eh

I love the smiths... nearly liked the whole album until Vicar in a Tutu came up, it's not my speed. bigmouth strikes again and there is a light that never goes out are PEAK Frankly, Mr. Shankly was super goofy I thought I wouldn't like it but it's fun

Fucking 1986 somehow???

i dont think you understand the influence this album had on me when i first discovered it at the age of 12. i mainly listened the smiths for one girl i really wanted to become friends with (my absolute best friend and soulmate nowadays). and as our friendship grew further the more songs i listened. there is still a video of us dancing to this song on her 13th bday. will love you forever n

I like this one better but I just cannot get past the singing

5/5 One of the greatest albums of all time. Amazing rhythm guitar work from Johnny Marr who is in top shape compositionally on this record. Marr is one of my guitar heroes, and this album demonstrates why. His unique jangle sound and rhythmic chord melody style is top notch. The instrumentals are so wistful and moody, backed up by the top notch rhythm section of Rourke and Joyce. Morrissey, the other main star of this album is also at the top of his game lyrically and vocally. His delivery is very charming and exudes personality, and when combined with his catchy vocal melodies and memorable lyrics, the songs are elevated to another level. He’s one of my favorite singers, and I love how his storytelling strikes the line of tragic and hilarious. I can see how one would find him annoying, but I think it’s easy to relate to the drama of this record. Spectacular songs from a spectacular band.

Perfect all the way through…. Moz and Marr are amazing. Marr’s guitar work is amazingly original and defines his style on this album.

Love There is a Light That Never Goes Out.

It was curious

hitting me with this right as we're shifting into autumn. Yeah, have to give it a 5. Also, fuck Morrissey

it will always just be a little tainted by morrissey's big fat head, to me at least

já tinha ouvido antes, mas resolvi reouvir pelo projeto e caramba... que álbum bom. faz sentido a proporção do tamanho que eles tomaram na época com esse álbum, que reverbera até os dias de hoje. é muito nostálgico. uma vibe bem retrô. me passa uma senssação de ''coming out of age'' total. eu adorei.

Please don’t tell the miserable floppy haired charity shop cardigan wearing Morrissey loving clones that I avoided at sixth-form college … but I kind of like this

Cards on the table. Love the Smiths but Morrisey is now a fully blown balloon. I can put this to back of mind and enjoy this for what it is magic.

A good front man - Robert Plant, Souxsie Sue, David Byrne - can hold a band together. Morrissey just holds his band back. The rhythm section is tight, the guitar is consistently interesting and inventive, but over the top of it all wafts Morrissey, whining away at his inept, self indulgent, self flagellating lyrics. "Frankly, Mr Shankly, I didn't know you wrote such bloody awful poetry," he sings and pots and kettles everywhere stop calling each other black, appalled at his audacity. He claims to have Wilde in his side, but I'm waiting to hear what Wilde has to say. Better than Morrisey's solo work, but that's a low bar.

Commercially their best, not my favourite personally, but that doesn’t detract from them being on the top of their game here.

The usual caveats about Morrissey stand, he's a cunt. This however, is one of the great albums of all time.

I should have been deep into the Smiths in the 80s. I was in high school, I was full of angst, I was misunderstood. But I took my teenage blues in a different direction, with AC/DC, Metallica, and Def Leppard. I didn't have the angle on the music until I finally wised up and played the Cure's "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me" on endless loops for all 1987-88. Still I was so unhip to the Smiths that I thought the hook to Soho's "Hippychick" was an original. Jesus Christ I was naive. I dig them now more in spite of Morrissey (and what he became), because the band's musical chops were so cutting. They cut through the happy chatter of 80s pop like a droning buzzsaw. And I learned to love the hilarious angst of Morrissey's lyrics. If I'd been paying attention then, they would have ruled my world I suppose. But at least they have staying power. How can I miss them when they won't go away? Anyway, fuck Morrissey.

What a whinge, man. Some girls are bigger than others was the only song I actually liked.

Is this what most people consider the best Smiths albums? I think it’s my favorite. Production is great, has the perfect 80s sound but still grooves a bit.

Classic British indie-pop-rock sound; enjoyed!

This was ok. The songs I liked were the songs I’ve heard before which makes me think I would like these other songs on relistens.

I love Johnny Marr’s guitar on this album. Morrissey is a bit of a depressing wanker.

Absolute banger. Nothing left to say

The Smiths/Morrissey are always a no for my tastes

For fucks sake. Fuck right off, Morrissey. Deserves 0.

First time listening to that album. I know The Smiths from some tunes, but I never listened to The Queen is Dead in its entirety. I think I will need more spins, but it’s the first since the start of the challenge that an album might be rated higher with more listens. 3.5/5, but I gave 3 because I’ll need more time with this album to gave it a 4. The Queen is Dead: 4 Frankly, Mr. Shankly: 3 I Know It’s Over: 3 Never Had No One Ever: 3 Cemetry Gates: 3,5 Bigmouth Strikes Again: 3,5 The Boy With the Torn in his Side: 3,5 Vicar in a Tutu: 3,5 There is a Light that Never Goes Out: 4 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others: 3

Never paid much attention to The Smiths but despite not being my thing generally, this was a solid album, enjoyed it

At it's face, this seems like the type of thing that I would like but I am just finding it annoying. Maybe the wrong mood for me today.

Joda, men neida

Buen disco, de lo mejor de los 80.

Probably is the best The Smiths album. Great rocking intro. I Know It’s Over is morbidly lovely. You could make an argument for Cemetery Gates and Big Mouth being their best songs. Not bad song on it really. If I’m being critical Vicar in a Tutu lets the side down a tad. And I know Morrissey is known for his daft lyrics but he could have come up with something different on Some Girls. There Is A Light probably would have been the perfect ending. 4.9/5

Ay 5/5. I reckon id be wearing flowers in me back pocket and glasses if i were around in 84. The song queen is dead is just ace. Lyrically its morrisey at his best. I still think i prefer meat is murder. EY and nobody gives any love for Andy Rourke. The bass is really good on loads of em

I remember buying this on cd and playing it on the bus....the good old days them! Was once my favourite album when I was like 19, and 18 years later....we'll it isn't anymore but is still brilliant and the smiths best album. Queen is dead and light that never goes out a great! Cemetery gates, i know its over and the boy with the thorn in his side are personal favs!

Assured Smiths, Theres a confidence and swagger about em on this album. Peak lyrics 'Bigmouth Strikes Again' and 'Frankly Mt Shankly' my faves 4.5

Hard to go wrong with the Smiths.

Some very fresh, jangly-sounding guitar work which was later copied by legions of inferior indie bands. The lyrics are by turns witty and pretentious. Feel I would have enjoyed it more as a teenager.

Such a masterpiece, one of the best albums of The 80s & all time

If you can detach the Morrissey of today (Cockwomble) from this glorious slice of the 80s then it’s a wonderful listen. It’s hard to, but it’s worth it. 4

already listened to it its great

Easiest 5 star I’ve given out. This is a classic album that I’ve heard countless times before.

I simply have to accept that I like Morrissey's music, I guess. This album was pretty good. Morrissey is (usually) a great songwriter, and a great storyteller. As with his solo career, the texts are front and center here, and they're compelling, but they're also accompanied by way better music than his solo songs. The drummer is especially good, as is the bassist. Even without listening to what the songs say, the music is very enjoyable, even if a bit bland at times. As for the lyrics, I particularly like "Cemetery Gates". With this scandal about the Goncourt frontrunner getting caught using AI, the part about the importance of writing in your own words resonated with me. "Vicar in a tutu" is also a surprisingly progressive LGBTQ-friendly song about a head of church wearing feminine clothes, and as the song says, "he's not strange, he just wants to live his life this way", and who, by doing so, is "combatting ignorance"; and it just sums up the "trans debate" so perfectly, I wasn't expecting that. But then there's the stupid, repetitive "Some girls are bigger than others" that goes nowhere, so there's that. Anyway, overall, a great listen.

(6/7) no one does sad boy music better than the British

The lyrics and vocals are haunting. They lilt over a more pushing, progressive beat. There’s an interesting fascination with time. He mentions the 21st century at his heels. Not really a feeling I had back then (well, a decade later… I was three when this album released). I already had Cemetery Gates liked. I added Frankly, Mr Shankly. As a whole, the album is a good listen. 4/5.

Such a good album. Shame that Morrissey's a piece of shit now.

It's a brilliant album. I got into the Smith's around 1999 and saw my first Morrissey gig in Dublin in 2002 maybe. Have yet to see Johnny Marr regrettably. Actually rarely listen to full Smith's albums anymore so this is genuinely a nice treat for a Monday morning. This is such a great album, great lyrics and vocals and sublime guitar playing. Brilliant rhythm section of course. I'm a big fan of Andy Rourke's playing anyway and Mike Joyce sounds great on this record too. Perfect Smiths album, they are at their very best in this album. 5/5.

It's no secret that I'm a big Moz fan, and The Queen is Dead finds him at his sardonic Smiths best. Marr's hooks are life-giving, with not a single unnecessary note. Where I think The Queen is Dead really shines is in the often thankless jobs of Mike Joyce on drums and Andy Rourke on bass. Their dynamic contributions add so much depth to what's already a nearly flawless record. This is The Smiths firing on all creative cylinders and one of the most vital and vibrant records of the 1980s. What's all the wilder is that it isn't even my favorite Smiths release!

probably a 3.5 but oh well

That was Classic... The Smiths are my favourite

7/10 Best songs: The Boy with the Thorn in His Side, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others Melancholic new wave/goth with the occasional sense of humor. Enjoyable but not the best by The Smiths. Interestingly, I find the album starts weak but gets much better as it progresses - which is unusual considering most albums do the opposite.

Took me a few listens through to full gel with this album. The singles from it are fantastic, but the other songs didn't quite hit me at first. After couple goes through I really loved this album. Definitely one of my favourite Smiths ones now.

Whiney tripe. Lyrics like “some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers” sung badly over a terrible track has me at a loss for words. If this is what made it into the album imagine the drivel left on the cutting room floor. Apple Music describe this album as, possibly, The Smiths strongest. If true, I never want to hear another smiths song as long as I live.