Reviews (page 7 of 17)
I was feeling particularly melancholy today, a result of a rainy commute home and lingering existential crisis from New Year, so this album kind of hit the right spots today when otherwise it wouldn’t really have been my jam.
Ahh The Smiths huh, I've had them in my rotation for a short time, not really into them, but I do like them anyway. I had a Morrissey album months ago and now this, bit of a mix-up, but whatever I think I'll enjoy this one. Mm apparently there's lyrical humor here, I'm more hooked now, ik it won't be easy to notice tho, plus I don't read lyrics and listen simultaneously. First song, weird ass start. Great continuation, mm liked it but I hope it doesn't all sound like this. Second song, daaam instant goodness, the jestery sound is rare. Third song, less good, I do appreciate slowness, but it's usually not my style, it does progress better throughout the song but still misses the spot. 4th song, better, more dramatic and I guess relatable too, the whistling being the bridge was nice. 5th song, sounds like yacht rock, tropical or however it is called. If it weren't smiths and his voice I'd think it was someone else's. 6th song, hate and kinda love how sonically it's one of the best song and the voice.. the voice ruins and makes it worth it too.. dunno, maybe I'm biased about it, cuz I did hear it once for someone voice was eughh, and I do see that, though it is very unique and good to hear, just mhh. 7th song, not bad, the permanent waveness of it all is kinda monotonous. But again, the band is amazing, he's just repetitive with the vocalisation, which isn't exactly a bad thing, just something that happens too much. 8th song, agaainn the band is just too good for this man, get me wrong or not, but that band would have sounded much better with the right singer.. idk if I'm hating on him, but maybe this isn't the right fit for me in particular, anyway good song. 9th song, this is the most known one. Thing is I will like his voice at the end of the day, but initially I have to say this rn, cuz maybe I won't agree to myself, that band deserves better loll. Saying that cuz the voice fits here amazingly, but I've heard this song for enough times to get used to it, mhhh. 10th song, somehow the voice fits here too. This is another samesy song off of them so I'm not gonna talk too much rn. Off to the conclusion, this is definitely a 4 star album for me, would have gotten perfect score if it wasn't for the sameness and his voice (maybe I'm overreacting though), but either way I did love this, and expected nothing more nor less.
Yeah, liked this one alot. Further investigation required.
Unpopular opinion of preferring Strangeways and the not album proper Hatful of Hollow. Love this though. High 4
distinctly british in a way that was lowkey too much for me lmao, very much what i expected from the snippets i've heard on tiktok. there were a couple of songs i liked straight off the bat and i could see myself maybe listening to this album every now and again. i think it'll take some time to grow on me tho,,
,,the queen is dead“ itself is a good song and I definitely like the sound of the smiths. But not fully my genre.
a very consistent album with similar instrumental yet quite emotional and perfectly crafted genius lyrics would have appreciated more variation in the vocalisation morissey's voice is also not really interesting or engaging to me sounds rather unique from other British albums of that time?? idk you tell me melancholic and symbolic lyrics, clever rock instrumental combined with jingles surprised that the cover is alain delon lmao
Jeg er ikke den største fan af the Smiths, men jeg kan rigtig godt lide den instrumentale del af dette album. Jeg tror altid jeg har været thrown off af Morrisseys sangstemme, men dette album er stadig nydeligt.
Morrisey somehow makes the whiniest music ever and it’s still great.
The Title Track Is Not The Best Opener Here As In My Experience It Doesn't Reel You In to The Rest Of The Album But The Rest Of The Album Is Better.
No skips except the last song is kinda goofy. Maybe it’s supposed to be deep but idk. Just seems goofy when side by side with I Know It’s Over. An iconic album and definitely one of their bests.
was pretty good
Het is een legendarisch album met nummers die ongelofelijk tijdloos zijn, maar Morrissey is een aars. Dit album was voor mij wel één die ik echt vaker moest luisteren om meer te voelen en begrijpen. Hoewel ik het echt een mooie plaat vind hit het me niet de hele rit lang. Desalniettemin, 1 reet
Ben te brak om the smiths te luisteren
I mean iconic maar niet 100% mijn fav soort muziek
1/01/26 The queen is dead, The Smiths, 16/06/1986 genere: college rock, indie pop, post-punk, new wave storia: Quando gli Smiths iniziano a lavorare a The Queen Is Dead, tra il 1985 e il 1986, sono nel loro momento di massima ispirazione ma anche già attraversati da tensioni interne e fragilità strutturali: è il terzo album in studio, nasce dopo il successo di Meat Is Murder e viene registrato soprattutto nel 1985, con Johnny Marr sempre più orientato verso un suono ricco, stratificato e ambizioso, quasi orchestrale, mentre Morrissey consolida il proprio controllo sul versante lirico e concettuale, rendendo i testi più netti, politici e personali allo stesso tempo; il rapporto difficile con la Rough Trade rallenta l’uscita del disco, contribuendo a un clima di frustrazione che finirà per riflettersi anche nel tono dell’album. Il titolo è volutamente provocatorio ma profondamente simbolico: non si tratta di un attacco diretto alla figura della regina, quanto piuttosto di una critica feroce all’Inghilterra thatcheriana, alle sue istituzioni, al classismo e a una cultura percepita come immobile ed escludente, in cui la monarchia diventa metafora di un sistema ormai svuotato, incapace di rappresentare i giovani, i marginali e chi non si riconosce nell’ordine dominante. Musicalmente, The Queen Is Dead è il disco più equilibrato e compiuto degli Smiths: le chitarre jangle di Marr si fanno più complesse e cinematografiche, la sezione ritmica acquista sicurezza e dinamismo, e l’album riesce a tenere insieme ironia corrosiva (Frankly, Mr. Shankly), romanticismo disperato (There Is a Light That Never Goes Out), rabbia politica (The Queen Is Dead) e introspezione dolorosa (I Know It’s Over), con un suono che appare leggero in superficie ma emotivamente densissimo. Qui Morrissey raggiunge probabilmente il suo apice come autore, intrecciando solitudine, desiderio e identità personale con l’alienazione della classe operaia, il rifiuto dell’autorità e delle convenzioni sociali, e un umorismo nero che convive costantemente con una vulnerabilità quasi imbarazzante, rendendo impossibile separare il piano politico da quello intimo. Anche la copertina contribuisce in modo decisivo all’immaginario dell’album: raffigura l’attore francese Alain Delon in un fermo immagine del film L’insoumis (1964), scelta tipica di Morrissey, che preferisce icone del cinema europeo malinconico e outsider a immagini promozionali della band, rafforzando l’idea di un romanticismo tragico, elegante e alienato. Pubblicato nel giugno 1986, il disco non viene subito accolto unanimemente come un capolavoro, ma cresce rapidamente di statura critica fino a essere riconosciuto come il miglior album degli Smiths e uno dei dischi fondamentali della musica britannica, diventando un vero manifesto generazionale che dimostra come il pop possa essere intellettuale senza essere elitario ed emotivo senza risultare patetico; paradossalmente, però, proprio questo apice creativo segna anche l’inizio della fine, perché dopo The Queen Is Dead le tensioni interne si intensificano e porteranno allo scioglimento della band di lì a poco. considerazioni post-ascolto: conoscevo già l’album per alcune canzoni. Mi hanno stupito molto le tematiche di critica sociale/politica, per qualche strana ragione non me l’aspettavo da un gruppo come gli Smiths (mia ignoranza). Potrebbe sembrane strano ma le basi strumentali hanno avuto una sorta di effetto ninna-nanna, mi hanno rilassato ma allo stesso tempo mi hanno spronato a riflettere sul significato dei testi. È stato un bell’ascolto in fin dei conti, ottimo modo per iniziare l’anno. È sicuramente un album che mi fa pentire di non averlo ascoltato completamente in precedenza frasi preferite: “ I know it's over and it never really began But in my heart it was so real”, If you're so funny Then why are you on your own tonight? And if you're so clever Then why are you on your own tonight? … If you're so very entertaining Then why are you on your own tonight? If you're so very good looking Why do you sleep alone tonight?" ( I know, it’s over) “How can they look into my eyes And still they don't believe me? How can they hear me say those words Still they don't believe me? And if they don't believe me now Will they ever believe me?” (The Boy With the Thorn in His Side) voto finale: 8,5
Great
Very swag
Did not enjoy the first half but the second half redeemed it. My favorite was the cemetery song
Yeah fair play! Maybe needed an extra big hitter for the five though. Simpsons: Yes
I instinctively dislike The Smiths but every time I listen to them, it grows on me. In the end, I enjoyed this album and should definitely listen to them more.
Politically left album, so will always align with that, but morrissey’s voices grates on me something silly. I knew less songs than I originally thought. But would listen again.
4.5
4.2/5 Stars Top Songs: Bigmouth Strikes Again, There is a Light, Frankly, Mr Shankly
frankly mr shankly ruins it
“I said I love the Smiths” aaah album
I just really love The Smiths.
Classics, but i don’t LOVE all the songs
i love the smiths! johnny marr, mike joyce, and andy rourke! that’s it, no other members, no one else worth mentioning because the smiths were only THREE people, not four!
Obligatory Morrissey is a bell-sniff comment
I adore this album! I actually have it on vinyl so it was nice to revisit it!
It’s important to separate the art from the artist when it comes to the Smiths, given what a jerk Morrissey has turned out to be. But the other creative genius in the band, Johnny Marr, is a very sound individual, and the Smiths’ music and the songs are exceptional. There are some wonderful songs on this album, particularly I Know It’s Over. It gets four stars from me rather than five only because it’s not the best Smiths album, and there’s a bit of (for them…it’s all relative) filler on here.
Ding, dong!
Morrissey unique voice in combination with Marrs riffing makes it a great record.
Good album big fan
I love the smiths! Already love this suggestion as I’ve already heard most songs but doing another re-listen to this album sounds nice!
Very british synth-pop - almost a bit too british. I can see what they're trying to do, but I'm missing a bit of build-up towards something, it kind of just plods along. As soon as you think it starts getting kind of samey, Cemetery Gates comes in and mixes things up a bit (which is probably my favorite song here).
Man. Some bangers here. Some miserable ones. A soundtrack to my teenage years when everything felt so very important. Can definitely see why the ones I heard on the Greatest Hits album made it there, and the others are the album tracks. Such a shame that I can't hear any of it without thinking about who Morrissey's become and what he represents. Standout track: Boy With A Thorn In His Side.
Wilde style lyrics. Has a lot of gothic and melancholic vibe. Also has great storytelling. I would came back again and again for the vibe.
A friend told me twenty years ago that I should listen to this band. I know now all of the hit songs. Yet, I've never actually listened to a whole album. I know Morissey is someone a lot of people do not care for, but I found what he had to say (sing) quite interesting. Johnny Marr's rhythm guitar work was interesting, I wasn't overwhelmed by the lead. However, it was a collection of angsty and interesting songs. 4 stars.
I really like The Smiths. Partly for nostalgia, partly because I appreciate the musicianship. I realize it is not for everyone, but what music is? I also realize the lead singer is quite controversial for many.
A classic, their best, but still held back a bit by some lacking moments
already such a classic but couldn’t give it 5 bc it wasn’t unexpected
i hate morrissey and british people
10/10 just for Cementary Gates which are a theme song to my original book lmao
I get the hate for Morrissey but, what can I say? I’m a sucker for a jangly guitar.
First listen Saved 7/10 Top track: Bigmouth Strikes Again
8/10
pretty good! not all the songs really did it for me but overall nice to listen to
The Queen Is Dead 3.4 Frankly, Mr. Shankly 3.7 I Know It's Over 3.1 Never Had No One Ever 3 Cemetry Gates 3.6 Bigmouth Strikes Again 4.1 The Boy with the Thorn in His Side 4 Vicar in a Tutu 3.6 There Is a Light That Never Goes Out 4 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others 4 Score: 3.65
Some great songs (Bigmouth Strikes Again) but sort of sags between them. Also Morrissey is a prat. Epic basslines.
I love this album so much
goated
I enjoyed the album, but there is one song that stuck out the most and it was, "I Know It's Over".
Never been a new wave, post-punk guy but this one is probably the closest to getting me there. Not overly produced or awash in synth, not totally whiny, and some cool melodies. I’ll come back to this one and explore more. This is a great avenue into the genre.
I Know It's Over is truly among one of the songs of all time for me. The lyrics "It's so easy to laugh, It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be gentle and kind" did something insane to my brain when I heard it at 15 and now at 19, it still does something crazy to me. That being said, this album is so nostalgic, it sounds like the summer I turned 16 and like being miserable and 15. Crazy that Morissey knows what that felt like. Unfortunately at my core I am one of those indie girls who loves The Smiths but I really do think you have to be a little melodramatic to get them properly. And there's nothing I love if not a little melodrama.
Songs are a bit too similar to each other imo, but the album is too polished and well made for a three, and the average song is quite good, so four stars it is!
Nice sound but all songs sound a bit samey?
Didn’t want to like this as much as I did, cool sound - looking forward to the other smiths albums
Morrissey is a whiney bitch but the album still very good, nice instrumentals
I felt like I had been getting gas lit by the Beetles fan boys for so long. All I ever head was this was the greatest band of all time, this band revolutionized music, and all I ever heard was 60’s pop bullshit. This was the first album I actually heard it on. This album doesn’t quite live up to the behemoth hype surrounding this group, but with any other band this is and easy five, so I have to be fair here.
Love. Zou zeker opnieuw luisteren
Feckin love ts album but still not a 5
One of the whiniest that Morrissey had ever been; but hey here we are still undeniably a goat album. A light that never goes out, will go down in history as a favourite of mine pretty much forever. It's better than the cow album
Last song is weird. Pretty much every other song is a 9 or 10 though (on first listen)
I planned on listening to this record, but cancelled.
About half of the album is very familiar. Great guitar riffs. Humourous, moody and edgy in different places.
Fav: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Least Fav: Vicar In A Tutu My first Smiths album. When I first heard it I thought it was ok, but nothing special. Thanks to this website, that has changed
banger, have to listen again
Second Smiths album. I came into this exercise being aware of the Smiths, having tried them on a few times, and not really got along with them. If this had been my first introduction, maybe I'd have liked them better. A little more acoustics than what I remembered hearing on "Meat Is Murder," which I quite liked. Morrissey's melodies don't always agree with me, but I found this album had more moments that made me stop and listen. Generally an enjoyable listen, which was very welcome. I was kinda dreading listening to another Smiths album today and this was quite good.
Pfff jaja la canción que llevo en bucle.
Solid all the way through.
If I ever need to be reminded what it feels like to be a moody and troubled youth this classic will always be there for me. One star off because Moz is a wanker.
Another album I liked, having previously had a Best Of compilation I was familiar with a few of the songs. The standout songs were Bigmouth, Boy with a Thorn in his Side and There is a Light, no surprises there, they seem like everyone’s favourites. Most of the others are pretty good, a few non memorable tracks. Mozzie’s voice is a love it or hate it type, I’m ok with it for one spin through the album and then need a rest for a while. Marr’s guitar is great as usual, not sure if it was because I was listening in the car but the guitar mix seemed very low. Good listen, would happily listen again soon.
My favourite Smiths album.
In my opinion, the lighter tones that this albums has, detracts from the album. I was hoping for a bit of a darker and striking album. It's still better than most post punk albums that i've heard, but I'm left wanting more (and not in the best way).
Solid four stars, another great discovery, a vibe for sure. I like the indie feel, his voice is pretty solid as well
'There is a light that never goes out 'is great, and is a love song that I can get behind. This is a great album, and Morrissey-hate just seems stupid and influenced by other's opinions. His music doesn't preach hate and if I only listened to musicians with my politics then I'd be missing out a lot of good music from my life.
4/5 banger album
Really enjoyed it
3.5
My favorite Smiths album by far, such great songs. Completely original sound.
Je sais pas sur quel pied danser avec les Smiths! Clairement la musique est plus intéressante que les albums solo de Morissey. Johnny Marr est un guitariste très créatif; d’ailleurs en écoutant l’album j’avais envie de réécouter l’album de Modest Mouse auquel il a participé et que j’ai déjà écouté 100x. Mais la voix de Morissey, pas sur encore une fois. Parfois ça s’y prête parfaitement, parfois il vole le show sans raison. N’est-ce pas d’ailleurs la raison de leur breakup? Sinon j’aime beaucoup there is a light that never goes out, ça m’a rappelé l’excellent cover de Braid, que j’ai beaucoup écouté dans ma phase emo. Bref ça méritera une autre écoute mais c’est pas un coup de coeur automatique.
Never loved Morrissey. Maybe I was one or two years too young, or maybe he was too hard to “relate to” (relate to for boys into music means - “wants to be” or “wants to fuck” - neither of which was a very appealing proposition for me) Maybe I was too swept up in the popular trope of him being a fey miserabilist. For whatever reason, I was never “into” The Smiths. I liked the singles and Johnny Marr okay but never really went deeper. So sitting down to listen to this for really the first time the first thing that struck me was how rocking the bass and drums are. Well done! Obviously the jangle of Marr is the perfect complement to the whine of Morrissey. It is known. The album rattles along pleasantly with the occasional example of (what critics are contractually obliged to refer to as “mordant wit” cutting through. I actually enjoyed it much more than I thought it would, and am tempted to delve deeper into to the catalogue despite his unsurprising (to some of us) lurch to the right.
Liked this album a lot. Not normally my type of music exactly but enjoyed the majority of the songs
solid
Good album! I see why people love it, but it's just ok. I would probably be much harsher if this wasn't the first smiths/Morrissey album I got
Love the Smiths (although I cannot remember a single song bc I discovered them already old), love this album. My girlfriend heard it in the background and said "This guy can't sing", but I like it.
Album gets better as you progress through it.
It sounds like the Smiths..a bit of an acquired taste, but once you get into it it's a pretty cool vibe
Truly a great album, I came with no expectations and it surprised me. Not a fan of Morrisey's vocals, but it fits well with the development of the album. Great songs and melodies, memorable and amazing.
I love the soft way this album sounds.
and with bees in her chest
A little weird, fun, funky, trancy(?)
and if a double deckerrr bussssss i liked it more than i thought but i did know some songs beforehand 8.45/10 4/5
- I don’t separate the artist from the art. I used to really like the Smiths and Morrissey when I didn’t know what Morrissey was like, but I can't support them any longer. - I liked the Smiths more than Morrissey's solo stuff, but they both have tons of bangers, I won’t lie. - I also admit that this is a good album. I never really was into the Smiths or Morrissey albums because I find there is always a lot of filler. When I listened to them, I would reach for the greatest hits over any specific album. That said, this one is probably the best one I've heard cover to cover. - On the other hand, even if I wasn't boycotting Morrissey, this wouldn't be a 5 for me because I don't love The Queen is Dead, Frankly, Mr. Shankly (except for the instrumental middle part), Never had No One Ever, Vicar in a Tutu, or Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others. So, that's quite a lot of skips on a pretty short album.
Polnudki varem Smithse väga kuulanud. Hea leid! Bänd tegutses vaid 5 aastat, aga suutis selle ajaga kujundada tervet Briti muusikaskeenet ning vastanduda synth-popile oma rokipillide kõlaga. Ükski lugu siin pole selline "tahaks kaasa laulda" bänger, aga nad on hoopiski mõnusad kuulamised, mis ei kriibi kõrva isegi pärast mitut kuulamist.
9 So many gr8 songs
A little better than the 'Strangeways Here We Come", IMO. Was hovering around 3.5, but giving it a bump since this one has "Cemetry Gates" and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out".
4 stars I loved the Smiths first album and enjoyed their second when I was in high school. I didn’t get around to this one at the time. Little did I know it is their most beloved. I was familiar with “Frankly Mr Shankly” and “Bigmouth Strikes Again” but that was it. The booming introductory title track is a whole other level for them. The momentum doesn’t keep up and some of the slower songs drag on. But overall it’s a great record. I still prefer their self titled, but this is an improvement over Meat is Murder.
Good standard. Enjoyed it more than I thought i would.
Gorgeous sounding album. Not perfect, there are some duds amongst these songs, and I don't have much of an emotional connection to it... but goddamn it's good.
I can believe two things at once... Such as "Morrissey is a twat" and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" is an all timer... but Morrissey is still a twat...
im not the biggest fan of the smiths, however some songs slap this is probably one of their better albums, so overall i give it a 4
I'm surprised that I haven't listened to The Smiths more given how much I love The Twilight Sad. Yeah it's pretty good.
A convert finally. My dislike of Morissey was so strong that I just didn't want to give The Smiths a chance, also as a Cure fan, this was just not up my street. Now I get to discover the 80's again with less judgement.
Kind of loving it.
I like the smiths. I don’t love the smiths. But this is a great Halloween listen
I listened to this last week lol
This was my favourite Smiths album back in the day. I have gone off them somewhat since- mainly due me finding Mozza's vocals annoying and him being a tit. Some great songs on this album though: There Is a Light That Never Goes Out and Bigmouth Strikes Again the highlights.
Not my favourite The Smiths album and Morrissey will continue to be a prick, but this brings me just as much as comfort as any other The Smiths album. They capture youthful melancholy so well
Better than I expected!
I'm not super familiar with this album coming into today's listening, and I'm also pretty distracted from some layoffs that they're doing at my job. I do like The Smiths in general, and Morrissey's voice is iconic (in a good way, imo). On a different day, I'm probably able to listen a little more closely and enjoy this album a lot more. Especially knowing that the lyric work is a highlight of listening to any Smiths song. For today, though, I did a partial re-listen just to make sure I didn't miss anything really great at the start of the album. From my listen today, I don't think I'd put this in the greatest albums of all-time. It's definitely a great album, and a really enjoyable listen, but just from where I'm at today, it's missing something special (and maybe that something special is just my attention). Favorite Song(s): Cemetary Gates, Vicar in a Tutu
I had already listened to this album, but decided to relisten to it to more accurately convey my views, and honestly, I don't think it hit quite the same. I think its a nice album with some good songs and moments, but it just didn't quite land with me as it did. I still think it has some merit, so I'll give it a 9/10.
shit was good man, tho i did think it was one song too long. 4/5
good album, starts fast paced, then slows down, becomes more relaxing, then speeds up again and so on. the counter melodies of guitars and keys sound very pleasing. 4
The Good: This album is informative… The Bad: Nobody likes to be informed off someone’s death… The Ugly: Finding out that the Queen does not reference Morrissey… I am no fan of Morrissey. I find his singing style more annoying than Neil Young’s singing… go figure. The knowledge that The Smiths/Morrissey have 7 albums on the list is the only reason for me to get exited when I see this album as it means I’m 1 album closer to never having to listen to The Smiths/Morrissey ever again—unless, by accident, one of their songs is present on the soundtrack of a movie/tv show and I get side-swept… I just checked, this is my second Smiths album, and with the 2 Morrissey albums I’ve already been bored with, it means there are three left… So, if the three remaining ones are like this album, then I am okay with it as I actually enjoyed this album. Johnny Marr’s guitar playing is more than wonderful. It is it’s own storytelling mechanism, and one that provides a safe-haven away from Morrissey’s annoying voice. I will give the album a 4* to remind myself, at some point in the future, that there was a reason that The Smiths had such a massive following in the ‘80s! 4*
I love The Smiths. The quality of his voice is outstanding. Love the way they mix it.
4/5 Also not the first time I’ve listened to this album in full. Love this album though. ‘I Know It’s Over’ is so damn beautiful. ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ hits every time. ‘Cemetry Gates’ gets me so hyped for some reason.
Very enjoyable. 4.
Very nearly a brilliant album. Morrisey’s voice and Marr’s brilliant guitar work are no doubt iconic and make for a distinct sound that clearly sets The Smith’s apart as a unique sound. Married with witty lyrics, a balance between happy/sad themes, and some standout tracks, this makes for an enjoyable album. I just feel that one or two of the tracks don't hit the same heights, leaving me to feel like there's just something missing to merit a higher score.
I just loathe Morrisey's voice and I just love Johnny Marr's guitar. For an average band, this would kill the listening experience for me. But, The Smiths aren't average and, say what you will about his twee lounge singer act, Morrisey can write some damn fine lyrics. So, in the end, I very much like this album and will continue to listen to it.
This is the best Smiths album in my view. I can’t quite pull the trigger on 5 stars since my ceiling for the Smiths/Morissey isn’t quite that high. The run on this album from Cemetry Gates through There Is a Light That Never Goes Out is pretty great.
4.5/5 - This is a helluva album from start to finish. The songwriting and melodies are really good, but the lyrics are the star of the show once you tune into them. The silly pretentiousness of invoking Joan of Arc and dead poets in the cemetery is classic, but it's the whole sentiment of Frankly, Mr Shankly that really drives this home for me. Rounding down because Morrissey is a douche.
Solid listen! Fun instrumentals and good vocal work.
4 out of 5 One of their best. Great alternative 80s
Very good album overall. Stellar performances by all members of the band, each voice can be heard distinctly over the others, however they all can still blend into a beautiful mix. The entire record has a distinct sound that is quite enjoyable, and it kind of draws you in to the world of the band.
This is the best Smiths albums that we've listened to on here yet, I think. Imo very cohesive and interesting. Features some of my favourite 'known' songs of theirs and a few in-betweens that I hadn't heard before.
I needed to sit with this one for a few days before I was able to rate it, there are a couple of songs on this album that I listened to over-and-over in a pretty dark time a couple of years ago. Music has the power to us help feel our feelings, but I guess can also take us back to those feelings in a instant - which can be a good and bad thing! I wish I was better at talking out my problems, but I'm not, so I'm glad there is miserable music to feel miserable to. I'll acknowledge that Morrissey is a bit of a twat. Still, I quite like The Smiths. Fave track: There is a light that never goes out
definitely one of if not their best
“So I broke into the Palace With a sponge and a rusty spanner She said: "I know and you cannot sing!" I said: "That's nothing, you should hear me play piano!" I spent years quoting these lines to anyone and everyone who complained to me that The Smiths were depressing. Yes, there's some morbidity littered about Morrissey's lyrics, but they were never depressing - there's a sharp sense of humour present in so much of what they did and it rings throughout this album, especially in tracks like Frankly, Mr Shankly, Cemetry Gates, Bigmouth..., and of course, There is a Light... I was 12 in 1984 when I first heard The Smiths - the perfect age. I overheard What Difference Does it Make on the radio at a friends house and my life was immediately redirected down an alternative-music-loving path that I still travel all these years later. For me, The Smiths came along at just the right time; I still love everything they did and play them often. Mercifully, I am these days able to separate the Morrissey of then from the Morrissey of now, although it pains me to think that the stubborn, joyless racist he appears to have become might always have been the real him, bubbling underneath the outward character that wrote and performed these magnificent songs. I still love this album, but I'm giving it four stars as, for me, Meat is Murder is their finest studio album, and Hatful of Hollow the best collection of their songs.
A really nice album. Probably going to take a few more listens before I understand what all the fuss is about, but I enjoyed it.
Great rock album, a classic yet still original
Damn. For (insert obvious reasons), I want to clown this album. I want to say it’s not the best Smiths record. I want to say it isn’t a consistent effort. I want to say it’s overrated in the “greatest albums of all time” zeitgeist. I can’t. It’s so charming. Every song is so memorable and unique. And, damn it, Morrissey is the reason.
- é difícil medir a influência de smiths, está imersa no vocabulário musical das pessoas - produção bem básica pro padrão dos anos 80, acho que pra dar enfoque na composição - embaixador da estética sad boys, e um dos maiores compositores dos anos 80, apesar das polêmicas
I thought I didn’t like the Smiths. I really enjoyed this album. I believe my thoughts were incorrect. Chose “Frankly, Mr. Shankly” and “Cemetary Gates” for the playlist.
So I used to have this as a 10/10 and even tho I don't think so anymore, it's still a wonderful album. Really captures the essence of the band. With the gorgeous, lush arrangements, boyish lead vocals and Morrisey's poetic and dark lyrics this is really THE trademark Smiths album. The intro is one of their most bombastic and even kind of aggressive with that amazing bass and walls of guitars. I Know It's Over is one of their most beautiful ballads while other songs like Cemetery Gates or Bigmouth Strikes Again combine beautiful, summery vibes with deeply ironic lyrics. Again, it's just so representative of their sound. And of course there's 'There is a Light That Never Goes Out', maybe their most iconic song? I love how the song is disguised as a love song, but deep down has a very sad and suicidal double meaning. Would be a perfect closer to the album, but then we have to sit through another song of Morrisey talking about tits. The closer is kind of unnecessary, Vicar in a Tutu is a bit of a weaker song, and the chorus of Frankly Mr Shankly is a bit corny to me, but all the other moments here are either gorgeous, funny, depressing or all 3.
I think this is the last of the Smiths albums on the list for me. Relatively unfamiliar with them before the list, I have mixed feelings in general, but this is a very good album and certainly the one of the bunch that captured my attention the most.
83/100. A classic indie pop/punk record that remains incredibly impactful and well-crafted. The album showcases exceptional musicianship and production. Despite being released decades ago, it still sounds fresh and relevant today.
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4/5 so I'll go with low 4. The songs all kiiiinda sound the same but I still like them. Not the last one though
Last song was weird, but I loved the rest (like Frankly mr shankly)
Delightful and somewhat surprising. I have always loved what I know of The Smiths, but my exposure is limited. So some of the vibe was different than I expected--less earnest and a bit more playful than I would have thought. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
the smiths' masterpiece although i don't care too much for the title track
just incredible, pure smiths! 4.5/5
Very good album. 3.5/ 5
There is a light that never goes out is one of my favourite songs of that decade. The rest of the album wasn't as good as that particular song but it did have it's stand out moments
I might get some hate but I thought this was a total vibe.
morrissey was literally just suffering from no bitches that boy did NOT know how joan of arc felt
Gloomy as hell but enjoyable and interesting
Don't worry sweetness I was only joking
Great album. Hits all the way through
Creo que hace mucho no me pasan tantas cosas con una canción como con Never had no one ever. Recién me estoy empezando a meter en el lore de Morrissey.
Their best album. Enjoyed it.
This album was so good! I enjoyed almost every song and this was the first album that really took my attention. I was focusing on the music and the lyrics and it was a blast! I feel except for Vicar in a Tutu and SGABTO there were no misses and these weren't bad, but they felt that they don't belong on this album. Other than that it was a really good listen. I have two favourites here I Know It's Over and There is a Light. I would rate this album 4.6/5
8.8
Some serious bangers on this. Been a long time since I heard it and was assuming I’d give it a straight 5 but not quite as good as I remembered
Brooding, Moody, original Emo band other than The Cure. Hearing lots of callbacks that I heard from Craft Spells. I would have been listening to this in the 80s had I known about it.
The Smiths are a good example of a band that is instantly recognizable based on a singer with a sound and a guitarist with a penchant for catchy hooks. So, in that vein, I am going to invoke a band with similar dynamics: Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne. Singer with a sound? Check. Guitarist with hooks? Check. Beloved by Satan? Bingo.
I don’t know how diehard Smiths fans rank this album, but it’s my favorite, probably because it’s the first one I heard.
Not the best Smiths album, but if you need a little Smiths in your life, it gets the job done.
I used to listen to the Smiths back in 2018 and 2020. This album especially, although I don't think I had ever listened to the album in full. Glad to get round to it finally. The Queen is Dead - what a way to open it. Frankly, Mr Shankly is a bit annoying tbh but I still love it. Never Had No One Ever, Cemetry Gates are very solid. Bigmouth Strikes Again vs There Is a Light - how to choose between them? Surely my favourite Smiths songs. I had not known that Johnny Marr and Morrisey were a part of the immediate Irish diaspora. I knew there was something slightly off for them as English personas. Anyway, a fantastic album, probably around 4.5* but I, for some reason, cannot give it 5*
All I knew about The Smiths beforehand was that Morrissey is a terrible person. I ended up loving this album, it’s just too good in my opinion to disregard it. Andy Rourke’s bass playing is amazing throughout and the songwriting is extremely strong. I’ve thought about the nature of consuming art made by bad people, and what I currently think is this, though it may change: You know your own morals and enjoying art by problematic artists doesn’t mean anything about you as long as you can acknowledge the artist did wrong. Some art is too good for me to not enjoy, and this album is an example of that. 4/5
A fairly good album, overall, with some of The Smiths' best work. There are a few filler tracks, however, so I can't quite give it a 5.
When the songs are good, they are stellar but when they are bad, they are terrible. Overall, the 6 incredible songs earn a 4, couldn't give it a 5 because the bad songs are so bad and also Morrissey is insufferable.
Low 4 for me. I liked the instrumental, but overall I felt the songs were a bit too slow for my taste.
Some straight up classics on here. Epitomizes 80’s alt/goth/emo before there were such things
Pretty solid, tho it's The Smiths and I already like it so I'm biased to talk about it. Would probably listen to it again. The smiths also smell like cigarretes
Have never knowingly listened to the Smiths before! Really liked and wish I had grown up with this. Lyrics fab. A little dreary and jangle pop acoustic for my preference?
If this was re-recorded with someone who could sing, this album would be phenomenal
Groovy Beats
Solid album. 4/5
Enjoying it more than I expected. Individually songs don't overly grip me, but works together as a while album incredibly. Catchy
omg vicar in a tutu is a 10/10 😭 finished at 10:29pm on august 10 2025
Also never listened to the Smiths before. Gotta say, for a dark/brooding sound, I liked it!
Timeless sound
A classic.
Liked this one a lot Can’t dismiss the talent of Morissey even though he’s a total nunce these days
Total Listens: 3 Well I guess I'm finally being forced to listen to this. On first listen, nothing really grabbed me except for the penultimate track, which is of course very very highly regarded in music nerd circles, and yeah, it pretty much lives up to the hype. The rest of the album sounded a lot happier than I was expecting, though it's possible the darkness is more hidden in the lyrics as is evident in "There is a Light...". There was one other track I really really liked on first listen, "I Know It's Over". It's slow enough to make the build feel quite meaningful and I did really enjoy the lyricism. On second listen, I really just found myself enjoying the songs a bit more. I don't think I have much to say on this other than it's just kind of a fun listen. I guess it does begin to drag in the back half with "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" and "Vicar in a Tutu", but the last two tracks really do save it.
Such a shame Morrisey is a monumental bell-end.
some of them super great, his voice just sucks a little
A London wedding
Who doesn't love the Smiths although the first album might be preferred over The Queen is Dead
I don't know how this grew on me, but it really did. At first I really hated his voice. Horrible. Then I grew to love it. It makes you wonder.
never gave the smiths the time of day but this is good and i realize now i probably should have?
Take the 4 and get out of my sight.
Solid throughout, there is a light obviously stuck around but bigmouth and mr shankly also are quite nice
I'm afraid this album eats. Themes: Has the world changed or have I become too aware? Feeling lonely in familiar places, seeking refuge with the dead (poets). Wanting to be anywhere else. Wanting fame, to be great, and to be remembered by history. Loss of direction. „It takes strength to be gentle and kind.“ The album closer is stupid, though. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out would have been the perfect closer.. Morrissey still sucks, though..
I’m glad I listened to this twice. In the morning I thought it was just ok, but on my way home from work driving, sun shining, music blasting I really connected with the record a lot more. The back half of the album hit a lot harder for me.
I think I like this a bit more than Strangeways. Enjoyable from start to finish. But I find it perplexing that Johnny Marr found Kirsty MacColl's original backup harmonies so "weird" that he instead pitched up Morrissey's own vocals for something that sound distractingly weird. Have some respect for the woman behind "Fairytale of New York," dude.
Okay fine yes the Smiths are good, at least on this album. Morrissey has always been more of a meme to me than a musician, but yeah I GET IT. Some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers is indeed a lyric for which I must pay props.
Morrisay - Horrible Person, very good performer and lyricist Marr - Expert musician Album, excellent
I'm a fan of the sound of The Smiths. Good album with good messaging.
Great album, just a couple of weaker tracks but most are bangers.
Pretty good music, but maybe some songs sound like others a little.
Great Smiths.
8/10 This is a very good album with, in my opinion, a very odd flaw. It comes out of the blocks brilliantly with The Queen Is Dead. It’s a quality track and sets the album up to be something very special, but then the following three tracks just sap that momentum almost immediately. If these tracks had been more evenly distributed through the rest of the album, I suspect they wouldn’t have had as much of an impact on the overall feel of the album for me, but I just feel like the track sequencing lets the flow of the album down a little too much. The production is excellent and there is a great deal of invention and musical interest throughout. People often speak glowingly of Jonny Marr, and I can really see why, but the unsung hero for me here is Andy Rourke on bass. He has some really great bass lines and just throws in little runs and fills every now and again that bring so much life to the bottom end of the album, it’s really delightful to listen to. They also really know when to build up a great harmonic blend of instrumentation at the right moments and that, combined with the tightness of the band set against the more fluid, flouncy vocals from Morrissey really work to develop such a specific and unique sound. This is definitely worth revisiting and I’m very glad to have heard it. The Queen Is Dead - This track moves. It’s got great momentum, the guitars are fantastic and the drums just give it such a great driving pulse. The tightness and thrust from the rest of the band really lays a bed for Morrisesy’s flouncy vocal to sit satisfyingly on top of. Frankly, Mr. Shankly - This is a bit plodding, particularly after the opener. Nice enough, although it is a bit boring, but blissfuly it does everyone a favour and lasts for just over two minutes. I Know It’s Over - This is nice. Sparse to begin with and ebbs and flows through its runtime and builds later on. Little bits and pieces of subtle interest that pop in and out like the strings and synths just add some depth to it too. It’s not really got the fire of the better tracks on the album, but is still decent. Never Had No One Ever - This one’s a bit dull. Not really a lot to say about it, to be honest. It’s meandering and doesn’t really feel like it goes anywhere. Cemetery Gates - I love the rhythmic balance of the different parts of this. The cadence of the guitar line is beautiful. The bass tone is really smooth. And this is pretty much Morrissey at his best. Everything about this song is just great. Bigmouth Strikes again - Another great track. I really like the choices Morrissey makes for some of his vocal lines here. There’s so much atmosphere and drive to this. It’s got pretty much every band member hitting it out of the park, with brilliant production that ties everything together with great clarity. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side - Another really good track. There are places where the lead vocal is just a bit too flouncy for me, but there are other places where it’s quite beautiful too. The interplay between the guitar and the strings is really lovely. Vicar in a Tutu - This is a bit weaker than what’s come before. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t feel as together as what’s come before. There just feels like there’s something missing to tie everything together. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - Well this is obviously a classic. The juxtaposition between the music and the lyrics is brilliant. Even the vocal delivery just straddles that line between extreme happiness and depressing melancholy. Again, this is an example of every part being essentially perfect at delivering on what the song is trying to achieve. So good. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - That little volume dip at the beggining is really weird. This is another great track with plenty of momentum. Quality guitar and bass playing as usual. It’s not really as interesting as other tracks, at least in part due to the pretty rubbish lyrics. This feels a bit like they’ve released a track that they’ve not finished with some scratch lyrics. It also doesn’t offer much in the way of development or variation. Not bad exactly, just not as good as the previous tracks.
Classic Smiths
solid mate
4.3 what a classic, arguably Marr's best guitar work faves: some girls are bigger than others, bigmouth, i know it's over
Take out Frankly Mr Shankly and Vicar in a Tutu and it’s basically flawless.
The first bit of the album is great. Not a fan of the second half.
I mean. The music of The Smiths have been a source of great comfort to me for many years now. I don't enjoy The Queen Is Dead quite as well as Meat Is Murder, which I gave a 5, but it's still solid and has a few of their greatest songs. Those are the only albums of theirs I've had so far (not counting Morrissey solo records, which just don't do it for me), and I'm wondering if there'll be any others after this. Maybe their debut? But back to TQID. The run from Cemetery Gates to There Is a Light That Never Goes Out is pretty flawless. Bigmouth Strikes Again is probably my most listened to if not There Is a Light. "Now I know how Joan of Arc felt, as the flames rose to her Roman nose and her Walkman started to melt" are some of my favorite song lyrics ever. I wish they'd cut the final song. That might've been enough to make it a 5 star album for me.
Marr's guitar work is absolutely beautiful. Morrisey's voice sounds emotional and fragile in the right moments and is certainly unique without crossing over to annoying. The middle part of the album is a bit of a lull but the beginning and closing songs more than make up for it.
Morrissey's vocals are not great, but the songs are solid. Good feel. The National's drummer must have been heavily influenced by the Smiths since they're both over actively hammering behind pretty slow jams.
I know this album gets a lot of love from fans of The Smiths, but personally I preferred th first album. Have to say that Morrissey's lyrics are always amusingly wonky, though some here are very odd.
The Smiths are a perfect blend of pre-emo and post-punk. They changed the way alternative music was not only played and recorded but also received by the public. This album and The Smiths on paper are not a band or style I typically vibe with, but I am a huge fan of these guys and this album is so good, and maybe not even their best (honestly a tough choice). 8.8/10 100/1001
This is a fantastic album. Morrissey is an assholes asshole but there is no bad "Smiths" record.
Buenisimo y muy fresco. El mejor Morrisey. Me gusta la que dice que quiere ser una estrella y cambiar la música. Lo banco.
Favorites: The Queen Is Dead, Bigmouth Strikes Again, There is a Light That Never Goes Out Now, There is a Light That Never Goes Out is for sure the highlight of the record and honestly carries the entire experience for me. Without it, this record would be a solid 7. That being said, This is one of the group's best efforts, and it includes some of my favorite efforts in jangle pop..
Favorite: Bigmouth Strikes Again Almost every song is a bop. They simply made a good album.
more than half of these are certified bangers. There are only like 2 in this that I don't particularly care for. Most of these are farrr too culturally significant to give it less lets be fr. ....AND IF A DOUBLE DECKER BUSSSS
Nice album with most of their big bits 8/10
4 p good except the last song
That is the Album I would have needed in my youth. But stupid ‚me in the past‘ was into Metal… The Music works brillant, as long as you do not google, what Morrissey turnes into. Fav: There is a light that never goes out.
El clasico
I really hate that the Smiths are kinda great.
Even with Morrissey being the way that he is, this is one fine piece of work.
I like the Smiths and this is probably my favorite Smiths' album. The Smiths do not need to have multiple albums on this list.
light and bouncy
I hate that I love The Smiths
I’m still a sucker for this whiny white boy music. 4/5
very nice
First smiths album I’ve listened to in full. Cemetery Gardens onwards good start was a bit dreary 3.5/5
Ok...pretty great
4/5 "Fuck the monarchy" The album. It starts strong and I knew most of Side B. But it did falter on later cuts in the A side. Maybe the peak of Moz/Marr together. Fade out/In into Some Girls was kinda annoying. https://youtu.be/NxRqpCZ5AGc
Love it, all too familiar with the album but it is nice to hear the tracks in sequence. A bit goofy at times, but serious gold in there.
A good album, I liked I Know It's Over, Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
Morrissey, much like Kanye, is a man whose death will be celebrated among his fanbase. Absolute cornball through and through, but he wrote some damn good songs with Marr and co. once upon a time, and you gotta recognize that greatness. TQiD is definitely my favorite selection from the Smiths catalogue, and while I'm not as hot on it as I once was (I think I Know its Over and Never Had No One Ever really kill the pacing of the record being back to back), I still recognize a damn fine album when I see it. The opener, Bigmouth Strikes Again, Cemetery Gates, There is a Light, and the cheeky closer are all fantastic listens. Despite the man behind it, I still strongly recommend giving this a shot. If nothing else, There is a Light will probably hit.
Al fin un disco que me gusta bastante. Muy influyente en otros discos que me gustan.
Loved some songs. Not so much others. Big Mouth Strikes Again is hilarious and catchy
Great
Really liked it! That’s it… gonna listen to it again
The songs here sound pretty much like every other smiths or morrissey track I’ve heard and since I enjoy them I enjoyed this, the tracks have the trademark wittiness of the smiths as well as some excellent instrumentation. I liked what I heard here, however I didn’t enjoy it as much as other smiths records, I don’t have any particular complaints except I felt this one drag a little despite the shorter runtime, which is not a good sign in my book. Overall, pretty good but not fantastic. My favorite tracks are: Theres A Light That Never Goes Out, I Know It’s Over, and The Boy With A Thorn In His Side.
01) The Queen Is Dead - 8,0 02) Frankly, Mr. Shankly - 7,0 03) I Know It's Over - 8,0 04) Never Had No One Ever - 8,0 05) Cemetry Gates - 8,5 06) Bigmouth Strikes Again - 10,0 07) The Boy with the Thorn in His Side - 10,0 08) Vicar in a Tutu - 7,5 09) There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - 10,0 10) Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,55 (86/100) Current ranking: 99/568
It's not my favorite but it's a good album
Much better than Meat is Murder.
i fucked with this
I love the Smiths and have this album, but it may be dangerous to listen to as we are reaching the end of the semester. #mood #musicchallenge #albumsky #musicsky 4/5
Morrissey and Marr are a bit like Bernie Taupin and Elton John. Two very different forces in competition more than collaboration. Marr is ostentatious, virtuosic, intricate. Morrissey is flat, repetitive, maudlin. Marr is serious, but inviting. Morrissey funny, but aloof. This tension generally produced brilliant work, but also enough incoherent squibs to call those moments of brilliance accidental. It's how you can have Vicar in a Tutu and There's A Light That Never Goes Out one after the other. It is a consequence of Marr working at a remarkable pace and Morrissey tossing off moments of inspiration - sometimes inspired, sometimes just toss. The Smiths were a singles band and they knew it. It is the reason their b-sides compilations work at well if not better than the records proper. I used to love the Smiths. I don't so much now - and it's not because of Morrissey. However, when I loved them, I loved them in toto, as a band that created an incredible body of work in only five years. The albums, though, have their flaws. The Queen is Dead especially is as variable as any of them - Some Girls are Bigger than Others has great music, but why even sing about that? - and is damned by its title of best Smiths album (that's Louder Than Bombs). The band was often also cursed with thin production, which never did the rhythm section justice. The only performer than receives justice from the production is Morrissey and the verdict on him is as damning as that delivered by the judge in his case against Mike Joyce: "devious, truculent, and unreliable". Of course, no human could be relied upon to produce a whole album of There is a Lights, Bigmouths, or I Know It's Overs. Well, Marr could. But Morrissey couldn't keep up with him. But, perhaps, like Morrissey, I'm becoming truculent in my old age, even as I find him less relatable. Finding fault where I wouldn't have at as a younger person, when I would have been content to love the whole. Now, as I pick at the parts, I am making unnecessary distinctions - it's a very good collection of songs really. (I've never really cared for The Boy With The Thorn In His Side. Don't get it.) 3.5 I realised today that I’ve never given much thought to whether The Queen is Dead is any good. I came late to The Smiths insomuch as I heard lots of their music as a teenager, took a thorough dislike to Morrissey and then held my disdain for them as a settled opinion until I was a good deal older. I was certainly in my thirties before I developed any affection for their music beyond Please, Please, Please… which I loved, grudgingly, in the midst of my bitter incomprehension of an older generation’s reverence for The Smiths. The song that properly converted me was The Boy With the Thorn in His Side. That song has a delicate beauty to which I was entirely oblivious as a young man. So The Queen is Dead missed out on that period of my life when I burned through a good deal of leisure time sat with a cd in my hand scrutinising the track listing and the liner notes. I bought the cd in recent years and, having satisfied myself from a more or less cursory review of a collection of songs that I mostly already knew that it was terrific, duly tossed it in rank 4 or 5. Not a small accolade; that’s still the front of the revolving cd tower, even if those lower ranks were recently subject to regular and brutal evacuation by my child when she learned how to crawl. Listening to the album today though I found that I didn’t know the order of the songs, indeed I couldn’t have named all of them in any order. The result was my hearing the album in a continuous sort of amazement. (“‘Frankly Mr Shankly’ is brill… ‘I Know It’s Over’?! Wow!”). What a pile-on of terrific songs this is. I really must put that cd where my daughter can’t reach it. 4.5/5
The band sounds amazing all across this album, from the energetic intro “The Queen Is Dead” right through to the outro. Can see how they had a huge influence on indie rock music to come. The less consistent part of this album is Morrissey… The highs are inexplicably high: I Know It’s Over, Cemetery Gates, and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out are classics. The latter especially describes that almost obsessive romantic mindset in such a compelling way. The lows are pretty low, though. Namely the outro. Some girls are bigger than others? It might not be as annoying if it isn’t delivered in that same serious manner that exists across the album. Whatever way you look at it, just a bad song. Good listen and definitely some tracks I’ll return to.
While I wasn’t blown away by this album, it was a pretty easygoing and lighthearted listen. I wasn’t huge on some songs, but I loved others. I think the closer, while musically pleasing, has odd subject matter that is played on too much, leading to a bitter end to the album. While this album isn’t amazing, it is pretty great.
A good listen! There is a light that never goes out is the first exposure I had to the smiths and I love that track very much.
Already a fan of this album and grew up listening to a lot of the Smiths music! My dad had a t-shirt with this album cover on so it always makes me nostalgic! Classic 80s anthems for depressed people so right up my alley! Top 3 1. Cemetery Gates 2. There is a Light 3. Boy with the Thorn in his Side
The Smiths were odd because they wrote some incredible stuff and then sandwiched them in with tracks that never deserved to see the light of day.
Didn't know most of these Smiths songs before. Enjoyable sounds. 4* Highlights: the boy with the thorn in his side, there's a light that never goes out
A solid album chocked full of moody 80’s gothic anthems
Algo de dolor de cabeza pero acompaña muy bien. Me ha faltado tiempo para escucharlo con la tranquilidad que merece.
Obviously morrissey and marr get the attention but the rhythm section is super underrated
Really good, did not know much by the smiths so this was a good intro
Ah, another shame. Not because the album is bad, but just, why does such good music have to be made by a jackass like Morrissey? The Smiths are classic, and this album has arguably their most well known hit, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. So it's a good damn album.
i really enjoy the smiths when i listen and this has probably my favorite tracks of theirs
“There Is a Light…” is definitely a great song and I think the rest of the album more or less keeps up. Really enjoy this one. 4.5
Some classic 80's angst.
Cool, enjoyed it
Enjoyed it all and added a few songs to the liked songs. Real close to 5 stars.
Solid album from start to finish. Definitely creates an ambience. Love the guitar sounds.
God I love how Morrissey writes. Seems so unapolgetic in anything he says, no qualms about how it would sound to other people. Straight from the heart. The band around is really nice accompionment. Some standout songs here but not their strongest, most consistant effort. Still really good though
Not a bad album.
Favorite Track: There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
Only off by 36 years. Probably my favorite Smiths output.
Day483 - i m burned out on the smiths but this is their best album
3.5
Oh Morrissey, my problematic fave. You’re an asshole but you wrote such great music. Hatful of Hollow is their best and the self titled is the best official record but this is definitely still up there in the pantheon.
This was The Smiths peak and a great blend of witty wordplay (when Morrisey wasnt't being insufferable), great guitar work from Marr, and some fantastic songs. "Frankly Mr. Shankly" and "Vicar in a Tutu" are hilarious
So weird and fun laid so much groundwork for indie rock. Last song is …. Regrettable
I used to listen to this all the time when I was a kid. A staple in 80’s alternative.
If you can suspend your thoughts & opinions on Morrissey and just listen to the music for what it is, you'll find yourself hearing a pretty enjoyable album.
In my opinion this is the best thing Morrissey has ever made. Every track is great in its own right, and there's several tracks that make it into my regular rotation. Mopey sometimes, bitter most times, and always some kind of social commentary over a jangly rhythm.
First album I'm listening to in this project! I've never really listened to The Smiths before but I have been meaning to so I was happy to get this album. I liked the album and the music's vibe/energy. The lyrics were interesting, and in most songs, I enjoyed them and their descriptive/story-telling nature. One thing was I did feel like some songs dragged on a bit, like in Never Had No One Ever (even though I like the instrumentals, I feel like it lasted a bit long at the end). Favourites: - The Queen is Dead - Cemetry Gates - Bigmouth Strikes Again - There is a Light That Never Goes Out
Didn’t think much on first listen massive improvement on subsequent listens just gets stuck in your head
Big on the smiths and new wave lately
I think I’m starting to understand how fans of Kanye West feel on liking music made by controversial people. This is the second album I got from the Smiths and just like the first, I really enjoyed it despite Morrissey’s laundry list of reasons why he’s an asshole. Why does this guy have a nice voice? It’s fits so well with the melancholic nature of the album. Weirdly, my big criticism is that it’s maybe a bit too similar to the last album I got from the Smiths… which was Strangeways, Here We Come… which was after this album. I know, it’s weird. But other than that, this is another good slice of 80’s alternative and another building block to the approaching existential crisis I’m going to have when I get to Morrissey’s solo albums. God help me. Favorite track: Cemetey Gates Other hits: The Queen is Dead, Frankly, Mr. Shankly, Never Had No One Ever, I Know It’s Over, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
The Smiths meant a lot to me as a teenager/young adult, which is a formative time for our music taste. While I’m glad that I’ve outgrown that phase of my life, some of these songs will forever mean something deep to me, and listening to The Smiths can be a shortcut when I’m trying to access that kind of special sadness or memory - a rare occurrence these days, but it has its moments. If only Morrissey weren’t such a cunt.
Genre: post-punk 1. (1) + (2) 2. (1) /+ (2) 3. (1) + [*] (2) 4. (1) + [*] (2) 5. (1) /+ (2) 6. (1) / (2) 7. (1) + [*] (2) 8. (1) / (2) 9. (1) + [*] (2) 10. (1) / (2)
Two of my absolute favorite Smiths tracks are on this album, Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is A Light that Never Goes Out. The band is at their height on this album. Johnny Marr’s shimmering guitar as always is a marvel. But this album is brought down for me by the throwaway, and retrograde, song Some Girls are Bigger Than Others that unfortunately closes the album, and too-long forays into British whimsy like Frankly Mr. Shankley. It’s a 4.5.
Not really a 'bad' song on it. Witty funny lyrics. Would definitely not put it as 'the best album of all time' though.
Mal no están, quizá la letra y la voz destacan como protagónicos encima la música, pero tampoco lo veo mal.
Y'ever listen to an album and have it immediately transport you back to a previous version of yourself? I've never really listened to the Smiths, but this album started and I was immediately in my senior year of high school/first couple years of uni again. I'm a different person now, I'm exactly the same person as I was then. The Smith's have got me feeling nostalgic, and I'm once again a lonely, uncool, terribly insecure girl. I am a cliche.
Very beautiful but nothing that stood out to me particularly from the other Smiths albums I’ve heard. I feel like whenever I listen to a whole album of theirs I don’t get much of a distinction between songs until I go back and relisten to individual ones. The main standout for me was “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” which I already knew. It’s still good though, they have such a distinct melancholic sound that I always really like. Fav tracks: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out; Frankly, Mr. Shankly
you gotta hand it to Morrissey engang i mellem. Banger. Stor 4
Crazy good album - Made mewant to watch (500) days of summer again.
☀︎j’aime Bigmouth Strikes Again & There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (je les joue à la bass donc c’est sûr que je les aime hihi) ☀︎réécouter ces deux chansons-là ça me rappelle tellement de souvenirs de l’hiver passé ça a pas de bon sens ☀︎j’aime bien The Boy with the Thorn in His Side, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (c’est quoi ce titre, à l’aide??) ☀︎British (beurk) ☀︎Morrissey est un trou de cul?? ☀︎Quand même dépressif, je l’accorde, cependant y’a (au moins) deux chansons que j’aime assez, donc je pense que ça vaut le 4☆
so fire. fuck morressy
wow - very complex back then, as a 17-year-old, it suited me very well and I sang along There is a light that never goes out... Truly great, but nowadays I won't listen to The Smiths again; it's too exhausting for me!
i've listened to it before, but been a while. not the most poppy album, but i like the songs mostly
Look out for that bus!
One of the best and most revolutionary indie pop records ever made. Still holds up today and is consistently enjoyable.
Lots of good songs, perfect album for a winters day.
I miss 80s Morrissey. This isn’t my favorite Smiths record but it’s still a fantastic album.
Would have been a 5 as a teenager but this album seems build around I know it's over which is the worst song on it. Boy with a thorn in his side is class
Lol, lmao even at this website giving me this album on April 1. "April Fools, Lizzie's actually still alive!" I wouldn't go as far as calling this album a masterpiece (though plenty of others appear to do just that) but it is certainly an incredibly moody and atmospheric listening experience, and dripping with that quintessential 80s pop sound. Ideal for listening on a broody, rainy day.
Good album, fun listen, however, nothing secial. I knew the second last song
4 estrelas - o melhor smiths.
The best Smiths album I've heard so far. Their instrumentation is very pleasant. Some classics here as well like Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
Good album with one great song.
Og sad alt pop sorry I fw it
formative album for me. unfortunately doesn’t quite hit the same these days - i know it’s over is an enduring pit of loneliness that i appreciate a hell of a lot though. there is a light that never goes it deserves it’s reputation too. excellent album, and what we did with this on september 8th 2022 will forever remain in my mind
Some of their best songs but others aren’t as stellar. I added it and 100% will listen again though!
Love this album. First song is fire fire like top notch amazing. Rest of album is similar and at the end its repetitive but morrisey vocal range and hyponotic voice will make you like all songs. That being said he is a great singer but a douche