The Smiths....

[Master Ray]

OK, G put on a thread about a band he loved, so I'm gonna do the same... where do you lot stand on The Smiths..?

I bloody love them.  As I think I said before, NMA are my fave band ever, but it's between The Smiths and The Manics as to who gets the silver medal...

Truly unique, IMO.  I was never into them as a teenager, I think I listened to too many people who said they were just some dreary, whiny, depressive bunch of drips... oddly, the first album of there's I ever bought was the live album RANK in the early 90's... what an eye-opener!  Only a couple of ballads and the rest of it was Johnny Marr going mental on the guitar!  Truly amazing and surprisingly heavy stuff, listen to it, here's the full album, this is a cracking introduction to The Smiths if you ain't heard it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMLOYmGcF30

After that, it was a full-on 'buying Smiths stuff' thing... barely a bad tune on their four studio albums.  THE SMITHS was let down by some dodgy production (although some great songs on there) but MEAT IS MURDER was an utter rollercoaster of fantastic tunes.  History seems to have THE QUEEN IS DEAD as their classic, but I'd go for their last album STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME as an album that was even better...

There were two great compilations, HATFUL OF HOLLOW and THE WORLD WON'T LISTEN, mostly made up of brilliant B-sides and non-album singles (a mark of a truly great band... how many awesome NMA tunes didn't make it onto a 'proper' album  ?)

And, yes, I know that Morrissey has turned into something of an abrasive bugger in recent years... hell, he's talked so much utter bullshit quite frankly...and I do like a lot of his solo stuff (YOUR ARSENAL and YOU ARE THE QUARRY are terrific albums) but let's focus on The Smiths...

I love them and I listen to their albums all the time... so, what's your opinion???

 

[Amandistan]

They are up there with my favorite bands. Even if you don't like them, Morrissey is a genius when it comes to lyrics.  I think that Morrissey's lyrics are important but Johnny's guitar playing is nothing short of perfection.
They have made such a big impact on music but were around for only five years or so.

[MARKXE]

A great band saw them twice 84 and 85.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrsGewHZA3U

Just wish Morrisey would stop spouting drivel. ( Not musically but in his daft ranting interviews)

[Pol]

Never really got into them but always liked what tunes ive heard maybe when my bank balance recovers from my wine and blood purchase last night i will investigate further

[Johnz]

Many of my friends were mad about them but I never liked them at the time with the exception of 'How soon is now'. I have since got to appreciate them though. Agree with Markxe that I find Morrisey a bit unbearable in interviews. I do like some of his solo stuff, too.'Margret Street' is one of my favourites for some reason.

[Bunny]

Loved em. Important part of my teenage youth and a far cry from my metal stuff. Was lucky enough to see Moz in the mid 90's. Best concert Ive been too. Constant bouncing and dancing and people being passed over the crowd after they passed out. Not keen on all of his later stuff but still making decent songs. Love his sense of humour and the way he reads the world.

[Master Ray]

Yay!  Loadsa love for The Smiths!  I knew I could count on you lovely lot for some likeminded views!   

OK, off the top of your head, your fave 5 Smiths tunes... don't think about it too much (because you'll re-edit it over and over again, there's so many amazing tunes, just DO IT!)

1 - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

2 - I Know It's Over

3 - The Queen Is Dead (RANK live version)

4 - There Is a Light That Never Goes out

5 - What She Said

Yours...?   

[Amandistan]

I saw Morrissey live in 2008 or so and he played Please, please,please let me get what I want. It was one of the best live moments of my life aside from NMA of course.

I know it's over is a top track too!

[Amandistan]

Top 5 tracks after little thought

1. Hand in Glove
2. Half a Person
3. I know it's over
4.Miserable lie
5. Boy with the thorn in his side

[Bunny]

1. Reel around the Fountain
2. Please please please
3. Girlfriend in a Coma
4. I know its over
5. Jeanne

[jez pike]

Big fan of the Smiths only so them once and Morrisey once.Many years ago my band Pike did a demo tape in Drone studio,Chorlton,Manchester and the engineer played us a reel to reel tape of them recording "The boy with the thorn" at Drone studio,you could all the members chatting away before the drum clicks.

[Shush]

Didn't like the Smiths back in the day, but have mellowed a bit in my older years, and now have a compilation. 

[DannySan]

I like The Smiths. I saw them once in the 80's

I have to say I think the best album they ever did was The Queen is Dead. I never understood why Meat is Murder is the album so many people raved about.

That said Morrissey has turned into a total dick.

[Master Ray]

I like The Smiths. I saw them once in the 80's

I have to say I think the best album they ever did was The Queen is Dead. I never understood why Meat is Murder is the album so many people raved about.

That said Morrissey has turned into a total dick.

Mozza's new album, World Peace Is None Of Your Business', is well worth a listen....

I sorta agree that he's turned into a bit of a dick, saying controversial stuff just to get attention (his line about how meat eating is exactly the same as paedophilia made me want to punch him in the dick, quite frankly...), but I still like his music, much in the same way that Mel Gibson talks utter shit about the Jewish people but I still love the Lethal Weapon films...

[DannySan]

I like The Smiths. I saw them once in the 80's

I have to say I think the best album they ever did was The Queen is Dead. I never understood why Meat is Murder is the album so many people raved about.

That said Morrissey has turned into a total dick.

Mozza's new album, World Peace Is None Of Your Business', is well worth a listen....

I sorta agree that he's turned into a bit of a dick, saying controversial stuff just to get attention (his line about how meat eating is exactly the same as paedophilia made me want to punch him in the dick, quite frankly...), but I still like his music, much in the same way that Mel Gibson talks utter shit about the Jewish people but I still love the Lethal Weapon films...

Couldn't agree more. The music is great but he's just an arse.

You might find this funny:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/who-said-it-morrissey-or-alan-partridge