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Hey everyone, just a quicky (said the actress to the fish stick) to say I WILL be around soon just b...
Hey everyone, just a quicky (said the actress to the fish stick) to say I WILL be around soon just been a bit busy of late. Big thank you to waynehorrigan, very kind my man. Go meet bawbaw...
Member since:09.09.2004
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Ok, you have been warned this band means so much to me, and although I was only a toddler when they were in their prime, their importance in my life will be self-evident by the time you've finished this review. If you've never heard of them then frankly I'm surprised, but they were the best and most important band of the eighties. Often seen as gloomy because of their often pessimistic subject matters. Their jangly guitar songs and Morrisseys near yodelling vocals make them the most original band to come out of what was a terrible era for music.
Brief History: - - - - - - - - - -
The Smiths were created by Morrissey (Born Stephen Patrick Morrissey) and Johnny Marr (John Mahr) in 1982. Johnny Marr had been working in a clothes shop and wrote music, but was looking for a songwriting partner to add lyrics to his songs. It wasn't long before the two were writing songs and their initial idea was to sell the songs they wrote, but instead (thankfully, and mostly due to Morrissey's aspirations of pop stardom (he had been in some unsuccessful bands like 'Wild Ram', who later called themselves 'Not Sensibles' then 'Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds' and finally 'The Nosebleeds') they recruited Mike Joyce to be their drummer and Andy Rourke to be their bassist. The name 'The Smiths' incidently was used as a backlash to contemporary eighties artists who to give themselves the most over the top names (who would do a thing like that) to disguise their musical inadequcies.
The first single the new four-piece release was 'Hand in Glove' in May 1983, but it charted very poorly. Fortunately their luck changed six months later with one of their most famous songs 'This Charming Man'. The next year saw their self-title debut album, er 'The Smiths' (for those of you sleeping), but despite the hype and excitement surrounding the album the media were disappointed and The Smiths may have been over before they started. The key to their survival lay in 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'. Itself a very good song but it was its B-Side 'Suffer Little Children' which brought the media into hysterics again. What was in fact a very beautiful song written about the victims of Myra Hindley in the Moors Murders (who were the same age as and lived near to Morrissey, and provoked a strong emotional attachment to the tragedy) became an accusation that The Smiths were sympathetic to the killers in this most horrible crime. Although there's no such thing as bad publicity and The Smiths were soon a household name. They would release three more studio albums the classic 'Meat is Murder', the incomparable, and critics choice 'The Queen is Dead' and 'Strangeways Here we Come' which although had its moments, the obvious tension between Johnny Marr (who still wrote the majority of the music) and Morrissey showed through. This terminated in the sad end of The Smiths in 1987 when Johnny Marr suddenly left the band, and without the main music writer the band was left no choice but to split.
So why are they so important?
NME recently said that The Smiths were the most important band of the last 50 years, ahead of bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana and One True Voice. Check out http://www.nme.com/news/101427.htm if you don’t believe me!
Morrissey?
Morrissey is one of the most (if not the most) talented and genius lyric writers music has seen. A clever use of sarcasm, satire and characterisation, makes his work invaluable. His controversial private life, and his arrogant and self-interested character make him a fascinating man who lets few get to know him. He is currently writing an autobiography of his incredible life and career. Although he has done nothing as good as these few years with Johnny Marr in The Smiths he has a successful solo career up to his recent solo album ‘You are the Quarry’.
‘Hand in Glove’ was The Smiths debut single and was released in May 1983 and got to a meagre 124 in the UK singles charts. It can be found as the 6th track on 1st album ‘The Smiths’, track 19 on ‘Louder than Bombs’ and track 7 on ‘Hatful of Hollow’.
Best Lyric?
“The good people laugh –yes, we may be hidden by rags - but we've something they'll never have”
What’s it like?
The song opens with a typically Smiths sounding jangly guitar riff, and rhythmic drum, intertwined with a small mouth organ piece, before Morrissey’s haunting vocals begin. The tone of the song as a rather daunting tone, giving a real sense of foreboding to the song. But yet it still has a toe tapping catchiness to it, this is the gift of Johnny Marr’s songwriting apparent from the onset of The Smiths small but musically unforgettable career. Morrissey’s lyric is about a near perfect relationship (“No, it's not like any other love, this one is different - because it’s us”), only ruined by the pessimism of one of them (Yes, I know my luck too well - And I'll probably never see you again”).
Anything else?
Yes. Due to the singles implausibly low chart position of 124, Morrissey was obviously pretty annoyed and so stuck the song onto every future compilation to wreak revenge. (The Smiths released compilation albums called ‘Hatful of Hollow’, ‘The World Won’t Listen’ and ‘Louder Than Bombs’ which included live songs, B Sides and album tracks as well as singles. Only ‘The World Won’t Listen’ escaped having ‘Hand in Glove’ put on its tracklisting.
Any good?
A very promising start to the Smiths career, and this album, the track list of which is the same as the chronological order the singles were released, though puzzlingly ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ and ‘The Boy with a Thorn in his Side’ are the wrong way around in the album’s order. 7/10
The second single, released in October 1983, reached number 25. It was the second single from the album ‘The Smiths’ and is track number 6, and track 4 on ‘Hatful of Hollow’.
Best Lyric?
“Why pamper life's complexity - when the leather runs smooth - on the passenger seat?”
What’s it like?
One of The Smiths most famous songs. It opens with a really cool jangly
riff (any fellow guitar players reading be warned this is NOT an easy song to play), before the funk-filled bass joins in and makes it a real jaunty foot tapper, and one of the most loved Smiths songs. The theme of the song appears to be Morrissey’s battle with his own sexuality and the idea that he may be gay. He makes himself the character in the song “Will nature make a man of me yet?” and soon find’s himself flirting with this “charming man” (I would go out tonight - but I haven't got a stitch to wear - this man said ‘it's gruesome - that someone so handsome should care’”
Any good?
Oh yes. Very catchy, bound to put a smile on your face. 9/10
The third single, released in January 1984, it reached number 12. It can be found as track number 9 on ‘The Smiths’, and track number 2 on ‘Hatful of Hollow’.
Best Lyric?
“All men have secrets and here is mine - so let it be known - for we have been through hell and high tide - I think I can rely on you” / “Heavy words are so lightly thrown - but still I'd leap in front of a flying bullet for you” / “The devil will find work for idle hands to do - I stole and I lied, and why? - Because you asked me to!”
What’s it like?
This song has some of my favourite lyrics on, a real literary treat (hence the multiple best lyrics above). And on the first few hearings the song does appear to be a very good one. If another catchy riff (the par for most Marr songs, you’ll be hearing this a lot), a decent bass line, but with a lot of Smiths songs the tune gets better with age, this doesn’t really; if anything you’ll start to skip this one after a while. Morrissey’s vocals at the end show that although he has an odd style of vocals they actually quite perfect for the songs.
Any good?
There aren’t many bad Smiths songs but this is certainly one of the more skippable. Lyrically very good and interesting to listen to but the tune is playing catch-up. 6/10
The fourth single, released in February 1984 and was The Smiths joint highest chart position (the f***ing cheeky girls got higher) reaching number 10. This song is number 9 on ‘Hatful of Hollow’, one of the compilation albums, and track 12 on ‘Louder than Bombs’ (an album released for the American market).
Best Lyric?
“I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour - but heaven knows I'm miserable now - I was looking for a job, and then I found a job - And heaven knows I'm miserable now”
What’s it like?
The song opens with Marr striking chords and the gaps between them, filled by a bass line which flirts effortlessly with them. They then combine to play the sequence of chords before Morrissey comes in with the above lyric (“I was happy…”, one of the Smiths best remembered lyrics) and the guitar and bass sit back and play a ska like riff behind a discerning drum rhythm and the vocals. Despite its despairing title, (Morrissey taking the piss out of his own misery, and claims of being depressed all of the time by the media) the song is almost as catchy as ‘This Charming Man’.
Any good?
Morrissey at his sarcastic, tongue in cheek best. And a great little tune. Not many songs have better examples of how the lead guitar riff and bass line should weave into each other and play together. Morrissey and Marr at their very best then. 9/10
The fifth single released in August 1984, it reached number 17 in the charts. It is the first track on ‘Hatful of Hollow’, and track 10 on ‘Louder than Bombs’.
Best Lyric?
“Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town - this town has dragged you down - oh, no, and everybody's got to live their life - and God knows I've got to live mine”.
What’s it like? Short and bittersweet, an energetic guitar riff plays throughout behind Morrissey’s melancholic lyric. A light airy song (in comparison of to some of The Smiths work), which is consistently regarded as one of their finest.
Anything else? Yes it is rumoured that the songs title and lyric refer to a failed relationship between Morrissey and Billy Mackenzie, a member of The Associates. A rumour fuelled by a song written by Alan Rankine (a friend of Billy Mackenzie) called ‘Stephen it was Really Something’, which had the almost exactly the same lyrics as this song.
Any good? Oh my yes. One of my favourites, short, catchy yet still able to really make you think. 9/10
The sixth single, released in February 1985, reached number 24 in the charts. It can be found as track six on their second studio album the brilliant and political ‘Meat is Murder’ and track 5 on ‘Hatful of Hollow’.
Best Lyric?
“You shut your mouth - how can you say - I go about things the wrong way ? - I am human and I need to be loved - just like everybody else does” / “There's a club, if you'd like to go - you could meet somebody who really loves you - so you go, and you stand on your own - and you leave on your own - and you go home, and you cry - and you want to die”
What’s it like?
‘How Soon is Now?’ is without doubt the most famous Smiths song, and along with ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ the one most played on music channels and radio stations (although still not very often). Its sound is completely unique and is difficult to describe. The best adjective I’ve heard before is ‘wooga-wooga’ though, I’m not convinced it’s actually a word! The wobbly (still no better) sound of the chords is very distinctive and there are long instrumentals in between each of Morrissey’s verses. An epic song in length, for Smiths standards, it is amazing to listen to (and very hard to play on guitar (Marr is a very underrated guitarist)). It is rumoured that at this time despite relationship links, Morrissey was a virgin, and if that is the case, the lyrics of this song would seen to fit with that. The lyric “When you say it's gonna happen "now" - well, when exactly do you mean? – see I've already waited too long - and all my hope is gone” (waited too long appears in italics in the album sleeve)., would seem to fit in with this. The song is about a want to love “I am human and I need to be loved – just like everybody else does”, and the lack of a the sexual and intimate relationship that Morrissey craves.
Any good?
Musically unique and lyrically incredulous but ultimately at a song, and despite its fame, I don’t think it is one of the better Smiths songs although only my opinion of course. 7/10
The seventh single released in March 1985 it charted at number 26. It can be found at track number 9 on the album ‘Louder than Bombs’ and track 5 on ‘The World won’t Listen’.
Best lyric? “I thought that if you had - an acoustic guitar - then it meant that you were - a protest singer - oh, I can smile about it now - but at the time it was terrible”
What’s it like?
A very energetic song, bouncing along to a great guitar riff and drum rhythm. Full of energy and a good, if short song. The song is about suicide the lyric is thought to be based on a book by Elizabeth Smart called ‘By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept’. The lyric, “Young bones groan - and the rocks below say ‘throw your skinny body down, son!’ – but I’m going to meet the one I love – so please don’t stand in my way”, sums the song up nicely. A man with suicide on his mind is convince he should ignore the temptation and go on with his life, especially as he has someone to go to.
Any good?
Yes a catchy song which makes use of Morrissey’s slightly yodelling vocals very well. 8/10
The eighth single, released in July 1985, it got to number 49 in the charts. It can be found as track number 5 on ‘Meat is Murder’, and track number 16 on ‘The World won’t Listen’.
Best Lyric?
“Park the car at the side of the road - you should know - time's tide will smother you - and I will too - when you laugh about people who feel so - very lonely - their only desire is to die - well, I'm afraid - it doesn't make me smile”
What’s it like?
A very beautiful song, ‘That Joke isn’t Funny Anymore’ would stand proudly on any album. But it was never a single, not that it’s not good enough, but simply it’s not a very chartable song. It brought The Smiths it’s worst chart position since the first single ‘Hand in Glove’ and would remain there second worst performing single. A shame, because it’s a very sad and moving song, which features the best use of Morrissey’s vocals in what is a brilliant end to the song. Morrissey backs himself in a great sounding climax which to be honest is pretty indescribable but anyone who has heard the song would agree.
Any good?
Yes a lovely song, not a single (hence the poor chart position) but nothing that should make you think means this song suffers a lack of quality. 8/10
The tenth single was released in May 1986 and charted at number 26. It can be found as track number 6 on the excellent ‘The Queen is Dead’, and track number 4 on ‘The World won’t listen’.
Best Lyric?
“Oh ... sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking - when I said by rights you should be - bludgeoned in your bed” / “ Now I know how Joan of Arc felt”
What’s it like?
A turbo charged song, and one of The Smiths most ‘rocky’. It has a quite clever effect where what sounds like a duet, is actually Morrissey singing with a sped up Morrissey vocal, the effect is quite eerie and gives the song an edge which may have been lacking otherwise. A good song and a popular one, it is an answer to people who attacked is miserablist tendencies. By linking himself to Joan of Arc, it seems that he is saying people have always been denigrated for what they say, and they always will be.
Any good?
Commonly one of the most popular and most liked songs by The Smiths. I personally think it is good, but not one of the best. 7/10
The ninth single, released in September 1985, it reached number 23 in the charts. It can be as track 7 on ‘The Queen is Dead’, and track number 8 on ‘The World won’t Listen’.
Best Lyric?
“The boy with the thorn in his side - behind the hatred there lies - a murderous desire for love” / “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?”
What’s it like?
A great little tune. Catchy and charming it sits proudly at the top of The Smiths power, and is one of their best songs. Morrissey’s vocals are sublime as he sings about a relationship which has been cynically looked upon and brushed aside. It could also been seen as Morrissey himself being the protagonist, and being involved in a relationship and nobody believing that it will work.
Any good?
Yes, a great tune and song. One of the best Smiths’ singles. 9/10
The eleventh single, released in July 1986, it reached number 11 and was one of the band’s most successful singles. It can be found as the opening track on ‘The World won’t Listen’ and track 7 on ‘Louder than Bombs’.
Best lyric?
“Burn down the disco - hang the blessed DJ - because the music that they constantly play - IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE” (capitals in the album sleeve).
What’s it like?
A simple song catchy song which supplements a (for The Smiths) a common chord sequence with ringing bells and a choir of children! The song ends with the repeated chant “hang the DJ”, sung by Morrissey with the backing of the aforementioned choir.
Anything else?
The song was written because on radio 1, after the Chernobyl disaster was first announced on the news, insensitively the next song to be played, and chosen by DJ Steve Wright, was Wham’s ‘I’m your man’. Often when the song was performed live Morrissey would wear a T-shirt with Wright’s face on and held a noose. The song also talks about Morrissey’s hatred of dance music. Rumours are that Johnny Marr was increasingly getting into dance music which added to conflict beginning in emerge and this song perhaps was the beginning of the end of The Smiths.
Any good?
Simple and effective the song is nothing special, yet still rates as one of their finest songs. 8/10
The twelfth single released in October 1986, reached number 14 in what was a golden era for The Smiths in terms of chart positions. It can be found as song number 13 on ‘Louder than Bombs’ and track 2 on ‘The World won’t Listen’.
Best Lyric?
“Shyness is nice, and - shyness can stop you - from doing all the things in life - you'd like to”.
What’s it like?
A catchy song which sees The Smiths first duet vocal. Kirsty Maccoll’s sweet voice works very well with Morrissey and the song is as close to a ‘pop’ song as The Smiths got. It expresses the concerns about nuclear power/holocaust which was around England at the time “if it's not Love - then it's the Bomb - then it's the Bomb - that will bring us together”. A self mocking lyric from Morrissey provides a little excitement to what is a ‘nice’ song, and little more.
Any good?
Not amazingly. By no means a bad effort but for me at least, doesn’t seem to be much there. The weak link in the album. 6/10
The thirteenth single released in January 1987, it reached number 12 in the charts. Can be found on ‘Louder than Bombs’ as song number 3, and song number 7 on ‘The World won’t listen’.
Best Lyric?
“Learn to love me - and assemble the ways – now, today, tomorrow, and always - My only weakness is a listed crime - but last night the plans of a future war - was all I saw on Channel Four”
What’s it like?
Ominous and rather brilliant song, in which is deep in subject matter. It is thought the song refers to Clause 28, a Margaret Thatcher idea in the mid-eighties to ban the promotion of homosexuality and other lifestyles which didn’t enter her world view. Morrissey’s lyric “My only weakness is ... well, never mind, never mind”, seems to be his reference to his own possible homosexuality, and the line “My only weakness is a listed crime” later on seems to refer to the clause, as saying homosexuality is almost now a crime in itself.
Any good?
One of the most overlooked and underrated Smiths songs, but one of the best. 9/10
The fourteenth single, released in April 1987, and reached number 10, which made it the joint best performing Smiths single. It can be found as the second song on ‘Louder than Bombs’.
Best Lyric?
“Is it wrong to want to live on your own? - no, it's not wrong, but I must know - how can someone so young - sing words so sad?”.
What’s it like?
Catchy, but not a great deal else. Not one of the better songs on the album, but one of the most successful singles, which only adds to the fact that you cannot take the charts seriously.
Any good?
Not one of my favourites, not one of the best. 6/10
The fifteenth single (phew we’re almost there) released in August 1987, and reached number 13. It can be found as track number 4 on final album ‘Strangeways, here we come’.
Best lyric?
“There were times when I could - have “murdered” her - (But you know, I would hate - anything to happen to her)”
What’s it like?
A funny song this. Morrissey mocks those who called him at the time shocking and controversial. With the brilliant line “I know – ITS SERIOUS” (capitalised in the sleeve lyrics). Murdered (see above) and later strangled were both put in quotation marks to add to the false and parodying controversy. Simple yet genius tune which is still played on music channels today.
The sixteenth single, released in November 1987, it reached number 23. It can be found as the second song on ‘Strangeways, here we come’.
Best Lyric?
“The lanes were silent - there was nothing, no one, nothing around for miles - I doused our friendly venture - with a hard-faced - three-word gesture”.
What’s it like?
A picked guitar tune, and not one of the better ones at that. The three word gesture in the lyric above is probably ‘I love you’. The song talks about starting a relationship, then being unsure whether it was the right thing to do.
The seventeenth and final single was released by the Smiths in December 1987, and reached number 30. It can be found as number 6 on ‘Strangeways, here we come’.
Best Lyric?
“The story is old, I KNOW - but it goes on” / “last night I felt - real arms around me - no hope, no harm - just another false alarm”
What’s it like?
Very beautiful. One of the nicest and saddest songs (along with ‘The Queen is Dead’ track ‘I Know It’s Over’) written by The Smiths. A long and beautiful piano piece (infiltrated by crowd noises from a BBC sound effects album, strange but true) leads slowly and dramatically into a large strings fest which brings the song to life, cleverly sounding like awakening from a dream. Lyrically exquisite, this is one of The Smiths masterpieces, but charted badly as it isn’t really a single (although overly and embarrassingly sentimental songs like Elton John’s candle in the wind sold millions).
Any good?
Yes, yes and yes again. 10/10. The best song here.
This single was released to help market the release of ‘The Singles’ (the album I’m talking about, now really keep up), so wasn’t one of their actual singles. It was released in November 1992, and reached number 25. It can be found as track 9 on ‘The Queen is Dead’, and track 6 on ‘The World won’t Listen’.
Best Lyric?
“And if a double-decker bus - crashes into us - to die by your side - is such a heavenly way to die - and if a ten-ton truck - kills the both of us - to die by your side - well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine” / “and in the darkened underpass - I thought Oh God, my chance has come at last - (but then a strange fear gripped me and I Just couldn't ask)”.
What’s it like?
Really rather beautiful. Not much distancing this to ‘Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me’ in terms of quality, but like it not really a chartable song and so failed in the charts. Full of beautiful and emotionally challenging strings, this song is another classic.
Any good?
Oh yes, just a smidgen separates it from the very best in terms of quality 9/10.
The track listing in full and uninterrupted by my jabbering:
1. Hand in glove 2. This charming man 3. What difference does it make 4. Heaven knows I'm miserable now 5. William it was really nothing 6. How soon is now 7. Shakespeare's sister 8. That joke isn't funny anymore 9. Bigmouth strikes again 10. Boy with the thorn in his side 11. Panic 12. Ask 13. Shoplifters of the world unite 14. Sheila take a bow 15. Girlfriend in a coma 16. I started something I couldn't finish 17. Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me 18. There is a light that never goes out
Some sites: ----------------
http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=CD&title=148008&p=34&g=48 To buy from play.com
http://cgi.algonet.se/htbin/cgiwrap?user=inftryck&script=nsmiths.pl If you’re a fan, try this little game to see how well you lyrics of The Smiths
http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/lyricsin.htm For all the lyrics
http://www.askmeaskmeaskme.com/disco.htm For all the chart positions.
http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/ Generally a great Smiths site.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/2360/uksingles.html For the full discography
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/2360/tabsmiths.html For guitar tabs to the songs.
There are no official Smiths sites (they did break up a while ago) but you can find information on them individually with these official sites:
For Morrissey (lyrics/vocals) - www.morrisseymusic.com For Andy Rourke (bass) - www.andyrourke.info For Johnny Marr (songwriter/guitar) - www.jmarr.com and www.johnnymarr.com For Mike Joyce (drums) - www.mikejoyce.com
http://www.morrisseyringtones.com/ For ringtones
http://www.headstaggers.com/smiths/ Bizarre site where you can illustrate Morrissey’s lyrics.
I apologise for the length of this review. I realise reading this much text from a computer screen is uncomfortable, but such is the passion felt from of the band from its fans.
The Rogers (with cramp in the wrists)
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brilliant review. I can't stand the smiths myself, always found them a bit depressing. Nikki x
suereaney 19.09.2004 15:17
A really in-depth, interesting review, but I've had to add it to my favourites to read again, as I am sure I will have missed some points. What an encyclopedic knowledge you have, I am very impressed - Suzyxx
danielse 19.09.2004 14:41
My seven-year-old was scandalised by the "shut your mouth" lyric from How Soon Is Now? I sat him down and explained how music allows us to say things we wouldn't normally say to each other. Then I burned him a compilation CD of Smiths songs and locked him in his bedroom until he loved them as much as I do.
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