The Smiths

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
With their debut album, the Smiths launched an all-too-brief, but profound career that, largely owing to their outspoken lead singer, would be enshrouded in controversy and cultlike devotion. Lyrically, Steven Patrick Morrissey waxed haute poetic about homosexuality ("Hand in Glove") and child murders ("Suffer Little Children"). Musically, this album kicked a hole through the lip-glossed synth-pop that dominated the early-'80s music scene. Still cloaked in the lingering influences of New Romantic new wave and Clash-like punk, this album, like most great rock debuts, represents the group at its most raw and stark. But the core elements of the Smiths' sound, rooted in Morrissey's subtly off-key, morose crooning and nearly freeform lyrical arrangements floating over guitarist Johnny Marr's plucky, concise guitar riffs, are well-established here. The rhythm section displayed a similar relationship: Andy Rourke's mobile bass lines seemed almost to disregard any supportive undertones they could have lent to Mike Joyce's straight-ahead, no nonsense drum patterns. All the tugging and pulling worked brilliantly, cementing the sound that made the Smiths a landmark band of the 1980s. --Beth Bessmer --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

The Queen is Dead
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Perhaps The Best Album of the 80's
  • The Smiths and a VW Bug
  • Close to perfection
  • The Queen Is Dead, Long Live The Smiths
  • Fleeting and for All Time
 The Queen is Dead
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Meat Is Murder
  2. The Smiths
  3. Louder Than Bombs
  4. Strangeways, Here We Come
  5. Hatful of Hollow

ASIN: B000002L9J
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. The Queen Is Dead/Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty (Medly)
  2. Frankly, Mr. Shankly
  3. I Know It's Over
  4. Never Had No One Ever
  5. Cemetry Gates
  6. Bigmouth Strikes Again
  7. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
  8. Vicar In A Tutu
  9. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
  10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Amazon.com

This is the value of working at cross-purposes: The Smiths were Morrissey's excuse to undulate his wry, disaffected lyrics, and Johnny Marr's vehicle for his sharp, chiming, pop songs. Their favorite kind of compromise made them essentially a singles band, and The Queen Is Dead has a couple of their best (notably "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side," one of the greatest pop expressions of the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name). But it also has some wonderful compromises of different kinds: the bizarrely romantic "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," and "Cemetry Gates," where Marr covers up for Morrissey's floridity with shimmying rockabilly. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Perhaps The Best Album of the 80's.......2007-06-25

The Smiths really are the greatest pop band of all time. The Cure is my favourite band, but The Smiths are undeniably the best. I discovered "The Queen is Dead" when I was twenty (in 2000), and it served as my introduction to the band. I really was not a keen fan of the whole Brit-pop thing and thus had really glossed over this guys. I bought the album after 'Frankly, Mr. Shankly' made its way into repeat on my brain. My first response was disappointment with the rest of the album. Little by little different songs grew on me, and within two moths I was obsessed with the record. That summer I did not by another record for 4 months, and usually I buy about 20 records during the school break. Morrissey is the only singer whose words have the power to haunt me during a day. Right now 'The Queen...' is once again on constant repeat in my car. All the Smiths records are incredible and their abilitly to capture the hearts and minds of audiences really is unparalleled.

If you don't have this record and you loved early U2, New Order, Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode records, you need this in your collection. If you love the so-called 'indie-movement' of today and like bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Xiu Xiu, Interpol, Sufjan Stevens, you need this album. Actually you'll want this album. And I'm jealous of anyone who gets to fall in love with this album for the first time. But, then again falling in love with it all over again treats one pretty well too.

5 out of 5 stars The Smiths and a VW Bug.......2007-05-10

1987 all over again...Me and my friend Jennifer, the only two "freaks" in town spent our entire summer beating around town in her vintage VW Bug listening to this cassette (remember cassettes?) This album was a turning point for me in what kind of music I was listening too. Every song on this disc is perfect. The music and lyrics are witty to heart wrentching. Morrisey and Marr had that chemistry, that little magic that showed itself in a big way. Anyone wanting to know more about The Smiths should start with this album. Personally I think we need a revival. So get this disc and if you don't have a vintage VW Bug any car will do, pop it in roll down all the windows and cruise away.

5 out of 5 stars Close to perfection .......2007-04-05

Not only was this the soundtrack of my high school years (along with Husker Du and the Replacements), but it's so great to go back and listen to it and find that it stands up so well after all these years. Not a bad song in the bunch (although Vicar in a Tutu was always a bit strange), with the title track, Cemetry Gates, and I Know It's Over being three of the wittiest, most brilliant songs I have ever heard. They've influenced nearly every British band that came after them (and many American bands, too) and I hope some day my (currently) 2 year-old son will be able to appreciate how much they meant to me.

5 out of 5 stars The Queen Is Dead, Long Live The Smiths.......2007-03-16

Depending on your point of view, The Smiths' 1985 album Meat is Murder may or may not have been a sophomore slump. After all, their second release (Hatful of Hollow) was a collection of rarities and singles. While for most bands this would be a pointless delaying tactic, for The Smiths it simply confirmed them as the UK's best new band. Perhaps this made the disappointment of Meat Is Murder all the more inevitable, but that was all quickly forgiven and forgotten with the band's 1986 masterpiece The Queen Is Dead.

This album includes some of the band's very best singles equally great album tracks. Morrissey and Marr were almost always at their very best, but on The Queen Is Dead they outdo even themselves. Never one to shy away from meglomania, Moz compares himself (perhaps aptly) to Joan of Arc on the insistent "Bigmouth Strikes Again", and again sings of homosexuality in a not-so-cryptic fashion on the wonderful "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side". Together, these songs show the two sides of Morrissey's lyrical coin: in the case of "Bigmouth", the lyrics are vivid and poetic, while the lyrics to "The Boy With the Thorn" are simple and repetitive, but just as penetrating. But as great as these singles are, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is perhaps the band's greatest track ever. It was not released as a single, but it was featured on the compilation Singles because the disc would have been incomplete without it. (Really, has Morrissey ever more succinctly summed up his worldview than when he said "To die by your side, well the pleasure, the privilege is mine"?)

When one can listen to an album and look forward to the hits and non-hits equally, then the album is a truly Great one. "There Is a Light" is the best example on The Queen Is Dead of The Smiths' ability to achieve this feat. However, this brilliant record is filled to the brim with songs of comparable quality. "The Queen Is Dead/Take Me Back to Dear Old Blightly" is one of the rockingest songs The Smiths ever recorded. It is also the rare instance when the band uses 6-1/2 minutes to full effect. "I Know It's Over" is the first of two songs in which Morrissey places himself in a graveyard. In this case, his empty bed serves as his cemetery plot. The other is the jaunty "Cemetry Gates", his prefered place to spend a sunny day pitting his beloved Oscar Wilde against Keats and Yeats. (The song's somewhat lame moral to not plagiarize is hardly its strong point.) There are also several moment's of comic relief, including "Frankly Mr. Shankly", "Vicar In A Tutu", and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". The second of these tracks, in which the title character represents all those who wish to be themselves without apology to anyone else, is probably the best of the three. It is also permits Johnny Marr to indulge his fondness for rockabilly.

Given the short career of The Smiths, it is easier to pick one of their albums as their best one. The consensus is that The Queen Is Dead is just that. I agree, but their first and last albums are also 5-star records. Interestingly, Morrissey and Marr have both said that "Strangeways, Here We Come" (their last one) is better than their debut and The Queen Is Dead. Whatever the case, The Queen Is Dead is undeniably one of the greatest albums of the 80s, and one of the greatest of the two decades that have passed since its release. Anywhere - except for Meat Is Murder -is a great place to start with The Smiths, and you are bound to end up with everything if you like what you first hear. Apart from one of the compilations (Hatful of Hollow, Louder Than Bombs, Singles), The Queen Is Dead is probably the one that you will most often listen to in its entirety.

5 out of 5 stars Fleeting and for All Time.......2007-01-11

Originality.

So many artists seek, or even claim, to be doing something original, something different, something special, something unique. Yet few artists in the history of popular music attained a level of originality that matched that of the Smiths. Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitars), Andy Rourke (bass) & Mike Joyce (drums) brought together a variety of disparate elements--a love of rockabilly, golden-era pop, classic rock, and a healthy dose of punk--to create something beautiful and new, strange but familiar, fleeting and for all time.

_The Queen Is Dead_ is their masterpiece.

Morrissey and Marr produced the album themselves, surrounding the listener in warm sheets of guitars with a solid layer of bass and drums underneath. Morrissey's voice is right where it should be, not over the top of the mix, but truly stabbing its way right through the music, with lyrics as brutal and as honest as a knife.

Indeed, throughout the album, Morrissey is on the attack, slicing away at the monarchy ("The Queen Is Dead"), business associates ("Frankly, Mr. Shankly"), social ideals about physical desire ("Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others"), the institution of marriage ("I Know It's Over"), plagiarists ("Cemetry Gates"), and organized religion ("Vicar In A Tutu"). The blade also turns on its owner, as Morrissey dissects his own lonliness ("Never Had No One Ever"), his troubled childhood ("The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"), and the very act of verbal expression itself ("Bigmouth Strikes Again").

The Smiths provide the perfect musical atmosphere for each of these lyrical worlds, be it the frantic, powerful rock of "Bigmouth Strikes Again," the heart-breaking balladry of "I Know It's Over," the folky, breezy jangle of "Cemetry Gates," or the manic, spitting punk of the title track.

And then, there is the penultimate track, the album's climax, and arguably one of the most gorgeously tragic moments in all of popular music: "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out." The guitars chime and glisten like the lights of a late night highway. The bass and drums keep driving forward, pushing and searching. All the while, Morrissey, ever-reaching, always-yearning, demands ("take me out tonight / where there's music and there's people / and they're young and alive"), reveals ("driving in your car / I never never want to go home / because I haven't got one / anymore"), despairs ("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"), and hopes ("and if a double-decker bus / crashes into us / to die by your side / is such a heavenly way to die").

If you can't feel this music, this moment, there might not be blood running through your veins.
The Very Best of the Smiths
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The definitive best of Smiths collection.
  • This charming band.
  • Truly The Best Of The Smiths
  • Good Overview
  • Holy Smith!
 The Very Best of the Smiths
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Best of Morrissey
  2. The Cure - Greatest Hits
  3. Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey
  4. Louder Than Bombs
  5. The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00005KB47
Release Date: 2001-06-11

Tracks:

  1. Panic
  2. Boy With the Thorn in His Side
  3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
  4. Ask
  5. Bigmouth Strikes Again
  6. How Soon Is Now?
  7. This Charming Man
  8. What Difference Does It Make?
  9. William, It Was Really Nothing
  10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
  11. Girlfriend in a Coma
  12. Hand in Glove
  13. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
  14. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
  15. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
  16. I Know It's Over
  17. Sheila Take a Bow
  18. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
  19. Still Ill
  20. Shakespeare's Sister
  21. Shoplifters of the World Unite
  22. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
  23. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

Album Description

Import only 23 track collection. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Tracks, 'Panic', 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side', 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', 'Ask', 'Bigmouth Strikes Again', 'How Soon Is Now?', 'This Charming Man', 'What Difference Does It Make?', 'William, It Was Really Nothing', 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', 'Girlfriend In A Coma', 'Hand In Glove', 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out', 'Please Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want', 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore', 'I Know It's Over', 'Sheila Take A Bow', 'I Started Something I Couldn't Finish', 'Still Ill', 'Shakespeare's Sister', 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite', 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' & 'Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before'.2001 release.

Album Details

The best selling British indie rock band of the 80's were the epitome of the adjectives 'definitive' and 'seminal'. Lead singer Morrissey was the idol of many a young, disenfranchised youth who found their voice through his songs and poetry. Here are 23 of their best, digitally remastered, sounding better than ever. After the Smiths, bedsit angst was never the same again.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The definitive best of Smiths collection........2007-02-13

I know the story behind this release and all the crap it got from the actual members of the band. This release was not authorized or approved by the band and I believe it's actually out of print. Anyway onto the music itself. Despite what critics and elitists say this is definitely the one "Best Of..." collection from The Smiths that you should get. It has every track from the 'Singles' compilation plus 5 more to boot. It also contains a much much more interesting booklet inside with actual lyrics and pictures of their discography along with track titles from those respective releases.

For a big Smiths fan like myself I have every album and rarities there is to find. But whenever I want to carry one cd in the car with me or for travel I carry this one. It has all the most recognizeable songs on it and I'm happy with that. Now for anyone who hasn't heard of The Smiths and wants to get into them this is a great introduction to the band and the one to get before you become a convert. The only gripe I have is the album cover, it's almost a bad imitation of a Smiths cover but once you hear the music and check out the booklet you forget that. Don't listen to negative reviews or press. An absolute must buy.

5 out of 5 stars This charming band........2006-11-15

A long story short: this is easily the greatest Smiths collection out there. Better than "Best Of Volumes 1 & 2" and "Singles". In fact this includes EVERY track from "Singles", plus 5 more, and is remastered, AND has a better booklet. The only other single disc of theirs that comes close is "Louder Than Bombs" at 24 tracks, but that's missing many of the hits. Sure I could add another 10 songs easy, like "The Headmaster Ritual", "Half A Person", or "Cemetry Gates", but this would have to be two discs for that. Overall this does miss some favorites, but it's still the best choice for your first or only Smiths disc. Hey, get it used.

5 out of 5 stars Truly The Best Of The Smiths.......2006-11-11

This album is a must have for anyone who likes The Smiths. The sound quality is awesome and very clear and the songs are just great! So buy this album you won't be let down. 23 songs in one album that's a bargain!

5 out of 5 stars Good Overview.......2006-09-22

"The Very Best of the Smiths" is a 23 song CD of some of the Smiths biggest hits, plus a couple of fan favorites. They're a British group, 1980s and guitar driven (with great playing by Johnny Marr), catchy and made all the more memorable by the wit and observation of Morrissey's lyrics. He sings of the shy, the unemployed, the young and the lonely, and helped me through some rather tough times when I was all four at once. They're up in my top 5 bands somewhere. They've made me laugh, made me cry, made you think too sometimes.

Though Morrissey's sung out against them, there are a lot of Smiths best ofs and compilations out there. This ones probably the best choice for a newcomer, in my opinion. For one, it's remastered, so the tracks sound crisper and clearer than you'll find anywhere else. Another reason is because of the amount of tracks, you get as many as you'll get on "Singles", and then some. The booklet is also better than "Singles" in my opinion. It has not only lyrics for all the songs, but liner notes by a chap called Paul Lester, who discusses the impact and influence the Smiths had on alternative music, as well as the describing the cultural context they were going against. There's a couple of pics of the band in the booklet too.

Just as a comparison, heres the overlap you'll have if you buy this disc and then go on to buy the other main Smiths studio CDs.

4 of the tracks are on "The Smiths" (1984)
4 of the tracks are on "Hatful of Hollow" (1984, semi-compilation)
2 of the tracks are on "Meat is Murder" (1985)
5 of the tracks are on "The Queen is Dead" (1986)
4 of the tracks are on "Strangeways Here We Come" (1987)
8 of the tracks are on "The World Won't Listen" (1987, semi-compilation)
8 of the tracks are on "Louder than Bombs" (1987, semi-compliation)

If you become a Smiths/Morrissey fan, you'll have to put up with a bit of overlap, which does get a bit annoying.

I thought some of the non-single choices for this compilation were a bit odd. I would have preferred having the evocative "Cemetary Gates" or even the intense "Queen is Dead" title track rather than the sparse "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". At first I thought the addition of "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" was a bit strange (it's not a favorite of mine, even though I like the production on it) but I've heard it on a whole bunch of film soundtracks lately, so I can understand why it's here.

A great value collection overall, and a great introduction. Nice remastering too. No wonder the chap on the cover is smiling! Recommended, especially if you enjoy 1980s music and intellegent lyrics.

4 out of 5 stars Holy Smith!.......2006-07-26

How can you release a "Best Of The Smiths" album without songs such as "Handsome Devil", "Pretty Girls Make Graves" and "A Rush And A Push" on it? Hang on, how can you release it without "What She Said" "Unhappy Birthday" and "Nowhere Fast" on it? Well it has to be done, because every single Smiths song ever created deserves to be on this album, bar none. As for what IS on this album, it is a fine selection of songs worthy for any collection, and a good Smiths album to buy if you're just getting into them.

There are numorous stand out tracks on this album, but nearly every single one is a certified classic.
1. Panic- A fantastic song, very catchy, containing the infamous lyric "Hang the Dj". A great opener. 5/5

2. The Boy With A Thorn In His Side- Another Awesome song. Very heartfelt and melodic, as always. 5/5

3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now- If the first two songs could be described as uplifting, then this must be the complete opposite. Morrissey feeling very sorry for himself on this one. Still a great classic Smiths song. 5/5

4. Ask- This song must contain the most embarrassing video ever, but it's still a brilliant song. Not as good as the first three however. 4/5

5. Bigmouth Strikes Again- Okay, this must just be one of the greatest songs ever. Anyone being introduced to The Smiths for the first time must hear this song, it will make you fall in love with them. Yes, its that good! 6/5

6. How Soon Is Now?- I wont lie, i never really took to this song. It is still great, and it has every right to be on this album, but its not one of my favourites. One of The Smiths more recognisable songs. 4/5

7. This Charming Man- As with "Bigmouth Strikes Again", this song will make you fall head over heels in love with the Smiths. Just simply awesome. There are no other words to describe it, it speaks for itself. 6/5

8. What Difference Does It Make- This was the first Smiths song i ever heard, and i love it. I recently found out that Morrissey hates this song. I have no idea why, its one of their best. 5/5

9. William, It Was Really Nothing- Every other song so far has been brilliant, and this is no different. Just get this album for God sake. 4/5

10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others- After playing this album to death many times, this song stands as my favourite. Very original, unique, humourous, and haunting at the same time. 6/5

11. Girlfriend In A Coma- Hmmmmm...this is not one of my favourites. Its a decent tune, but nothing too special in my opinion. Still better than what many bands put out today. 3/5

12. Hand In Glove- The very first song ever released by The Smiths way back in 1983. It went down like a fart in church. Its good, but not great. 3/5

13. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out- A beautiful song. Simply touching. An anthem. 6/5

14. Please, Please Let Me Get What i Want- The shortest song on the album clocking in at just 1:51. It chugs along nicely, but never really kicks in. Just as its starts to get good, it finishes. 2.5/5

15. That Joke Isnt Funny Anymore- Another great song. Depressing, but yet somehow uplifting at the same time. Only The Smiths can do it. 5/5

16. I Know Its Over- Another touching song. But the Smiths have done it better before. 3.5/5

17. Sheila Take A Bow- Finally, after 6 sorrowful, mournful songs, its another uplifting one! This is a very catchy song. 5/5

18. I Started Something I Couldnt Finish- This is my favourite song from The Smiths last studio album "Strangeways Here We Come". A cracking tune. 5/5

19. Still Ill- Okay, i said previously that "Some Girls Are Bigger.." is my favourite song on this album. I lied. This is just as good. No, better! No, i'll let you decide. 6/5

20. Shakespeares Sister- Good song. Not one of their best, but very good nonetheless. 3.5/5

21. Shoplifters Of The World Unite- I really like this song. Some find it mundane, as it never really picks up, but the lyrics are masterful as always, and the solo near the end is superb also. 4.5/5

22. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loves Me- Okay, so it takes about 2 minutes for the song to start up, but its worth it. This is one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard. Put this on when you're feeling down, there's always someone that feels worse than you do. Namely, Morrissey. 5/5

23. Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before- I dont think this is the best song to finish the album with. It got on my nerves after a while. The chorus is slightly annoying, but still a good song.

So there you have it. Get this album!!! Its not just for the oldies either. Hell, i'm only 17. I cant listen to anything else at the moment. Just get it, you can thank me later. You wont be disappointed!!
Meat Is Murder
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Blueprint For A Successful Follow-Up Album
  • "Gasping - but somehow still alive"
  • Militant Smiths
  • Absolutely haunting
  • My favorite Smiths album
 Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Queen is Dead
  2. The Smiths
  3. Strangeways, Here We Come
  4. Louder Than Bombs
  5. Hatful of Hollow

ASIN: B000002L7J
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. The Headmaster Ritual
  2. Rusholme Ruffians
  3. I Want The One I Can't Have
  4. What She Said
  5. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
  6. How Soon Is Now?
  7. Nowhere Fast
  8. Well I Wonder
  9. Barbarism Begins At Home
  10. Meat Is Murder

Amazon.com

Singer Morrissey's brittle wit and guitarist Johnny Marr's incisive guitar helped make the Smiths create both an entranced cult following and pop music of the highest order. The U.S. edition of the band's second album includes the bonus single "How Soon Is Now?" and while it's a welcome addition, the rest of the tracks stand ably on their own. The militant vegetarianism is heavy-handed, but the sly humor of "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and "I Want the One I Can't Have" present proof of the band's scope, as do the anthemic "The Headmaster Ritual" and "Rusholme Ruffians." --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The Blueprint For A Successful Follow-Up Album.......2007-04-11

In today's day & age of artists releasing albums with the frequency of presidential elections, it seems almost inconceivable that a smash-hit debut could be followed one-year later by another equally-impressive album. But that's exactly what The Smiths did in early 1985 with Meat Is Murder. "How Soon Is Now?" and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" are the two main standouts, however "Rusholme Ruffians", "Nowhere Fast", and "I Want The One I Can't Have" rival anything off the band's self-titled release. Morrissey continues his heady and socially-conscious songwriting, while Johnny Marr takes his guitar-playing up a few notches - which is ultimately showcased on "How Soon..." (the rhythm guitar-track was conveniently sampled on Soho's 1990 hit "Hippie Chick", and one could make a case that Marr stole the main bent-chord from Jimmy Page's riff on Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song"). Even Andy Rourke gets into the act with his funky bass line contribution on "Barbarism Begins At Home". No weak spots on this gem, which will surely spark your interest from start to finish. If not, you don't know what's good for you.

3 out of 5 stars "Gasping - but somehow still alive".......2007-03-12

The Smiths' second album of new material is essential listening for an unlikely reason: it contains some the band's most mediocre songs. Now, "mediocre" is a relative term of course, considering that we are talking about the greatest band to emerge in the last quarter-century, i.e., since The Jam broke up in '82. It isn't that Morrissey's voice sounds bad (how could it?), or that Johnny Marr's guitar playing is less than tasteful. It's just that somehow the words and the music just aren't as great as one would expect.

Most of the tracks on this album are not particularly well-known ones. However, "How Soon Is Now?" pops up in the middle of the American issue. This is one of the band's best-known and best-loved songs. It is not, however, one my personal favorites, if for no other reason than it is over six-and-a-half minutes long. For a group whose music is informed by classic pop ideals, The Smiths sure have a tendency to let their songs run a bit too long. This is especially to the detriment on the closing tracks. The nearly 7-minute "Barbarism Begins at Home" is quite good, as is the title track (even if it is a bit, dare I say, ham-fisted), but they just go on forever, and therefore lose some of their impact in the process.

Other than "How Soon Is Now?", the only song that will be familiar to neophyte Smiths fans is the excellent single "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", which includes the fathomlessly clever line "It was dark as I drove the point home". Not surprisingly, The Smiths are more successful with shorter songs. "What She Said", "Nowhere Fast", and "Well I Wonder" are some of the album's best songs. "I Want the One I Can't Have", on the other hand, expresses what was even by this point in his career a pretty trite Morrissey sentiment. And I still haven't mentioned the opening tracks, "The Headmaster Ritual" and "Rusholme Ruffians". Sadly, there isn't really much to say about them, apart from that they sound a bit juvenile and uninspired. (Although the "Marie's the Name of His Latest Flame" riff on the latter is a nice touch).

Given the excitement that had built up around The Smiths by 1985, it is not surprising that Meat Is Murder entered the UK album chart at #1. Fans were certainly justified in their expectations for the album, and were right to rush out and by it. Unfortunately, the material on the album proved to be disappointing by any standards. Fortunately, it was not enough to bring down the band's hopes, as they re-emerged in the finest form of their career with their next release. While Meat is Murder is not essential in the all-embracing sense of the term, it is worth hearing for that very reason. After all, every great band has at least one album that demonstrates what they sound like at their not-so-great. In the case of The Smiths, that album is Meat Is Murder.

3 out of 5 stars Militant Smiths.......2007-01-09

I gave two other Smiths CD 5 stars, the great 'The Queen Is Dead' and a Singles collection. This album just doesn't reach the level of TQID and therefore I have to give it just 3 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely haunting.......2006-01-14

Meat is Murder was one of my first forays into indie music as a 15 year old kid in 1987 and what a great place to start. Full of painful angst and alienation, Morrissey really bears himself... his wretched life lives all over these songs. Maybe it's a little dramatic, but it never seems faked and it always sounds fantastic.

5 out of 5 stars My favorite Smiths album.......2005-11-22

This is the album that got me hooked on the Smiths back in 1986. A friend had copied the album recorded to tape. I avoided listening to it for several months, until one afternoon listening to Rusholme Ruffians. At the time (at the age of 16), I could not make out what Morrissey was singing, nor would have I understood the lyrics if they had been printed. However, I indentified with the music. Although Morrissey seemed to sing off-key at times, there was a sense of urgency that was very honest and passionate. My favorite songs from the album include:
I want the one I can't have ("He killed a policeman when he was 13, and somehow this really impressed me"). There is something very gritty and authentic about this song. Morrissey sings it with such passion. Great lyrics, too.
That joke isn't funny anymore- My favorite part of the song is when Morrissey sings, "When they fall down". Johnny Marr's guitar playing sounds spiraling and dreamlike.
Well I wonder- Convincingly morose.
Barbarism begins at home- At first I did not think much of this song, but it has grown on me over the years. I enjoy the ending of the song with Morrissey moaning over Johnny Marr's instrumental.
Other highlights include the Headmaster's Ritual, What she said and Nowhere Fast (one of my favorite lyrics: "And when I'm lying in my bed I think about life And I think about death And neither one particularly appeals to me"). I am an odd Smiths fan as I find "How soon is now?" to be unlistenable. The song "Meat is Murder" is amusing, but probably my second least favorite track from the album.
Louder Than Bombs
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • overwhelmed
  • Is It Really So Strange?
  • You just can't go wrong with bombs.
  • How do you describe the perfect album.
  • Lyrics Speak Louder Than Bombs
 Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Queen is Dead
  2. Meat Is Murder
  3. Strangeways, Here We Come
  4. The Smiths
  5. Hatful of Hollow

ASIN: B000002LBH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Is It Really So Strange?
  2. Sheila Take A Bow
  3. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
  4. Sweet & Tender Hooligan
  5. Half A Person
  6. London
  7. Panic
  8. Girl Afraid
  9. Shakespeare's Sister
  10. William, It Was Really Nothing
  11. You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby
  12. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
  13. Ask
  14. Golden Lights
  15. Oscillate Wildly
  16. These Things Take Time
  17. Rubber Ring
  18. Back To The Old House
  19. Hand In Glove
  20. Stretch Out & Wait
  21. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
  22. This Night Has Opened My Eyes
  23. Unloveable
  24. Asleep

Amazon.com essential recording

This 1987 collection of Smiths album tracks, B-sides, and singles (and roughly half of Hatful of Hollow) is a worthy essential Smiths due to its scope and size. Twenty-four tracks in all, it includes hits such as the irresistible and bouncy "Ask," the Smiths prototype "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," "William, It Was Really Nothing," "Panic," and "Hand in Glove." Lesser-known tracks like the lovely, piano-driven instrumental "Oscillate Wildly," the dark "Rubber Ring," and the weary "Half a Person" are strong enough to stand without the benefit of support from the hits. There are a few misses here, but they're hardly noticeable when surrounded by all the great tracks. Plus, a number of must-haves ("You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby," "Stretch Out and Wait," "Half a Person") are virtually unavailable elsewhere. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars overwhelmed.......2007-07-04

Looking at the list of songs on this album, I am overwhelmed at their brilliance. I don't know how they did it, but Morrissey and Marr had some connection that allowed them to create some of the most magnificent songs ever written. The Smiths are comparable to U2 in talent and song-writing ability, they just were never quite as popular because they never sold out to the mainstream. Although Morrissey can be a bit pompous at times, he has always stayed true to his art. I dont need to tell you that this album is worth buying because every review gives it 5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Is It Really So Strange?.......2007-01-20

~~~~
No ones 80's record collection is really complete unless it contains a Smiths album,and if you are still a little unsure then this compilation is a really great place to start,before trying their proper albums
(in particular "The Queen is Dead" & "Strangeways Here We Come".)
With Morrissey's poetic lyrics and Johnney Marr's great guitar playing,
your in for a treat whenever you listen to a Smiths song.
And if your still hungry for more after those albums check out Morrissey's solo stuff like "Bona Drag" and "Your Arsenal".
All those people who dismiss the lyrics as "Whiny" really haven't LISTENED to them nor understood the amusing and witty remarks that lie within them.
"I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour but heaven knows I'm miserable now"
Most of us have been there, thanks Morrissey.
~~~~

5 out of 5 stars You just can't go wrong with bombs........2007-01-20

This is by far the best Smiths collection you can get. Not only is it the biggest(24 tracks) but it's also a great glimpse into The Smiths back catalog of b-sides. Some of the tracks I could of done without (Unloveable, Golden lights) and had them replaced with some classic tracks (That Joke isn't funny anymore, barbarism begins at home)but it's a great collection none the less. One of the jems on Bombs is the collection exculsive "Asleep" which is one of the most beautiful and tear jerking songs The Smiths ever wrote, and as we all know they wrote alot of them. So yes. Pick this up if you're tired of your Best of Vol 1 and 2 and want to listen to the real meat of The Smiths. you won't be disapointed

5 out of 5 stars How do you describe the perfect album........2006-10-16

It sounds cheesy, doesn't it, stating LTB is the quintescential Smiths album. I remember listening to the Beatles over and OVER and OVER again and my mother telling me that they were the perfect band, that no one else would be able to take their place. I hated her for that. It felt like she had stolen something necessary for growing up. Can't describe the feeling, kind of a jealousy that festered.

So, in rebellion, I listened to Debbie Gibson and other pop sycophants and symbols of the time, finally deciding that George Micheal was as fine a point of where music of the 80s would have to leave its mark. My on-again, off-again girlfriend at the moment convinced me one fine, fall day to take a listen to the LTB tape she constantly carried in her back pocket. Three days later, she was shacking up with a greaser to whom I loathed, but who had a car, leaving me with my moody depression, piles of crisp golden and orange leaves and two more years of high school, and a well used Smiths Louder Than Bombs long playing tape.

Morrisey's amazing voice and lyrical talent, coupled with Johnny Marr's amazing guitar feeds, Andy Rourke's back beat and Mike Joyce keeping the rhthym really fit the mood I was in. Each song reminded me of different things; mostly Shakespearean, long train rides, James Dean, and cool, windy, rainy days in which one tends to curl up with a small book of Keats or Yeats and enjoys being alone. Each song seemed crafted, not produced. Very real and raw. Immensely wonderful.

Yeah, I know, three letters. G - A - Y. Still, I loved the Smiths then, and every band I listen to and love now, such as Deathcab for Cutie, Dandy Worhols, the Doves, Jets Overhead, Coldplay, all seem molded by this little band as well. The Smiths were never huge by the Beatle's standards, although Morrissey continues to have a cult following as does Johnny Marr. It's fall again, the cool air has the aroma of rain, and Dead Poets Society becomes my favorite movie again. The tape has long ago fallen to the ravages of play and time, but I have a well worn CD that I still cherish.

5 out of 5 stars Lyrics Speak Louder Than Bombs.......2006-10-10

"Louder Than Bombs" is a Smiths compilation of sorts, a collection of non-album singles, B-sides and several tracks from the Smiths' first compilation "Hatful of Hollow". Many of these tracks you can't get anywhere else. Well, you can get them on "The World Won't Listen", but that's a very similar compilation to this one.

It's a good value collection, and a fine introduction to the band, I think. There are 24 tracks, recorded between 1984-1987, of all different styles and moods. All have fantastic guitar playing by Johnny Marr, while Andy Rourke's bass and Mike Joyce's guitar keep things catchy too. Morrissey's lyrics though, are what makes this record, and the Smiths, really special, I think. He can be witty at times, he can be warm, he can be sympathetic and he can be despairing, often all in the same song. He comes up with some great little phrases in his songs. As for subject matters, he covers all sorts of things, just as Johnny Marr covers all sorts of moods. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" lends an ear to the commercially compulsive, "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" sees a mother abandon a child, "Girl Afraid" touches on the pushy girl/passive guy relationship, and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby" (which I reckon really should have gone on to be a hit single) sums up the pain of struggling and striving, whether in attempts to find love or attempts to be famous. It's one of my favourites of the album and the band, as is "Rubber Ring", where Morrissey urges the listener not to "forget the songs that made you cry, and the ones that saved your life" and to spare a happy thought for him after such songs have helped you through tough times. If anyone else had been singing it, it might have come across as a bit arrogant, but the Smiths wrote some powerful songs, and Morrissey knew it! There's also an instrumental by Johnny Marr ("Oscillate Wildly") and a very strange, but typically Morrissey, cover song (Twinkle's "Golden Lights").

The booklet is fairly simple, but it comes with the lyrics to all the songs, which is very nice to have for a band like the Smiths.

Overall, a great introduction to the band, a great addition to Smiths/Morrissey collection, and a great bunch of songs. Recommended.
Strangeways, Here We Come
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The real arms around me just faded.
  • Worst Smiths Album Ever.
  • Call them Genius and be done with it
  • who cares if it's the worst album?
  • Well, I'd trust the band members over anyone else...
 Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Queen is Dead
  2. Meat Is Murder
  3. The Smiths
  4. Louder Than Bombs
  5. Hatful of Hollow

ASIN: B000002LCX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Rush and A Push & The Land Is Ours
  2. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
  3. Death Of A Disco Dancer
  4. Girlfriend In A Coma
  5. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
  6. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
  7. Unhappy Birthday
  8. Paint A Vulgar Picture
  9. Death At One's Elbow
  10. I Won't Share You

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The real arms around me just faded........2006-07-27

Let me first state that I am a Smiths fan in every sense of the word. I wore my Queen Is Dead shirt to school picture day, for God's sake! But this is my honestly analytical opinion on "Strangeways, Here We Come".
The person who got me into The Smiths was my dad, British junkie that he is, and when he found this CD buried in a little indie record store, he was overjoyed and mystified, saying that he'd completely forgotten about this album (hmmm, now what does that tell us). So, I copied it and commenced listening.

1. A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
Probably the best song on the album, actually. With a mock-ghostly, dramatic beginning, blossoming into a catchy and (I wince to use this word, but I must) bouncy vocal preformance. 5/5 stars

2. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
This song is either about homosexual rape or something beyond the realms of my understanding. And what's with the gutteral growling Morrissey's been toying with? This song actually has a really good beat. 3/5

3. Death of a Disco Dancer
This is an example of what came out of Morrissey's mind late one night after downing just a few too many. A strangely artificial beginning, dry lyrics, not my favorite song on the album. 3/5

4. Girlfriend In A Coma
This one I like, despite the very un-Smiths-like sound to it. Morrissey's characteristically grim humor abounds, if looking through another person's eyes (do you really think he has a GIRLfriend?). 4/5

5. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
A good title, if nothing else! But also a good vocal, good lyrics (when are they not?). But Moz, who is the "shy, bald Buddhist"? 4/5

6. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
This song made me cry the first time I heard it, but through my tears I couldn't help but wonder who the people were, screaming in apparent agony in the backround. Oh, but I love this song. "Last night I felt real arms around me. No hope, no harm, just another false alarm." How true. 5/5

7. Unhappy Birthday
Hilarious like a sledgehammer on your head! With a mock-cocky rhythm, and cheerfully hateful lyrics, I can't help liking this. 4/5

8. Paint A Vulgar Picture
A pretty good idea lyrically, but they carry it on a bit too long. A strong dosage of reality, but not done particularly well, I must say. Except for the "dance my legs down to the knees" bit. 3/5

9. Death At One's Elbow
Oh, Morrissey and Marr, WHY? It's upbeat to the point of painful, the lyrics make little sense, and dear God was that a tambourine??? Goodbye my love indeed. 1/5

10. I Won't Share You
In my father's words, "beautiful". Well, he was never much for analyzing, but indeed it is. An acoustic is always a good way to end an album. Written for Marr, possibly? 5/5

There you are. Rate me, hate me, bless me, help me (wait, who am I talking to) keep scrolling down your computer screen, I don't care. My overall take on Strangeways, Here We Come is 4/5 stars. Cheers.

2 out of 5 stars Worst Smiths Album Ever........2006-06-01

I think the only way you could really consider this a good album is if you are working BACKWARDS through their catalog. I remember as a teenager going to the record store and snatching up all the 12" singles they would release every other month it seemed back in 1984 and 1985. Each one was a gem, musical brilliance. Meat Is Murder is one of the finest pieces of British rock music produced, if not THE best in the 80's. Were it not for a few duds, I would say the same for The Queen is Dead. These are albums that to this day have not been matched in lyrical genius and musical expression.

Then you have this album. Now, I was quite a rabid fan back in the day - until I bought this album. I tried very very hard to like this album. But the dreadful, overproduced music coupled with Morrissey's obvious creative block made for some bad listening. I am thinking right now of the lyrics to "Stop Me.." and how bad they are. They actually make me cringe. Does repeating phrases 3 times in a row, 4 times in a song, compare to "Rusholme Ruffians"?

Like I said, if you are working backwards throught their catalog, you might think of this as a good album. But when I heard it, I knew it was over. I think this could only appeal to fans of Morrisseys solo stuff, which I really really can't stomach.

5 out of 5 stars Call them Genius and be done with it.......2006-03-09

We'll never see their like again in this lifetime. The Beatles of our generation. Pure pop perfection. The entire catalogue. That's the other thing to consider, the amount of material in so little time. Let's call them genius and be done with it.

5 out of 5 stars who cares if it's the worst album?.......2006-02-25

My impression is that the Smiths is one of those bands that has fans that love it/them so much that even their "worst" album is a deep pleasure. I could empathize with someone saying that about Strangeways, but there is still that magic that touches us, that makes us feel there music is more than music to us. I feel this way about R.E.M, up to a point (and I'm sure you know it's a point out of time), Elliott Smith, Radiohead. There are thankfully some recording artists out there who you can depend on never to release total, disappointing crap. The Smiths were one of those artists.

4 out of 5 stars Well, I'd trust the band members over anyone else..........2006-01-31

If it makes any difference, in the latest issue of Uncut, take 104, Marr states that the band always thought 'Strangeways' as their strongest record.

I personally think 'Meat is Murder' was best, but I remember listening to Strangeways very heavily in 1987, and having a complete feeling of sadness, because you knew it was over. Not because it was poor in any way, but because the mood of the record was so alone.
The Smiths
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Meet me at the fountain
  • "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice"
  • the album changed my life
  • Good Band
  • Personal Favorite
 The Smiths
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Meat Is Murder
  2. The Queen is Dead
  3. Strangeways, Here We Come
  4. Louder Than Bombs
  5. Hatful of Hollow

ASIN: B000002L5P
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Reel Around The Fountain
  2. You've Got Everything Now
  3. Miserable Lie
  4. Pretty Girls Make Graves
  5. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
  6. This Charming Man
  7. Still Ill
  8. Hand In Glove
  9. What Difference Does It Make?
  10. I Don't Owe You Anything
  11. Suffer Little Children

Amazon.com essential recording

With their debut album, the Smiths launched an all-too-brief, but profound career that, largely owing to their outspoken lead singer, would be enshrouded in controversy and cultlike devotion. Lyrically, Steven Patrick Morrissey waxed haute poetic about homosexuality ("Hand in Glove") and child murders ("Suffer Little Children"). Musically, this album kicked a hole through the lip-glossed synth-pop that dominated the early-'80s music scene. Still cloaked in the lingering influences of New Romantic new wave and Clash-like punk, this album, like most great rock debuts, represents the group at its most raw and stark. But the core elements of the Smiths' sound, rooted in Morrissey's subtly off-key, morose crooning and nearly freeform lyrical arrangements floating over guitarist Johnny Marr's plucky, concise guitar riffs, are well-established here. The rhythm section displayed a similar relationship: Andy Rourke's mobile bass lines seemed almost to disregard any supportive undertones they could have lent to Mike Joyce's straight-ahead, no nonsense drum patterns. All the tugging and pulling worked brilliantly, cementing the sound that made the Smiths a landmark band of the 1980s. --Beth Bessmer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Meet me at the fountain.......2007-05-30

I'm not a kid, and I'm not a music reviewer. But the soundtrack of my collegiate life -- and even on into my middle-aged life now -- was dominated by The Smiths and Morrissey. (And just to gloat, I got to see Morrissey in concert Friday at a tiny venue, and it was awesome.)

I can't recall the first Smiths song I ever heard, but I know who played it for me. My best friend had musical tastes far more wide-ranging than me, and he convinced me to give them a listen. I won't go so far as to say it changed my life, as another reviewer did, but The Smiths' music stunned me with its depth and raw emotion. I acquired one CD of theirs after another, then got Morrissey's solo work, adding each new recording as it came and loading up on imports, bootlegs and singles.

When I went to England, "Everyday Is Like Sunday" was the song I listened to repeatedly on the flight. And when a break-up with a girlfriend devastated me, I turned to the live version of "I Know It's Over" from "Rank" -- and to The Smiths' stark debut album. "It's time the tale were told of how you took a child and you made him old." My youthful, angst-ridden, college boy self found no better words to express how I felt.

Now I'm older, happier, married and largely angst-free. But I still love The Smiths and Morrissey's entire canon of work. It is inextricably bound to my memories, and with Morrissey still recording, it promises to go on with me as the future turns into the past.

One reviewer here said there's a dud on every Smiths album. I disagree. Every Smiths song, from the most tortured to the most frivolous, works on an emotional level; you just have to hear it at the right time.

5 out of 5 stars "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice".......2007-03-22

A debut album like the one by The Smiths makes one wonder: what was life like before it was released? To whom could disaffected teens and twenty-somethings turn before Morrissey made things clear for all who heard him? Interestingly, my life was more or less Smiths-less until I was in my late-20s. The only exposure to them came from my high school best friend, who did everything in his power to get me to like the band. Alas, I was hopelessly devoted to classic and progressive rock at the time, and wasn't about to admit that contemporary popular music that didn't have it's origins in the 1970s could be worthwhile or (heaven forbid) better. Thankfully, I became a convert in time for Morrissey's solo comeback, and I feel that I have more than made up for lost time.

The Smiths were never known for rocking hard, but they were always able to put their own twist on basic rock 'n roll. Throughout their career, this would often take the form of rockabilly. On their debut, it is demonstrated by the spot-on single "Hand In Glove", which marries old-fashioned harmonica with Johnny Marr's R.E.M.-like, trance-inducing arpeggios. Morrissey also presents himself right off the bat as someone who wouldn't pull any punches in terms of subject matter. In this song, he sings of homosexual love as something as sincere and deep or as delicate and fleeting as any other form of love. The band rocks the hardest on "Miserable Lie", which drummer Mike Joyce speeds along in an agile fashion. Morrissey starts to sound like a rooster at the end, but he regains his composure nicely for "Pretty Girls Make Graves".

The latter two tracks began the Morrissey tradition of revealing the disposition of the singer and the song in the title itself. Obviously most of these were not ready-made for widespread appeal. However, Morrissey and Marr knew just as well how to craft a single with hit potential, as indicated not only by "Hand In Glove", but also "This Charming Man" - which is propelled by excellent groovy bass work by Andy Rourke and trademark jangle by Marr - and "What Difference Does It Make?". Perhaps the best way to illustrate the difference between the singles and the rest of the album's songs is to consider the contrast between the first song listeners heard on the radio ("Hand In Glove") and the first one they heard on record, "Reel Around the Fountain". The latter trades all of the radio-ready punch for a more intimate feel. That difference between their singles and non-singles noted, "Still Ill" -also featuring a harmonica - may have proven to be hit-worthy in its own right.

As great as The Smiths' best albums are, they each have one dud on them. On The Queen is Dead, it is "Never Had No One Ever", and on Strangeways, Here We Come it is "Death of a Disco Dancer". On the debut album, it is "I Don't Owe You Anything", which is borderline musak. But like the songs on the other records, it is not enough to make it a lesser album, but simply to slow its momentum a bit. "Suffer Little Children" doesn't pick up the pace or lift one's spirits, but it closes the album by affecting the listener in the way that a Smiths song is meant to.

The Smiths' 1984 debut was one of the best and most important debuts of the 1980s, and in the history of indie/alternative rock. Amazingly, although the released only 4 albums of new material in their time together, it was one of 3 of those albums to be worthy of 5 stars. It was also the start of a career that, in terms of the ratio of length and quality, can only be compared to The Beatles. In his own review of The Smiths' Singles, an Amazon friend of mine referred to Smiths completists as a "vanishing tribe". In my opinion, a completist is the only kind of Smiths fan to be.

5 out of 5 stars the album changed my life.......2007-03-15

I went into Tower Records in Monterey Park, California in 2003 searching for a good 80's album. I noticed The Smiths albums, and remembered my sister talking about them when we were teens. I never really paid attention at all. I bought the Smiths debut, went home, and played it. I immediately fell in love with the first song, Reel Around the Fountain. I played it over and over and over again, thinking: "This is the most beautiful song I have ever heard." Honestly, never had a song have such a huge impact in my life and how I felt. After hearing Reel Around the Fountain repeatedly, I continued on and heard the whole album. I became ahuge Smiths fan. I was interested in everything from that band. The lyrics, the music, everything. I heard and bought the rest of the albums and heard them chronologically. I loved them all. I saw an interview of Morrissey expressing himself about how he felt about the New York Dolls. He mentioned that at some point in your life you come across a band than you instantly connect with and you never let them go, and thats what The Smiths are for me. This album is my favorite and I will always cherish it, since it has impacted my life so much.

4 out of 5 stars Good Band.......2007-01-22

Ive heard of this band but never heard their music until about 6 months ago. I love 80's music, synth, light rock etc so I figured I would give this band a chance, get a couple of CD's and see what they were all about.

When I first heard it I didnt know what to think. I knew they sounded different than any other band ive ever heard. As I listened to it I began to like it more and more. It grew on me.

The lyrics are some of the smartest ive ever heard..I also purchased a Morrisey CD and was looking up some of the lyrics while listening to the songs and thought wow, this guy can write. I also see the reviewer said this was a Joy Division inspired band- that might have something to do with why the sound grew on me considering I love Joy Division. I definitely recommend this CD but as far as who would like this music I cant say. Its more of a mellow sound with contemplative lyrics.

5 out of 5 stars Personal Favorite.......2006-05-14

I had a group of friends that were into the smiths in the mid 80's but I was never really a fan until someone got me to pay attention to thier lyrics. This is without a doubt my favorite albumn of thiers. It is not as slick as the later albumns but song for song this cd is GREAT. Alot of critics say this albumn does not live up to the Smiths' ability but the underproduction is one of the best things of the albumn. If you are looking for a hits albumn get one of the compilations but if you want to hear the beginnings of a sound still going strong today this is the one.
Singles
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This and "Louder Than Bombs" are all you need.
  • Personally most the album is not good
  • Fun With Singles
  • An essential collection.
  • A Vital Collection From The 80's
 Singles
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Best of Morrissey
  2. The Best of New Order
  3. Louder Than Bombs
  4. The Queen is Dead
  5. Staring at the Sea: The Singles

ASIN: B000002MZ4
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

  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. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
  10. Bigmouth Strikes Again
  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

Amazon.com essential recording

When you listen to this collection of nearly all the noteworthy singles by the Smiths, you might marvel over the fact that Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr collaborated and cowrite so many astonishing tunes only to break up a mere four years into their creative burst. The first half of Singles is a relentless parade of top-notch emotional Morrissey punches. Then just when you think you're going to catch your breath, "Bigmouth Strikes Again" breaks out and the poignancy and wit of that charming man really hits home. From the shimmering "Ask" to the dark crooner "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" to the closing hit "There is a Light That Never Goes Out," the collection leaves one feeling wistful, for these tracks will never be matched. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars This and "Louder Than Bombs" are all you need........2007-03-04

Unless you are one of the vanishing tribe of Smiths completists, the eponymous first album, this collection of singles, and "Louder Than Bombs" contains all that is listenable and enduring from this quartet. Many elevate Morrisey (vocals, lyrics) and Marr (ethereal guitar work), but the rhythm section of the Smiths is oft overlooked, with a bass (Andy Rourke, a friend of Marr's) and drum (Mike Joyce) that never overwhelm, nor embellish, but consistently round out and support strong lead vocals and guitars.

2 out of 5 stars Personally most the album is not good.......2006-11-03

my advice is to download the songs you like from i-tunes

5 out of 5 stars Fun With Singles.......2006-09-22

"Singles" was the first CD by the Smiths/Morrissey that I ever bought, and I enjoyed it from the very first listen. They're a British rock group, guitar fuelled with witty lyrics that can make you either laugh or cry, depending on how you're feeling. Unrequited love, unhappiness, unemployment, they cover all the low feelings, and with flair. There one of those groups that I can truly say helped me through some tough times. They had a few chart hits in Britain in the 1980s, but were more of an alternative band elsewhere. Their best known song is probably "How Soon is Now?" which some people might know as the theme song used in the TV series "Charmed" (it isn't the Smiths singing in that version though). I'm pretty sure I've heard "Bigmouth Strikes Again" on the radio too.

Here's a rundown of what songs on "Singles" are from which studio albums:

3 songs from "The Smiths" (1984)
2 songs from "Meat is Murder" (1985)
3 songs from "The Queen is Dead" (1986)
3 songs from "Strangeways Here We Come" (1987)

The other 7 songs on "Singles" weren't released on the proper studio releases, but you can find them on one of the Smiths semi-compilation CDs("Hatful of Hollow","Louder Than Bombs","The World Won't Listen").

It's all very good music, and I've given this disc many a listen, but for a newcomer to the Smiths, I suggest you get "The Very Best of" instead. You get 5 more tracks, and the whole thing is remastered and has a booklet with a little more info on the band. You could also get "Louder than Bombs", which is a great compilation in terms of music, even if it doesn't have all the best known Smiths songs. A good companion to this compilation would be one of the two Morrissey solo best of's, either "Suedehead" or "The Best of".

5 out of 5 stars An essential collection........2006-09-05

The Smiths were, and remain, an essential band of 1980's British music culture. The lyrical wizardry, anthemic and singular status of each song and very acute, microscopic examination of 80's British youth culture is captured to perfection in every song. Often maligned as morose, this is and was a gross misrepresentation of the bands ability and quodos.
The lyrics do, sometimes, have a maudlin angle but they are peppered also in an irony of a breath taking and side splitting quality, witness "Big Mouth strikes again" and the achingly funny "sweetness I was only joking when I said, I'd like to smash every tooth in your head", the Joan of Arc references which follow this line are absolutley priceless!
No other British band of the time captured the unique flavour and essence of the decade with such eloquence, particualry the experience of Northern, British 80's youth (The Band was born and raised in Manchester).
The disillusioned, rebellious nature of a youth culture, battered and beleagured by Thatcherism is not only captured but given an anthem, a robust canvas of explosive colours and a poetry of infinite appeal. Their appeal transcends to other youth cultures, historic and actual, who felt or feel they are marganilised and misrepresented by foolish politics, a big reason for their huge American following I feel. The Smiths still enjoy cult status today and it is little wonder when the songs are so infectiously powerful and our politicians are still as ruthlessly self serving. An essential collection and truly excellent stuff!!!
NB ** The album cover features the late British Actress Diana Dors (often referred to in the 1950's as the English Marilyn Monroe, she died of cancer in 1984 and had a troubled life).
The Smiths often used images of old/deceased British Celebrities on their singles and albums, focussing on those who had had troubled and tempestuous lives. It somehow manages to brand their intelligent and ironic ethos much more robustly on the memory!

5 out of 5 stars A Vital Collection From The 80's.......2006-08-31

I admit to hating, loathing, the Smiths for a long time. I can't really say why I disliked them so much but around the time of Strangeways I converted. Morrissey's lyrics and the band's overall melodic sound suddenly seemed perfect.

So I found myself going back and picking up the things I missed. Singles nicely puts it all in one place and should be in any serious 80's music collection.
Hatful of Hollow
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Catching Up With The Smiths
  • A landmark for eighties music
  • Because of Marr & Rourke, let Morissey get what he wants
  • How Ignorant Some of the New Listeners Are...
  • Comprehensive Early Smiths (Not just for the "limp-writsted")
 Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. The Smiths
  2. Meat Is Murder
  3. The Queen is Dead
  4. Strangeways, Here We Come
  5. Louder Than Bombs

ASIN: B000002MIF
Release Date: 1993-11-09

Tracks:

  1. William, It Was Really Nothing
  2. What Difference Does It Make?
  3. These Things Take Time
  4. This Charming Man
  5. How Soon Is Now?
  6. Handsome Devil
  7. Hand In Glove
  8. Still Ill
  9. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
  10. This Night Has Opened My Eyes
  11. You've Got Everything Now
  12. Accept Yourself
  13. Girl Afraid
  14. Back To The Old House
  15. Reel Around The Fountain
  16. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

Amazon.com

The Smiths tend to be thought of as a band one grows out of--music you listened to as a depressed adolescent and then abandoned when you overcame it all. Such a notion denies them their place in the rock pantheon, not only as an inspiration to countless indie-rock outfits but also as the band that challenged the received wisdom of rock & roll machismo. Fronted by the fey, sexually ambiguous Steven Patrick Morrissey, who married painfully honest lyrics--almost embarrassing in their self-effacement--with arch humor and a melancholic delivery, the British band was quite an anomaly to an America still emerging from the bloated-rock tyranny of the likes of Journey and REO Speedwagon. Hatful of Hollow, released as an import in 1984 and domestically in 1993, is a collection of singles, many recorded live for various radio shows. More-muscular versions of most of the tracks here can be found on the collection Louder Than Bombs, but Hatful has a vitality to it that the studio-bound, somewhat antiseptic Bombs lacks. Check out Johnny Marr's delicate acoustic guitar on the aching "Back to the Old House" or the band's looser workouts of such now-classics as "This Charming Man" and "Still Ill." Two songs not found on other albums make this a must for fans: "Handsome Devil" and "Accept Yourself," a bouncy, jangly number on which Morrissey croons convincingly, "Others conquered love, but I ran / I sat in my room and I drew up a plan." Perfect music for your awkward inner child. --Steve Landau

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Catching Up With The Smiths.......2007-04-05

Hatful of Hollow was a compilation thrown together shortly after The Smiths' self-titled debut in order to curb demand until the band could finish recording Meat Is Murder. "Accept Yourself" and "Handsome Devil" are the only tracks that don't appear on other Smiths albums, however it should be noted that they alone are well worth the price of this CD. Most of the songs are a little rough around the edges due to their live recordings, with the exception of "Back To The Old House". Musically, this version is better suited to Morrisey's sad lyrics (See Louder Than Bombs for the studio version), and it offers a rare glimpse of Marr's skills on the acoustic guitar. While Hatful is a nice collection of some of the band's best music, I prefer the more polished versions available elsewhere.

5 out of 5 stars A landmark for eighties music.......2005-12-07

Much of what the Smiths represent has already been addressed in these reviews, so I will share only a few other things in addition to personal recollections of the band.

The Smiths were all too brief a force in music, but what they lacked in time, they made up for in fecundous output. Few groups recorded as much or as brilliantly as the Smiths did in their four year tenure as kings of british pop. Musically, no one even came close to the sheer beauty of what Johnny Marr created. Any guitarist worth his salt will admit as much, but music was only half of the equation. Morrissey was, like Robert Smith and Ian McCullough, a wordsmith of the highest order, creating rarely seen literary parallels between himself and the writers he so often championed.

As for the man's sexuallity.... well, for all of the press it has received over the years, it was simply irrelevant to his craft, and he only underscored that notion by remaining aloof and deliberately ambiguous on the subject. For those who actually remember the Smiths while they were together, Morrissey was a declared celibate throughout his partnership with Marr, Joyce and Rourke, having given himself over to his art to such a degree that, when Johnny split, the man was literally bedridden.

The Smiths. Where would I have been without them? Some like to talk of this group as depressing, but they got me through some very bad times indeed. Rarely had I heard anyone speak so honestly of his feelings and those lyrics often reminded me that I was not the only one out there suffering. As unbelieveable as it may sound, this band actually saved my life, and it's hard to speak objectively of such an influence.

In short, they were magic. Anyone who has been truly desperate and heard the hope and optimism in 'please, please, please...' will understand what I mean.

5 out of 5 stars Because of Marr & Rourke, let Morissey get what he wants.......2005-10-09

What difference does it make? Without Johnny Marr, a lot. One can argue the same for bassist Andy Rourke. The rhythm section so very tight, singer, Morissey's usual self-involved insipidness becomes confessional, frustrated and inspired. You might think he's revealing the secrets of the universe through a rock, post-wave lense. He's no more convincing than when he sings "I crack the whip and you skip", against a menacing Marr guitar line. Or try the layered guitar tremolo lead to this declaration, "I am the son and the heir, of nothing in particular". Hell, even in context, lines like, "there's more to life than books, but not much more," seems like aphorisms. In the end the music's so good you end up rooting for Morissey. Please let him get what he wants. Ok, but I hope you thanked Mr. Marr and Mr. Rourke.

5 out of 5 stars How Ignorant Some of the New Listeners Are..........2005-10-06

It's obvious that people who will say The Smiths as a band for gay people just goes to show how ignorant these new emo kids are to yesterday's music.These emo kids were prolly in their primary school when The Smiths came out of the British scene in the 80s. I should know because I was in High School back in the 80s when The Smiths first hit the NME charts with their first album. I'm a straight guy, along with five of my buddies who are into The Smiths long before these EMO kids learned to pop a CD in a sound system. Anyways...I just get a bit upset when people begin judging a band simply because the singer represented a specific community. Hey I like This Charming Man because it does have some of the best lyrics. This Night Has Opened My Eyes is another.

This is a good album. It's probably the best album they ever made. They have a Peel Session version of "Still Ill", has an interesting harmonica intro. Other songs are "How Soon is Now" and "Girl Afraid." This is an album that you should definitely buy if you want to listen The Smith's best years. Take note of Johnny Marr's guitar-playing here and Rourke's bass playing. Fantastic. Spend your money on this. By the way, I still have my vinyl version of this album. Mint condition. To new listeners who are just discovering the music of MY generation, get this album. You will cherish it.

5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Early Smiths (Not just for the "limp-writsted").......2005-08-12

You can't go wrong with this album if you love the Smiths, it has tracks you can't find anywhere else and is a good introduction to the band's early period.

Message to "Shotgun Method": If you actually think that the primary fan base for the Smiths and Morrissey are "limp-wristed emo kids (your tasteless homo-baiting is telling)," you truly are uninformed. In reality, Morrissey has a shockingly huge number of straight male fans. And females, like me, while we're at it. Not to mention his extreme popularity with Latinos. Make these comments to some of his rough-looking, intimidating fans (there is one in particular at the end of the "Who Put the M in Manchester" DVD) at your own peril. I guess you thought that it was a sure bet to make the "all Morrissey/Smiths fans are gay" statement, but, no. Incidentially, Michael Stipe is a huge Morrissey fan. And Robert Smith (who I also love) is famously jealous.

New listeners--don't listen to people who say the Smiths are "gay!" If you aren't moved by Morrissey's unmatched vocal delivery, I don't want to know you.
The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Music, Bad Collection(s).
  • Half a collection.
  • smiths rule!
  • This review is aimed toward...
  • very flawed collection, try "Singles"
 The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 2
  2. The Best of Morrissey
  3. The Very Best of the Smiths
  4. The Cure - Greatest Hits
  5. Singles

ASIN: B000002MFS
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

  1. This Charming Man
  2. William, It Was Really Nothing
  3. What Difference Does It Make?
  4. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
  5. Girlfriend In A Coma
  6. Half A Person
  7. Rubber Ring (edited)
  8. How Soon Is Now?
  9. Hand In Glove
  10. Shoplifters of the World Unite
  11. Sheila Take A Bow
  12. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
  13. Panic
  14. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

Amazon.com

Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor

Album Description

UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Music, Bad Collection(s)........2005-12-20

I gave this five stars completely based on the music within it, not the actual product itself. I adore The Smiths, so obviously I love these songs, but like many people have pointed out, this is a very weak collection. I took it upon myself to construct an actual Smiths "Best of" collection, because none of the ones actually released are satisfactory in my opinion. The "Singles" collection was okay, but there are more classic Smiths songs that weren't necessarily singles. The "Very Best Of Collection" was an import, and although was kinda more thorough than any other Smiths collection still left out songs and had sloppy song sequencing. And the two part "Best of Vol. 1 And 2" collection is basically a joke if you ask me (Sloppy song sequencing, Obvious exclusions, And many songs that shouldn't be on there.) The split two part collection feels very distant and random. If anything, it should have been released as a double album instead of two seperate albums, because neither of them seem very relevant to eachother, and not even just because of the uneven/flawed tracklists. It just doesn't work.

A definative Smiths collection would look like this:

[Disc 1]
01. This Charming Man
02. Panic
03. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
04. How Soon Is Now?
05. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
06. Hand In Glove
07. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
08. Ask
09. Shelia Take A Bow
10. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
11. William, It Was Really Nothing
12. Cemetry Gates
13. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
14. Asleep
15. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

[Disc 2]
01. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
02. I Know It's Over
03. Still Ill
04. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
05. Bigmouth Strikes Again
06. Nowhere Fast
07. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
08. Girlfriend In A Coma
09. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
10. What Difference Does It Make?
11. Rusholme Ruffians
12. The Queen Is Dead
13. Shakespeare's Sister
14. Rubber Ring
15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

4 out of 5 stars Half a collection........2005-11-29

The Smiths are an amazing band, these are incredible songs, and this is a decent collection. I had this once, and always felt like I was missing something, and that was "Volume 2". These 14 songs are wonderful again, but if you don't get "Volume 2" with it, skip it. For one-stop shopping, I might suggest "Singles", which is 18 tracks on one disc, and more bang for your buck. If money is no factor, get the remastered import "Very Best Of", which is 23 tracks. I'd even recommend the 24 track "Louder Than Bombs" disc, though that's short a few essential songs. Obviously you have many choices, but only 14 Smiths songs isn't a good one.

5 out of 5 stars smiths rule!.......2005-10-22

My personal favorite album of theirs. Half a person is my fav on the album. My other song I love is girlfriend in a coma. Morrissey's lyrics are funny I love this album.

5 out of 5 stars This review is aimed toward..........2003-12-31

...those who don't normally like 80s music. I fall into this category, even though I grew up in that soulless, vapid decade. I harbor none of the nostalgia that many of my peers seem to revel in... for me, most of the classic music was produced before I was toddling around in short britches, and the advent of music videos marked the decline of honest, gritty tunes that stimulated both heart and mind. It all nose-dived into flat, echoey drumming, bad synths, worse haircuts, and a glossy sheen which sucked the very lifeblood out of everything. That's what kept me from exploring the Smiths for so long. Even though recent artists I've admired have name-checked them, (e.g. Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams,) I just couldn't get past my anti-80s stance, and a cursory listen to the Amazon clips only confirmed my doubts. Morrisey had that mopey, monotonous sound, indistinguishable from most British vocalists of that time. The production was shimmery and too "perfect." I passed, but a nagging feeling persisted-- maybe this band had something special that I was missing. So, after the purchase of "Best Of's I & II" and frequent listening, I became a Smiths convert. What set them apart for me was the strength of songwriting and Johnny Marr's unique guitar style. Yes, certain hallmarks of the 80s sound still grate, but if you can affix new ears and delve deeper, you'll discover a brilliant band which carved out a niche for itself on the shoulders of giants... no mean feat. The Smiths require multiple listens to truly appreciate... their charms dig beneath you skin insidiously. Now they can fit neatly in my CD collection between the Rolling Stones and Television and not seem out of place. This is the real deal-- spend some time with the lads, you won't be disappointed.

2 out of 5 stars very flawed collection, try "Singles".......2003-06-18

The "Best Of The Smiths" volumes 1 & 2 are disappointing and should not be bought. They are not a good introduction to the music of the Smiths or a good overview of their career; the 'Best Of' albums leave out many of their seminal songs and contain bizarre choices. The CD entitled "Singles", which simply has all 18 of the Smiths' singles, is far better than the 'Best Of' CDs as far as showing what the Smiths were all about, or giving you much of their best material in one source. "Singles" works very well as an album- it doesn't have the disjointed feel of many "greatest hits" collections, probably because the Smiths released all of their material in a period of only a couple years. That "Singles" is superior to "Best Of The Smiths" is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of Smiths fans.
The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Half a collection.
  • Forget what some Smiths fans might tell you...
  • Awesome!!!
  • How could you go wrong? It's The Smiths
  • The Best, Volume 2 doesn't disappoint.
 The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 2
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
  2. The Best of Morrissey
  3. The Very Best of the Smiths
  4. The Cure - Greatest Hits
  5. Louder Than Bombs

ASIN: B000002MH0
Release Date: 1992-12-08

Tracks:

  1. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
  2. The Headmaster Ritual
  3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
  4. Ask
  5. Oscillate Wildly
  6. Nowhere Fast
  7. Still Ill
  8. Bigmouth Strikes Again
  9. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
  10. Shakespeare's Sister
  11. Girl Afraid
  12. Reel Around The Fountain
  13. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
  14. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Amazon.com

Sequels to best-of collections tend to be a bit suspect, unless, of course, the band in question had an exceptionally long run that was prematurely anthologized midway through. In the case of this posthumous souvenir of the Smiths' four-year career, casual fans may be disappointed to find that you can't sulk to "Girlfriend in a Coma" (like most of their hits, it's on volume one) or even moo along to "Meat Is Murder" (saved for a projected volume three?). Then again, Morrissey and Johnny Marr were anything but one-hit wonders, and tracks such as "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "Bigmouth Strikes Again" make it clear the band could turn out high-quality, hummable odes to melancholia until the cows come home, which, by the time of this 1992 anthology, they already had. --Bill Forman

Album Description

UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Half a collection........2005-11-29

The Smiths are an amazing band, these are incredible songs, and this is a decent collection. I had this disc once and always felt I was missing something, and that was "Volume 1". These 14 songs are wonderful again, but if you don't get this with "Volume 1", skip it. For one-stop shopping, I might suggest "Singles", which is 18 tracks on one disc, and more bang for your buck. If price is no factor, go for the remastered import "Very Best Of" which is 23 tracks long. I'd even recommend the 24 track "Louder Than Bombs", though that's missing a few essential songs. Obviously you have many choices, but only 14 Smiths songs is not a good one.

5 out of 5 stars Forget what some Smiths fans might tell you..........2004-01-10

... this Best of, along with Vol. I, represent the greatest of what the band has to offer. I own all of the original albums, yet keep coming back to the Best Of's. This is a great place to begin, then if you just gotta have more, delve into the back catalogue... there are a few more gems not represented in this collection. But hey, it's the Smiths... almost everything they released was fabulous. This set is pure gold, opening with my favorite Smiths single, "Boy With the Thorn in His Side." It combines all the elements that made the group special... Marr's spot-on rhythmic strumming, tasteful string swells, a gorgeous and yearning vocal turn from Morrisey, and melody that instantly hooks you. And look... my 2nd favorite Smiths single is also here... "Bigmouth Strikes Again!" The drumming and guitar work will take your breath away. This is a band working with tremendous drive and sense of purpose. My favorite non-single LP track is "Reel Around the Fountain," and its joys may be a little harder to define, but every time I hear it, I sink into a trance and hang onto every note. The key is somewhere in Morrisey's voice... he sounds frozen by emotion, overwhelmed and utterly sincere. Then a totally different vocal approach on "Headmaster's Ritual"... the way he spits out the words, "spineless swine, cemented minds" is classic. "Ask" is another wonderful single... a departure for the band and not one of Marr's favorites, but touched by magic. "Last Night I Dreamt" is the Smiths at their most over-the-top dramatic, but the grandeur of the track makes it work, as if Cecile B. DeMille were cutting a pop record! I won't analyze the rest, but only in interest of space and time... buy this album now!

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!.......2002-06-13

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys listening to The Smiths. Even if you're not a hard-core fan, the songs on this CD will bring back some awesome memories of days gone by when 'must see TV' meant watching MTV's 120 minutes to see the videos that went along with these songs. You can't go wrong with this CD!!!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars How could you go wrong? It's The Smiths.......2001-08-06

This band put out so many great songs that one is hard pressed to pinpoint their best album. Purists will scorn that I picked this one, and instead refer to the individual albums this collection came from. I have all the individual albums, but I especially like this one. You get The Headmaster's Ritual, Big Mouth Strikes Again, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, and the dramatic "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me," (I have a taste for Drama)and many other greats all on one disc. Another winning CD is "Louder Than Bombs."

In a decade known for big hair and cheesy corporate rock, the chemistry of Morrissey's witty lyrics paired w/Johnny Marr's great guitar, created a magical combination. They were great in the same way that the Beatles were great. I have often felt pity for any kid coming of age in the Reagan-Bush era, and I have looked on such kids as culturally deprived waifs. Thankfully, there were some true greats and even geniuses who emerged in the 80's. It proves that in the murky grays or even complete darkness, there will always be some bright lights somewhere if you look for them.

5 out of 5 stars The Best, Volume 2 doesn't disappoint........2001-03-27

I have owned this album for about five years and this is one that I can always return to and enjoy again and again. Their style is very unique to the time. Their guitar licks, that are reminiscent of the Stray Cats and Morrissey's unusual voice, make this the best album anyone can have in their collection. They were truly ahead of their time.

Music:

  1. The Unforgettable Fire
  2. The Working Dead [Explicit Lyrics]
  3. To Bring You My Love
  4. To the Faithful Departed
  5. True Frontiers
  6. Ultimate Collection [Import]
  7. Ultra Selection [Import]
  8. Under a Blood Red Sky [Live]
  9. Under The Bushes Under The Stars
  10. Unforgettable Fire

Music

music

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Fault Lines

Mozart: Sonatas for violin No17; Schubert: Sonatina in Gm D408, Op137/3

Mozart: Symphonies No. 29, No. 31 & No. 34

New Country, Vol. 7 [Import]

Citizen Bird

Metal Rhythm

Out Of The Blue

MILHAUD : Symphonie No. 3 - Concertos 2CD

Not for All the Love in the World [CD-single] [Import]

Mozart: The Ten Celebrated String Quartets [Box set]

Jungle Fantastique

Merry Christmas from Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Orchestra

Latin Music: 14 Canonazos Bailables, Vol. 33

Witness

Very Best Of Broadway Musicals