im curious to see what everyone thinks about this.

also i don't know if alt was the right forum for this. only reason i put it under this thread was that they are a big influence on alot of the alt/indie bands now.

I have always loved the Smiths, so I'm probably the wrong one to ask. I have All their singles and albums on vinyl. I don't have a damn thing on CD. I'd probabaly give their proper albums something like:

The Smiths, Meat is Murder, The Queen is Dead: 9
Strangeways, Here We Come: 8

Yeah, I'm a fanboy. I have their collections on vinyl too, but I probably wouldn't give the two biggies more than a 9, but one GOOD thing you say about them, is that they made multiple versions of their best songs and they released ALL OF 'EM!

According to the "canon," The Queen Is Dead is their greatest masterpiece.

There are songs of theirs I absolutely love ("There Is A Light," "The Boy With A Thorn In His Side") but I've never really gotten into them on an album basis..

Here we go...

I know it's often regarded by Smithsians as the ugly duckling but Meat is Murder is my fave by a long long shot - love the messy psychedelic funky rockabilly thang and the great lyrics.

While I don't like things too tidy, Strangeways comes second - it'd be a close second if it wasn't for the cod reggae stylings of the opening track - the rest is fantastic though despite the slicker production.

But then, [ducks], I have always found Hatful of Hollow borderline dull and Queen is Dead highly overrated (except the magnificent title track and 3 other classics - bigmouth, boy with thorn, light never goes out).

definitely The Queen is Dead

I've also never gotten into them on an album basis- buy the album, rip off a couple of tracks onto the computer or mix CD, sell it at a used record store. Some of my favourites are 'Panic' and 'How Soon Is Now'.
Slightly off-topic but what do you all think about Morrissey after The Smiths?

As a Smiths fan since they began making records, I always go back to 'Hatfull of Hollow' an early collection of radio sessions that expands and improves on the flawed first album. You will also find the best version of "How soon is now" on this - almost perfect - disc.

Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em.

An extraordinary and unique outfit, all of their 4 studio albums and both of the "strays" collections; Hatful of Hollow & The World won't Listen are worth owning and playing on a regular basis.

It beggars belief that anyone would just burn a coupla tracks...oh well....
Very difficult to pick a favourite, but I would suggest buying Strangeways last, as it is to me a little lacking in spark.
However I'm sure I read somewhere that Johnny Marr considers it their best....

Wow! This is a tough one. I have to say that The Queen is Dead is their best album. Every song on that, with the exception of "Vicar in a Tutu", is tip top. The title track is out of control, I never knew the Smiths could do THAT on record.

However, don't overlook Meat is Murder. If not for the last two tracks on that, it could give The Queen is Dead a run for its money. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is probably my favorite Smiths song ever. You can't go wrong with the Smiths.

quote:

Originally posted by fretless:
As a Smiths fan since they began making records, I always go back to 'Hatfull of Hollow' an early collection of radio sessions that expands and improves on the flawed first album. You will also find the best version of "How soon is now" on this - almost perfect - disc.

Nice first post fretless, and I must agree. I remember borrowing the vinyl from a girl I had a crush on in high school. I was trying to show her how cool I was, but at the time I did not like the Smiths at all. It took awhile to sink in, but that album converted me.

As for the proper albums, I'd go with The Queen is Dead just slightly over The Smiths. As for MiM, the title track ruins that album for me, I don't think I've made it all the way through that song more than a handful of times-- and I went through about a three year period where I considered the Smiths the greatest band on the planet. Sad too, because that album could have been perfect. I mean we're talking about a band whose b-sides were better than most of their peers' singles.

I just found out that this band wasn't a bunch of mopey whiners.

Queen is Dead is my current favorite (surprise surprise) but Strangeways Here We Come is a very, very close second. Louder than Bombs is kind of hit and miss, and I find the s/t album kind of slow (with the exception of "This Charming Man")

Gosh, I have a new band that I love.

Their self-titled is my favourite. I love, love, love that album. Strangeways Here We Come is up there too. And Meat is Murder. And The Queen Is Dead. Hell, I can't choose. I love almost every song they put out.

quote:

Originally posted by TigerG:
While I don't like things too tidy, Strangeways comes second - it'd be a close second if it wasn't for the cod reggae stylings of the opening track - the rest is fantastic though despite the slicker production.

I actually love the first track. For me personally, it sounds more like a twisted carnival scene than reggae. Not that I don't like me some reggae every now and then.

I would def say that 'Strangeways..' is my favourite. The first seven songs are just perfect, the production seems up a notch from '..queen..' and 'meat..', and the lyrics are definitely a departure from the previous albums

Nice username, (NB)F. That's one of my favorite Talking Heads songs, and what's more Marr did some guitar work for it.