Reviews (page 7 of 13)
I started it 3 times but it just didn’t grab me. My 18 year old self listened to this non-stop so I’m surprised it doesn’t resonate more
As the Smiths' breakthrough album in the US, this title has historical significance. It is not, however, an especially good album. For me, there are two standout tracks -- That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Nowhere Fast (a good example of how very memorable songs by the Smiths can be hard to remember by name, owing to their idiosyncratic titling habits). There are a lot of songs that are perfectly functional Smiths songs, but were destined by nature to complete albums, not anchor them. Lots of these are overlong -- I never really focused before on how Joke Isn't Funny goes on and on for a long time, fades out, then comes back (!) for a little bonus.-- move on, chaps! -- and in the past, I have found theis album's tendency to drag compounded by the poor sound quality. That seems to have been fixed, because it sounded good -- clear,clean, dynamic -- when I listened to it this time. One of its signature features -- that it includes their best song, How Soon Is Now -- is yet another of those "US vs UK version of the album" things. In the US, they added non-album single How Soon. If we exclude that song from consideration, we are left with two excellent songs and a lot of ok ones. Listening to this album from start to finish is not the best way to experience the Smiths.
Good but not my favorite of theirs. And, of course, another artist with a seriously problematic personality. I was very into them in HS. Maybe they are why I became a vegetarian at 15 for 15 years. I had a great time at their show at Great Woods in Mansfield...still remember what I wore....but their music feels tainted by Morrissey's personal stance on other humans.
mid 3.5
First off, meat is not murder. Unless we're talking human meat. Silly hippies. I feel like this guy's voice should annoy me more than it does. And the music should annoy me, but doesn't really. That's kinda weird. But I guess this album was fine? It actually feels like Tears for Fears, but manages to not suck at it.
I like the group but hadn't heard this album in it's entirety. It was good. If this WAS my first album of theirs I likely would have moved on. The recording kind of sucked.
Groovy, unique sound. I can see why they're sort of iconic. 'Meh' for me.
Just fine.
I like the Smiths but in small doses. This was too much. TOP songs: The Headmaster Ritual, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
I good album. The Smiths are always good if you're feeling kinda moody. The Queen is Dead is still their best album IMO, but I enjoyed this one and it gave me the motivation to go explore more of their discography.
Not best songs but, best album. She’d sit and prophesies n all that.
I've managed to go decades without knowingly being exposed to Morrissey, so I can't comment on how big an asshole he is, but it's evidently massive. There are good and bad parts to this album. The music is pretty good, I'd call it above average 80s indie pop/rock. The lyrics at ok, I guess. Nothing that catches my attention. The vocals, though. Morrissey sounds like he's singing in an echo chamber. And the wailing gets old fast. Still, the music puts this slightly above average. 3.5. P.S. - Meat Is Murder (the track) is terrible.
Another good album! In my opinion, this is the weakest Smiths project I’ve heard though. If you haven’t heard their compilation albums or The Queen is Dead - listen to those instead :)
Huh two Smiths albums in a row! I could figure out the probability of this but I'm too lazy. This one is interesting given that I didn't really listen to it as a kid, given that all these songs are new to my ears. It's certainly their first album, and it's certainly from 1985. Not nearly as good as Hatful of Hollow, but I do usually give some grace to the first album a band puts out. Most interesting track was What She Said, of only for the fact that Marr was thiiiiiiis close to nailing Shield's sound on Isn't Anything, but three years before the MBV album. Pretty cool.
Ihan ok. Ei säväytä kuitenkaan. 2,75/5.
wouldve been a 2 if not for well i wonder
I love The Smiths, but this album isn't my favourite of theirs. Favourite song off this album: Barbarism Begins at Home.
Not the best Smiths album I've listened to but still good
"The Headmaster Ritual" had guitars (Marr) and bass (Rourke) that blended together in a way that immediately tickled my ears. Even Morrisey's voice and lyrics couldn't bring down the high it initially created; this one is up there with the best of The Smiths with "How Soon is Now?" and "Charming Man" (neither songs on this album, though) Despite it's solid bassline, "Rusholme Ruffians" felt like a dip in quality compared to the song before, the guitar wasn't as interesting and already, 2 tracks in, I am tiring of Morrisey's voice; that whining off-key break around the 1:40 mark (and in other places) just made me shudder in the worst way. "I Want the One I Can't Have" had better guitar sections, even some enjoyable lyrics... it's just *him*; more specifically, it's another instance where he pushes his voice to break. It just sounds so jarring. "What She Said" was much better, his voice improved with the reverb/delay to fit more in line with the instruments. This one was actually quite enjoyable. For the same reasons, I also quite enjoyed "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". "Nowhere Fast" was largely forgettable for me, as was "Well I Wonder", making them bleed each other. "Barbarism Begins at Home", though, for it's extra twangy bassline and Morrisey's chants of 'A Crack on the Head, is just what You get' was enjoyable again. For reasons I cannot constructively describe, I did not enjoy "Meat is Murder" as the closing track; a poor way to end the album. **************************************************************** As a side note, this album made me realise that, Because of this journey in particular, "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds" is starting to feel like shorthand for 'Wonderful music, slaughtered by an awful lead singer'; I find that it's this that irks me the most in music, as something that feels so near to being enjoyable for me, yet so far away. I enjoyed more of 'Meat is Murder' than I care to admit, though my enjoyment is curbed by my perceptions (by the way they are delivered) of the lead singer's dogmatic belief that their lyrics are artistically profound.
Good stuff but does not stand out from the rest of their discography, other records would be my go to over this. Ill listen to the songs when they come on in my playlist but Im not looking any of them up to play.
Britpop in optima forma
Generally pretty good, but doesn't have much in the way of standout tracks like some of their other albums. Their debut deserves to be on this list far more than this does Fav track: Barbarism Begins at Home
This didn't really captivate me much. I find the Smiths just a bit too dreary. Fave Tracks: Barbarism Begins at Home 3.2/5
Classic Smith's sound
Not my favorite Smiths album but still decent.
podem me xingar, me chamar de corno, de bobão. Mas depois de 20 min com a voz do morrisey não dá mais
Close to a 4, but nothing majorly stands out. Also, frickin Morrissey
This is good, I found it hard to focus during my listen though.
S’okay.
Ach, diese Stimme ist von the Smiths! 3,3
Liker soundet til The Smiths
The eighth and final record featuring Morrissey on this list, and probably one of the best but glad there aren’t any more.
Got to respect it…. Not my go to record though
6.5/10 Will I add this album to my library? no
My least favorite Smiths album. Undermined by Morrissey’s recent behavior like everything else they did.
6/10 No me acuerdo que puse, pero estaba bueno, nada que resalte pero cumplidor
Music is great, lyrics so whiny ... what do I do with this?
Album mid degli smiths, ci sono altri che preferisco
Inte lika bra som deras andra grejer, men helt okej!
Bra, men fastnade mer för deras tidigare alster på listan.
Man would this not be a great band if it wasn’t for the fact that Morrissey is singing it all.
This album would be so much better if it weren't for Morrissey's singing. He turns an interesting new-wave post-punk sound into a moody slurry sound. Props to the rest of the musicians in the band, and that's why it gets a half-decent score.
6/10… madchester / new wave / *1985
An overall solid album. Johnny Marr's guitar work is exemplary and Morrissey's vocals carry that certain quality of someone who is trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
Worst smiths album imo
Taking a long time to appreciate
Were the Smiths better as a singles band? This album, much as I tried, didn't really grab my attention as much as their hits do, and there aren't a lot of them here. Having said that, the musicianship is right up my alley, Johnny Marr is always great to listen to as a guitarist and there are massive Andy Rourke bass moments throughout too. And Morrissey always makes me laugh. It just doesn't coalesce into anything that i could describe as a "classic album" though. 3 stars for the aforementioned Marr/Rourke powerhouse, the big ending to "What She Said", and the audacity of the "Meat is Murder" intro to take Morrissey's already insufferable tendencies and ensure that if you don't like him, you REALLY don't like him.
A bit samey. I like the Smiths even though Morrissey is a major disappointment. This one just doesn’t really shine.
Musically, I like most of these tracks quite a bit. Andy Rourke’s bass line stands out throughout the album, and will probably be what brings me back for future listens. The vocals are pretty iconic, but the lyrics are mediocre at best, and often downright cringy. I like their album The Queen is Dead more, which has marginally better lyrics and is quite interesting musically. (Again… Rourke. So good.)
Meat is Murder is the second studio album from the Smiths, a British alt pop band. The defining element of the Smiths' sound is lead singer Morissey's baritone voice, and his melodramatic lyrics. Unlike almost all of the pop of the era, the Smiths avoided synth pop, orchestrating their songs as a traditional rock band: with guitars, basses, and drums. The Smith made an interesting version of 80s pop during their short, prolific career. Of the tracks on the album, only "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," was released as a single. It is arguably the Smiths at their best: a rich arrangement and Morissey's melodrama is at a tolerable level.
Freitag 08.05.2026 Im Studicafé "Seitensprung" der FU, im Aufenthaltsraum der Campusbib
80s synth indie. Pretty mid, I like the guitar and instrumentals, but the singer is…special.
Meat Is Delicious...
its giving rebellious nature/hippie...
See Closer by Joy Division
It was ok
Plaintive
I mean it was okay but i kind of blurred for me in the middle and blended with my background
1) The Headmaster Ritual - immediately the singers voice (Morrissey?) stands out to me, and he makes wonderful use of it throughout the song. and the guitar provides just a really strong and stable backing. 2) Rusholme Ruffians - there's a good energy behind this song. i like how it moves. 3) I Want What I Can't Have - how it is. i take a long drag of my cigarette. 4) What She Said - has a good kick to it! 5) That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - a good acoustic guitar and good high notes from a man is almost enough to make me black out. 6) Nowhere Fast - There's a particular sound I really enjoy that's present here. I only wish I knew the word for it so I could seek it out deliberately. 7-9) not much to say except it sounds good. The Smiths have a kind of way of making me feel a bit like I'm laying under a wet blanket on a sunny day. I should feel better, but I don't. Good album, but nothing I'd really call home about, you know?
I enjoyed this just fine. Not an all time favorite though.
The group wasn't as well known as the Beatles, but they were known in the US. The album was fine.
I LOVE the smiths. Fav song is ‘I Want the One I Can’t Have’.
An album with a message and some charm
Favorite Track: Barbarism Begins at Home
Not the right mood for this one, but I'll try again someday
-not my favourite smiths album, still good :-) -some favourites are "the headmaster ritual", "i want the one i can't have", "what she said", "that joke isn't funny anymore", and "barbarism begins at home". -"well i wonder" is a smiths song i don't put on very often but my god is it good. ending with the rain coming in is so beautiful i felt like crying. i'm very taken with how many songs morrissey has written that are versions of "please don't forget me" :(
Best Song: Barbarianism Begins at Home I had been told by several folks that I would enjoy The Smiths. I didn't really. I am not a Morrissey fan so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising. 3/5.
I don't think I'm ever going to be a fan of The Smiths, particularly because I struggle with the vocals But the music is pretty good, and the bass is excellent
Only casually know The Smiths. Never fully explored them much. This is pretty good. It has that Smiths overly British sound. I think it’s Morissey’s voice that just sounds very English to me. I guess this is pretty solid post punk. Nothing blowing me away, but it’s fun. I enjoyed What She Said probably the most of the first half songs. Morissey’s voice is the weakest part of the album probably. It’s just not my favorite. But sometimes it works really well with the sound. Overall, I’m never going to have the reaction of “wow The Smiths what a band” but on a deeper listen, I hear a lot of their influence on later indie/alt rock and appreciate a lot of this sound. It’s definitely better than what I thought it would be. Don’t particularly care for the closing track, the title track. This feels like a solid 3 album. I want to experience more of The Smiths, but I’m not in a rush to do so.
Why did you country my britrock
This album was pretty boring. Far from the best of the Smiths. All the songs feel the same with solid instrumentation and then rambling "singing." Still, not bad really, just not very memorable. I wouldn't come back to the album, but I like the Smiths later work, so I probably will listen to the songs on this album more. I want a steak now.
I generally like The Smiths’ sound and this was not an exception but this wasn’t anything special.
Not really a big Smiths fan so what do I know. I’m assuming this is one of their best efforts. It wasn’t my thing.
Last song almost made me quit eating meat and then I had a burger after. Not sure why Morrissey is getting the hate he's getting on this album, I found it very fitting to the basslines and guitars. He does sound sad and hungry though.
Not a massive Smith fan, and definitely not my favourite Smiths album, but it is still very solid with a few notable songs. That Joke isn't Funny anymore is the standout song. When I listened to this originally I said that it just scraped a 4, but on a second listen I would say 3.5 stars
This was not as bad as I was afraid it would be.
3/5 “AS A VEGAN” this album almost makes up for Morrisey. It somewhat washed over me but had an agreeable time. I struggle with how thin some production is pre 1990s at the moment - not something I had when discovering music when I was younger. Hoping I get more used to that as I get through this!
The start I love, and it is kinda cool. I fear a 3 is harsh, but the end drags quite a bit. The lyricism takes a turn, and a more absurd one that I don't find very intersting.
album tranquilon, medio de miércoles bajón. me gustó igual siento que tiene canciones lindas pero no se si es algo que escucharé recurrentemente
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
I liked this well enough but I haven't revisited it since.
Good album. Not my cup of tea.
No fue mi preferido
Great instrumentals paired with abysmal singing. I wish I could actually understand what Morrissey is saying without reading the lyrics because he has interesting things to say. The funk groove in Barbarism Begins at Home was the highlight of this album.
estuvo bien, no me encantó 3,5 estrellas
Vivan los smiths
Cool.
Johnny Marr and the band kill it, the guitar, bass lines and drums are really good throughout. Morrisey gets a bit grating after a while, there are a few songs here that are great but too many that I just didn't care for to make the whole thing exciting all the way through. It's just kind of depressing to me which brings down the score slightly
Quite an edgy album. Some of the songs gave me arctic monkeys vibes. Another neither love nor hate album for me. In between a 6 and 7/10 for me but will lean towards a 7 as I preferred it to a few of the others that I gave a 6. 7/10
A few standout tracks (especially funky Barbarism), but overall not my favourite collection of Smiths songs - and it truly does feel like just a collection of songs. Faves: The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins At Home, Meat is Murder
Variety: 3 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 3 = 3.4 rounded down to a 3 "Take me out tonight/ Where there's music and there's people/ And they're young and alive" I'm cheating on this one and including "How Soon is Now" as per the old American release. I generally like The Smiths, but after hitting a truly awful Morrisey album so early on, I feel they might need a leg up. It's been some time since I listened to this, but I remember it being pretty solid, though not my favorite by the band. I think generally we're in safe waters with any of their releases that might pop up. They're in that group along with The Police and U2 I'd label as a safe bet, meaning I'd given anything they recorded a chance. THE TRACKS "The Headmaster Ritual" - Easy to see how The Smiths could have bee lumped in ( at least over here) with the Paisely Underground scene bands with the jangly guitars but the vocals I can't imagine sounded much like anything else. I imagine they must have had some similar inspirations. Solid melodic stuff here "Rusholme Ruffians" - Bit of a rockabilly beat here does a lot to add some flavor, and while I admit the contrast with the vocals is interesting, I might rather here a more traditional singer take on the same material. "I Want the One I Can't Have" - The jangle continues, but Morrisey seems to own the , uh... melody such as it is. Not terrible by any means, but feels like they are rushing through this to get whatever's next. The dreamy twang that comes in every now and then is great - why not build the song around that? Chris Isaak was doing rockabilly influenced stuff around same time ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxaEENRxUvw), and I think is much more successful. Start Cats even earlier I think? "What She Said" - Much more raw and successful take on the rockabilly influences. Getting notes of The Damned on this one musically. Morrissey doesn't have much vocally to compare to though, and here the contrast is dynamic and cohesive. Some of there stuff feels more like him laying down the vocal track well after and with a different energy, but maybe the echo they throw on there helps integrate it more. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" - We continue with the influence, but the band is bending that galloping beat towards their own purposes here. This leans way into the feel I remember from the later stuff, and feels much more crafted, with the vocals complementing the music instead of being at odds. Have not mentioned him by name yet, but by all accounts Marr was just as if not more so the creative driver behind the scenes and he owns this one. Side two "How Soon is Now" - Saved this one for last as a sort of compromise on taking the original release at face value. There's not too much to say about this one ( though watch me try) other than it will likely forever remain the shiniest gem in their crown. The swirling guitars, the precisely timed to perfection tremelo effects, the beautifully ambiguous lyrics, and teh best of Morrisey's vocal affects taking stage. Another S-tier classic. Is there something above S-tier? I might even put it there. This one will never get old and will be played on the radio for however long humans have such a thing. Belongs up there in the rock n' roll firmament with "JOhnny B. Goode", "Hey Jude", "Bohemian Raphsody", "Stairway to Heaven", etc... "Nowhere Fast" - 0-60 in a second flat. Driving forward with boundless energy. I don't think the rhythm section gets enough credit due to being outshined by Marr and Morrissey, but Andy Rourke on bass, and especially Mike Joyce on drums are doing a lot of heavy lifting on the more energetic tracks especially. Good stuff. "Well I Wonder" - We slow things way down here for a nice bit of variation. Morrissey doesn't really have a happy mode, I think teh brightest he gets is when he's being sarcastic, but the music effectively gives the illusion that he has, in fact, take things down to a more miserable level, and so it somehow comes together. "Barbarism Begins at Home" - We start with a bit of a different, maybe more traditionally mid-80s guitar sound, and an almost slow motion disco beat. Morrisey even toes down his Morrisey-isms so much so that if I heard this in loud club space, and didn't know any better, I might be like - "who is this interesting post-punk?". Clearly built around the funky guitar line that dances throughout. Morrisey becomes more identifiable about halfway through with his unintelligible moaning, and mumbling, but I don't hate it as he's at least moaning along with a melody that compliments the guitar. As danceable as the band gets, just don't pay attention to the lyrics while you're getting down. "Meat Is Murder" - Some opening sound effects that are very on the nose, but once that nonsense fades away we get the band in as close to dirge-mode as I think we ever see. Marr's guitar is too bright and bouncy, and the rhythm section too energetic to ever veer to close to anything I'd ever call gothy. The sentiment, though an admirable one I think is a bit too pushy and insistent. And oh yeah, the animal noises some back in. "And the turkey you festively slice/ Is murder". Years ago when The Exorcist got a theatrical re-release, (with the infamous spider-walk scene put back in), I remember being astounded at all the young people in the audience cracking up laughing at all the scary bits. I was confused at the time, and a little pissed off, but I could see the same thing happening here if you gave this to a bunch of "under-20's" to listen too. And I think I might be more understanding this go around. HIGHLIGHTS - "The Headmaster Ritual" - "What She Said" - "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" - "Nowhere Fast" - "How Soon is Now" * MIDLIGHTS - "I Want the One I Can't Have" - "Rusholme Ruffians" - "Well I Wonder" - "Barbarism Begins at Home" LOWLIGHTS - "Meat Is Murder" FINAL THOUGHTS Even at the short run time, this did not feel to slight and I think we got a good variety of stuff. A solid showcase of what the band could do, as well as of it's weaknesses ( cohesiveness between music and vocals being the main offender). While the musicianship is undeniable on this album, I think what is going to scare most close-minded people away is 100% always going to be those unique vocals. I think a lot of people heard "How Soon is Now" on the radio or a movie or as the opening credits of their favorite tv show, and could not help but be disappointed when they didn't get more of that. I personally think they acquit themselves quite well here, and never once shit the bed. I think when introducing the band ( specially to Americans) Hatful of Hollow ( maaaaybe The Queen is Dead based on how well I know this person's taste) would be my choice as the beginner. I'm not sure it qualifies to be on here as it's a compilation, but I think it would also work better than the other two I'm fairly certain we'll be seeing. While Morrisey's You Are the Quarry will remain an unflushed turd ( it comes up a LOT in my group's discussions) in the toilet bowl of 1-star rated albums, I don't think it's going to color my opinion of the Smiths in general ( or even some of his earlier solo stuff) too much. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - While I don't hate anything on here, the highlights would definitely get the most play FURTHER LISTENING - Hatful of Hollow by the Smiths - Silvertone by Chris Isaak - Ocean Rain by Echo & the Bunnymen - The La's by The La's - The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express by the Go-Betweens
some interesting git parts and a lot of bluesrock but not my vibe
I've been avoiding the Smiths for a long time thinking they wouldn't really be my thing, but this is actually pretty decent
Great sound, I love the atmosphere- not sold on the lyricism and how the vocals kinda blend together
Most of the songs were fine but no real standouts.
Yeah it’s more Morrissey.
Easy listening 80's vibes.
Muito característico o estilo deles, dá pra reconhecer na hora mesmo. As músicas bem parecidas, uma vibe legal. Imagino isso tocando na casa do Will e trocando uns papos loucos sobre a vida.
the first song is great but not crazy about the rest tbh
Kind of conflicted. I liked it at times, but other times not at all. Let's just say it was on the higher end of 2.5?
Yeah decent
This is another good album from the smiths even if I don’t like this one as much as I liked “strange ways here we come”. As a whole the album flies by. It’s a lot of the same sonically from start to finish and it feels short, but much I guess isn’t a negative thing, I just wasn’t really blown away by this album. I still think the strongest aspect of this band is NOT morrissey’s vocals, it’s the guitar tone and the actual instrumentals as a whole. It’s just such a timelessly solid sound, even if it gets called “80s” a lot. I liked this album, the highlights being “barbarism begins at home”, “nowhere fast”, and “the headmaster ritual”.
Un appel à ne pas tuer les animaux en 1985 la classe. Un album rock assez doux et fort à la fois
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - I don't think The Smiths are as good as some people say, but they are still an excellent band. This is probably my favourite of their albums, I love The Headmaster Ritual. Rusholme Ruffians is also good. The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is quite cool and then Barbarism Begins At Home is another favourite.
Meat Is Murder is a record that’s easy to respect and harder to inhabit. Johnny Marr’s guitar work is the clear highlight — more varied and adventurous than on the debut, with a sonic palette that ranges from delicate arpeggios to driving rock without ever losing the band’s distinctive identity. He’s an exceptional player, and this album shows more of his range than almost anything else in the Smiths catalog. The surprises are rhythmic. A couple of tracks lean into a chugging, locomotive groove that lands somewhere between rockabilly pulse and kitchen sink drama — an unexpected overlap with the Americana tradition, arriving from a completely different cultural direction. It’s the kind of musical coincidence that makes the listening project worthwhile. Morrissey remains an acquired taste. His literary obsession with working class Northern England is genuine and intelligent, and the title track makes its provocative argument with real conviction. But the emotional world he’s constructing stays at arm’s length — appreciated intellectually without being felt viscerally. The record never quite pulls you inside it. The record player test was decisive. This isn’t something you’d reach for by choice, which in the end is the most honest measure available. A respectful three — crafted with care, just not for this particular listener.
Nice one. But just liked the 1st song
I think I've definitely come round to not disliking the smiths anymore but there really wasn't much here that I particularly liked either. Whining man now whines about being a vegan also 3
A bit unfairly maligned because of the (admittedly subpar) title song, though I think this one's one of their more interesting albums. My favorite has always been their debut and the way it's kind of shrouded in a mystery that Morrissey would never have to him again, but that's not totally dispelled here either (plus they're coming closer to post-punk here!) Headmaster Ritual and That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore are a really compelling look at a direction they might have taken if Morrissey didn't steer things towards straightforward guitar pop with even more self-involved lyrics.
Pleasant background noise
Good album The bassline and guiterwork is amazing And the vocals of morrissey is as always Ethereal.. Favourite Track- Well i wonder Date listened- March 19th 2026
3r32r13
All of these smiths albums sound the same to me tbh. Not really a band for me.
These guys have staying power. My 2010 born daughter just loves them
I didnt like this
The Smiths haben gegessen.Aber kein Fleisch.
it was good but not my taste
my bangs just got a little bit shorter
70
cool, tenía teme cool, igua no me mato pero bien
Headmest ritual is very fun. Meat is Murder is extremely sad. As a whole, it's a pleasant listen, but mostly functions as neat background music that mostly blends together. I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible. Melancholic and soothing, until the end. Just realized something: i was going to say that this "sounds like FIFA music to me", as in, fairly innocuous, inoffensive and unobtrusive tracks that are pleasant as background music in a FIFA video game. Considering the album's age, it's more appropriate to say that this album is the progenitor of such a style of music that was later commercialized and oft imitated by smaller bands. With all of that said, it's still pleasant music but I do think it indeed serves best as something in the background - I can easily imagine it playing during a drive, or during a movie montage featuring driving... Not trying to say it only has commercial applications, but it doesn't move me otherwise (aside from the eponymous Meat is Murder, which is suitably uncomfortable) and I think it's a respectable "use" for it.
finally a 40 minute album after two double LPs I can't get over the vocals, I get they're genre defining and iconic, but it's not for me Like the melody on What She Said Second half looks much more promising with The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and Nowhere Fast being tracks I like Well I wonder continuing the track, but the rain sound at the end is making me wanna go pee Again me with the bassline on Barbarism Title track kinda makes the ending unceremonious, overall hit or miss album imo
Väldigt 80-tal. Ok lyssning men inget jag fastnade på riktigt.
Okay indi. Takes some active listening to catch the lyrics. Real easy to get distracted to
This a mix of pretty good with terrible - not all bad.
solid rock album 👌🏻
This was a chill album, made me want to listen to Pink Floyd, so take that as you will. Overall, a good album, but it feels like its lacking just a little bit.
A lot of it Sounds very samey. I don‘t love it
Great album, shit leadsinger.
I've never listened to The Smiths before. I've heard them being praised as one of the greatest bands of all time, so, naturally, I thought I they were very overrated, without even listening to them. Now, after hearing this album, I can say one thing: The Smiths are one of the most overrated bands of all time. Morissey isn't a good singer and he is an ok lyricist. The playing is ok, it does serve the songs, but it's nothing mindblowing, when compared to their genre contemporaries. The songs are mostly ok, but forgettable, with 2-3 standouts. All in all, a mediocre album. 3/5
Weird. I haven't liked the smiths from what I've listened to before but this was okay. Morrissey's voice is less grating in this one.
me gustó, la verdad no sé si es mi agrado musical para todos los días, pero sí para caminar en la mañana
Never spent any time with The Smiths growing up. This was fine.
The smiths have some great riffs and melodies and a unique style but some how Morrisey's vocals don't work for me with them. I've rated his solo stuff higher which some might find strange but it's just personal opinion. Stand out songs: the headmaster ritual and Barbarism begins at home. I'll give it a 3
the smiths tiene mejores albumes q este, pero esta bueno igual
Ok album, al imaju u svojoj diskografiji dosta boljih. The Smiths su uvik vibe zato 6/10. Najbolja pisma: Well I wonder
= the Beatles
Listened to this while cleaning the house before kitchen remodel. The title track was a much different sounding song than the rest of the album.
I once owned all the Smiths albums but didn't listen much to any of them apart from 'The Queen is Dead'. Partly it was because they're tainted by the knowledge that Morrissey is a fascist prick. But this reminded me of the other reason - the killer tracks are really great, but for me the rest of this really is filler, nowhere near as good. And this album doesn't have many of their best songs on it.
Already a big fan of Well I wonder, excited to hear the rest of the album. I always love the jangly sound of the Smiths, whimsical yet grounded. I've always intended to listen to more, but had never made out the time prior. What really had struck me as profound on this album was the title track Meat is Murder. I'm not a vegetarian myself, but wow. Such an impactful track. Visceral imagery, and it really makes you pause and think about how meat really is a murder of a kind. Tracks saved: What She Said Nowhere Fast Well I Wonder
kein plan, ganz ok
Ich mag die Smiths irgendwie, aber irgendwie auch nicht. naja 3 sterne
I have never been a big Smiths fan. A not insignificant part of this is that in my high school, this was a line of social/musical stratification - I fell on the hard rock/rap side of things. Emo was out for me. The other major reason is Morrissey, whose voice grates on me and who is, well, insufferable. So this is the first time I've listened to an album and...it wasn't bad. I focused on the music, which is great. I focused and finally appreciated Andy Rourke's outrageously good bass playing. He and Johnny Marr make a phenomenal musical pairing. Focusing on the music was good. Docking only a point in my rating for the presence of Morrissey is an act of magnanimity on my part.
I mean. Ots the smiths. Im not expecting much and I know I wont like it. Some good base lines. But normal morrisey crap
Competent but it did not excite me
sounds nice but fuck morissey
Great guitars and song writing hold this album up to a good listen. As always with Morrissey you get this almost awkward style that is alot to take on a full album and probably why they made so many great non-album singles that were very popular in UK.
A bit of a mixed bag, do like the highlights here (I Want the One I Can't Have, Rusholme Ruffians etc) and I think the other songs are all cool to listen to for taking the jangly post-punk sound of Felt or Durutti Column and putting a pop formula on it. But aware there is honestly much better Smiths material than this even from my limited exposure
Favourite Track. Barbarism Begins at Home
odeio morrissey e amo vegetarianismo
Not the strongest Smiths album but fine none the less
Not the best Smiths album I’ve heard but a decent enough listen
i'm actually so behind on the morrissey lore that at first i assumed the title was intended to be gimmicky but that track was crazy. i've recently had to go back to eating meat for health reasons after several years of being a veggie so i'm glad i'm less morrissey-adjacent as a silver lining lmao. i enjoyed some tracks but others less so - probably more of a 3.5
Great musicianship but can't stand whiny Morrissey
Theres lots of good things going on in this but The Smiths are just so repetitive and I can’t really see how much of this stuff is different from all of the other things I’ve heard from them. Meat is murder, but I think murder is natural. I like some of the songs though
i get it, i truly do, i just dont like it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I like them for a couple songs but then they just sound the same and his voice isn't my fav
Не умеет Морриси петь. Все остальное очень - норм.
Not as solid of an album as I remember it, but still enjoyable. "How Soon Is Now" remains the highlight. What carries the album is the overall musicianship, not necessarily Morrissey's vocals.
It's a solid rock album. It was dense and had a great flow, distinct sound.
meh
Listened while walking around (to and from lunch), seated at my desk, and driving home from work. Feels familiar but mostly just the voice and arrangement, not any particular tune. Very poetic. Loaded with room reverb.
Morissey's voice is grating
Musiikki ja saundit aivan jeppis. Vokaalit ei vaan uponneet itselle lainkaan. Jotain kautta tuttu bändi (laulajasta ei voi erehtyä), mutta ei tuttu levy kuitenkaan.
This was pretty good. Kept my interest the whole time.
This one didn’t hit as hard for me as a whole package as their other albums, though Johnny Marr’s hooks are varied and exciting as always.
Obviously, fuck Moz, but we're separating art from the artist here. The Smiths was one of those things it took me a long time to get into, but I really dig them in my dotage. Perhaps it's a product of this album not having any of the huge hits on it, but I was underwhelmed. It's all quite good and quite Smiths-y, but I wasn't super compelled by it, which was a surprise. Would probably reward repeated listens, as much of their stuff does, but as is, it's middle of the road to me at least.
Half great if a bit redundant. The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is so good it tips the album into the positive.
oh lalalalalalelayyyeee oooo la la alalallalalayeeeyee headmasters ritual could wake me from the fucking dead. Otherwise a mid smiths album for me tho. The joke isn’t funny anymore is good
did not enjoy this album as much as hatful of hollow
Don’t hate this album, but fuck Morrissey.
LOVE THEMMMM
Kind of cool but I can't vibe to it
3/5
lyrics were meh, guitar was fire, not a fan of the meat is murder song...
Yes, yes, yes! It's a burger!
Not as good as I wanted it to be. At times, it felt very fake deep and I think that’s just Morrissey in general. Not the best but not the worst either. Middling.
Nice easy listen. ”Barbarism Begins at Home” is a standout track for me. It’s quite different from the others and I really dig the bass performance. 3.3/5.0
This was deep and heavy. It was good and the lyrics were very descriptive and the emotions were all over the album. But I am not sure I will come back this as it is just a little too much and too deep for me to have in a regular routine. It also just all felt the same and blending together. Now I get it, not sure how you would throw something light and airy onto this album but still something to just give me a slight break or a hard rock out might have worked to break it up a little.
He really went there with the title track. Props to highlighting animal rights like that, especially in the 80s! He may be a pretentious a-hole, but at least he's not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. As a fellow vegan, I approve. Now for the music... I struggled to find things that I loved beyond the topics addressed. I don’t love his voice in this album, and the vocals and instruments almost seemed like completely separate entities. He was doing his thing, they were doing theirs, and it didn’t feel like they were connecting. I preferred the parts of the songs when he wasn’t singing because there was some cool stuff going on, and the vocals felt detached and distracting. Maybe it would grow on me after a few more listens, but I’m not confident it would.
Prima, goeie achtergrond muziek maar pakte me niet helemaal
Getting really tired of all these British rock and contemporary albums on this list. That being said it was one of the better British albums on this list.
I LOVE THE SMITHSSSSSSSS some of them are meh but there are some really good ones
Generally I like them and they are never left out of some of my favorite playlists. Depends on my mood too cause most of their songs are devastating. Even though none of the songs on this album stood out to me, i still liked the sound of it
I was sad the day I had to listen to this album so that was perfect. I liked it, but I someone in the reviews sad that Morrissey sounds like hes singing in the shower and I agree with that.
The Smiths... ... ... OK. So. ... I am a huge sucker for 80's music, specifically alternative "new wave" British second invasion.... Sure. The Smiths have always been a big part of this whole genre/ movement. I should, technically, embrace them, but I have a fairly binary love/ hate relationship instead. A few of their songs are just bangers. Perfect, classics, canon of the genre and the time. B u t ... Two death knells befall my relationship with this band. It is among a very short list of bands that I would accuse of "sounding the same" as if I put an album on and the entire thing is one song that is an hour long. The song, starting out, is probably OK or even good but after a while... And the second thing, less to do with the band musically as the taste I have in singers, is that the lead singer has a "whiny" voice. He is among a few amazing classic canonized singers that I also even like in very small doses, but the whiny thing r e a l l y starts to get to me after a while. I have tried for decades to like The Smiths, but I just... Nah.
I have REALLY tried to get into the Smiths. Yes - I know how important and influential they are. And on paper, they are 100% in my wheelhouse. The musicians are awesome, the lyrics are sharp. But... I can't. Maybe it's Morrissey? This album is fine. Again, the band is tight as a drum. But, it's not for me, I guess. 6/10
Personally, i enjoyed listening to this album. His voice is unique and i also liked the mix of guitar and occasional acoustic guitar. It had good vibes. (Though not my favorite) 3.5
This album was interesting in some ways, especially the vocals, but it didn’t do quite enough overall to get a 4 in my opinion. Favorite Track: That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Grappig album. Leuke nummers maar mij wat teveel van hetzelfde. Paar rustige nummers zijn mooi uitschieters
Unpopular opinion (maybe?) but The Smiths = zzzzzzz
The best Smith song "How soon is now" is only include in certain releases.
good album
This one is a middle of nowhere to me. I love the production but can't stand with the vocalist's voice who looks dead all time.
This was a pretty interesting listen. I think I came in with high expectations because The Smiths are such a well-known band, and that may have affected how I felt about it. The music and lyrics were good, and I appreciate the themes and what they were trying to say, even if the vocals felt a bit off for me at times. It starts strong, dips in the middle, then gets better again near the end. Overall, it was fine, a pretty decent listen.
Not my favorite smiths album
I hesitated listening to this one, but it was better than I expected. It came out when I was a junior in high school. I worked in a record store and listened to the radio a lot. The Smiths weren't as ubiquitous as pop bands of the era, but I had plenty of friends who liked them and I had more than my share of the band. Morrissey's voice felt contrived to me, and I never listened to the lyrics closely enough to relate to them. Because of that overexposure, I nearly gave this one a pass, but I'm glad I listened to it. 40+ years later, the music has a freshness I didn't recognize at the time. When I was a teenager, I only heard the most popular tunes and missed many of the other songs. Rusholme Ruffians and Nowhere Fast were surprisingly jaunty. :) I liked the guitar on the latter. What She Said was a pretty great thrashy song. There was far less mopiness than I expected. I'm giving it three stars because I am not likely to come back to this, but it was a good listen.
It's good, but the album is quite samey and I got bored. Sorry
Favorite Songs: Well I Wonder, Barbarism Begins at Home, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore Least Favorite Song: Rusholme Ruffians This album deeply confuses me because of how inconsistent it is. Some songs are amazing while others are a complete slog to get through. It’s my birthday today and I’m feeling generous, so I’ll give it a 3 for now.
Descubrí que es el grupo de un audio que me gusta de TikTok
classic smiths sound. not for me!
Audacious, activist, messaging.
Some songs are amazing, some songs deserve to be skipped
Did not stand out for me 🤨
Many of the songs sound similar but they’re all good for this reason too
It’s aight i guess
I love the smiths
Borrissey
Not their best work but still a decent album. Special editions of the album added in How Soon is Now as a single and I can understand why as it does lack standout tracks and Meat is Murder is a hard sell as a lead single.
Oh man! The first Smiths album I ever listened to (because that's a veg*an canon event even in the middle of nowhere) and the album that made me really wonder why people liked this band so much. I got there eventually (via The Queen is Dead mostly) but this one just. it lacks some luster. 2.5
Some good stuff, but somewhat repetitive from one song to the next.
Rusholme ruffians my favorite by far, the rest of the songs didnt really do anything for me. Rusholme ruffians - 7.8/10 Whole album - 6.2/10
Osav pillimäng ja mõned huvitavad lood... aga pole päris minu tassike teed. Vokaal ei istu mulle üldse, pole mingit äratuntavat meloodiat, vaid selline "lauldes rääkimine". 3.25/5
Something I would like to revisit
This was my first time listening to a Smiths album all the way through. I still don't dig Morrissey's voice. He sounds like the most punchable human ever. And I know I have a bunch of Smiths and Morrissey's solo albums to get through with this list. But I admit I was impressed with the song writing and guitar work. Headmaster Ritual and Barbarism Begins at Home were standouts.
don't get me wrong i love the smiths but most of their songs sound the same 😬
taki w tle
Listened: putting washing out and in bed Stopped
3.5
A decent album, but I’m just not a big fan of Morrisey
Nicht das beste Smiths Album jedoch ist Meat is murder ein banger
Pretty solid album with a pretty solid album.
I like the sound of this album, it's the kind you can have on in the background and vibe to but also tune in occasionally and still enjoy. None of the songs really stood out to me in particular, so won't be saving any, but will be obtaining the album on disc to listen again.
Favourite track: Nowhere Fast
We get it your sad
music is very good. could live without the singer
Morrissey yodels, Johnny jangles, the songs meander. I'd like the Smiths a lot more if their songs were tighter, but you can't argue with that band.
its ok
5/10
3.5 The Smiths загалом напевно все ж не мій гурт, але не можу відмовити їм у стилі, а також у вмінні написати хіт.
i like a song here and there by the smiths but damn do they all sound the exact same
Kinda good, kinda boring
Song I Liked - Rusholme Ruffians - What She Said - Meat Is Murder
Not sure what happened, but there was a time where I liked this album a lot more. Occasionally interesting and pleasant but often found it pretty boring. Saved a song: N RYM: Y (#1,084)
I’m coming with a very bias and closed perspective - I don’t particularly like Morrisey or the smiths and have not been shown otherwise so far on this challenge. This looks like another confirmation to me. Same sound, some gait, same yawn. Nothing particularly bad about them but just really don’t do it for me. Grabs me a little more as the album goes on but just can’t escape the sound and content of his vocals, which is my main sticking point. Songs sounded pretty much the same but wasn’t giving it too much attention. Morrisey and the Smiths just not going to do it for me, I’m afraid although will say, some clever lyrics at times.
Alright album. Unsure on how to feel with Morrissey's voice but big fan of the guitar and instrumentals. Headmaster Ritual and Well I Wonder were highlights but the title track was a low, felt out of place.
I’ll preface this review by saying that I don’t like The Smiths. Morrissey as a person is a giant turd and I’ve always found their music pretentious and uninspiring. However, on that scale, this is the best I’ve heard of The Smiths. There’s more energy in these tunes, they’re more interestingly composed, and hell, it’s even catchier. It’s still The Smiths, they cannot be that but which they are, but for a Smiths album, this is really good. I can see how those who like this type of music would hold this up as an exemplar.
Listened to this one yesterday too. Going back for a second tour. Morrissey as a member of The Smiths is far more tolerable, but I still generally find his vocal style lacking in any depth. In fact it has a rare capability to suck the energy from otherwise interesting songs. E.g., Rusholme Ruffians is built around a fun bass line, but as soon as the vocals come in I stop caring. Well I Wonder is about the only song here that I actually enjoyed of him singing. Barbarism Begins at Home is fine too, but is mostly carried by the instrumentals. I can't shake the feeling that another vocalist could take these songs to the next level. For that I find this album into the bottom of the 3 range.
Glonky basslines in this one were continually catching my ear. Pretty dang tolerable for being Morrissey; if you could just get rid of the singer this would be a solid 4. I'll go high 3 for this one.
7th Smith/Morrissey album on here. This one is pretty status quo for Mr. Mo just pretty decent instrumental with his annoying singing at the forefront. Barbarism Begins at Home was really good though has a very tasty guitar riff and a gloopy bass outro. High 2/Low 3 border but we ill give this a bump for coming on a Friday. The end of this album with the cow noises made me want to go listen to Pink Floyd Animals, so I did.
very one-note to me. I’ve heard flashes from the smiths that I really liked before but not here.
Melhor álbum do mundo Segundo melhor álbum do smiths
The last track will haunt me forever. Cant say i like one song specifically but i liked the album as a whole
Decent album. 2.5 stars
Standout Songs: Rusholme Ruffians I Want the One I Can’t Have What She Said Not bad, i’m not huge on indie rock but this album is okay. So many british singers have no range in their voices
If only Morrissey wasn't a cunt, this would be a more enjoyable listening experience.
Never really got The Smiths. And still don't. The instrumental band is pretty amazing and I hadn't appreciated just how good they are. I find Morrisseys tunes a bit samey and struggle to relate to what he's on about. Maybe will try them again, guess there will be other Smiths albums on the list...
The stark contrast of downbeat lyrical delivery and guitar works for me
Honestly it was pretty forgettable, but I guess that means it wasn't actively annoying to listen to like some other albums.
Jag har aldrig lyssnat på the smiths men har en vän som tycker de är bra så jag hade nog en gnaska positiv förväntan, och den uppfylldes. That joke isn't funny anymore var riktigt bra och det slutade med att jag la till den i kön så jag fick höra den igen efter albumet.
Bekant med namnet, inte bandet. Gillar mixen. Har typ svårt att ta till mig skivan. Det är helt enkelt inte för mig, men jag tycker verkligen inte illa om den. Jag förstår att folk gillar denna platta.
Favorite track: The headmaster ritual other picks: barbarism begins at home, nowhere fast
This was good but not my favorite album by The Smiths
altern. rock, 1985 -> 3
Very generic. It's exactly what you'd expect from british indie rock and barely does anything unique. Mastering isn't that great and the vocalist drones.
Enjoyable album. Surf rock is easy listening.
A little repetitive and generally didn't fit my taste, but the smiths are pretty good overall and surprised me with some songs like Well I Wonder
The songs “Meat Is Murder,” said to have played a part in popularizing vegetarianism, and “The Headmaster Ritual,” featuring a delinquent's perspective rebelling against teachers, are apparently famous. Having listened to them myself, I liked those two songs the most.
Ok ok as much as I hate to say it, it grew on me.
Morrissey is a bit of a cunt from what I hear so I've mostly stayed away from the Smiths. I don't much care for his vocals either, honestly. He's alright on certain songs I guess. The band is super talented. Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke have great tone. There's not really much here that will likely stick with me, though. Music's good, Morrissey isn't for me. Ends up kinda middling.
Definetly an album that i think stands strong in its time. Its intresting to see a song about veganism made so early in its lifetime. I wouldnt say its an album i love but i think it was a pleasant listen and for indie rock fans that can appriciate the era i wouldnt mind recommening it so them. I did feel like some of the issues flew over my head due to it seeming to have refrences and critisms of back then that i dont understand however i think that also gives it its sharm. Overall not bad not amazing. Above average, would give it a 3.5
I am not a Smiths fan at all but I kind of like this. Why is Morrisey is so whiny? I like Johnny Marr and the rhythm section is great too. I wonder if Morrisey would be less insufferable if he ate a pork chop. The two standouts are That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore and Barbarism Begins At Home.
Andy Rourke’s bass playing is probably the standout for me. The album didn’t make me feel much for most of it. I feel like I’d like it more if I was in the mood for it. I like Morrissey randomly barking for no reason. 3/5
The last track earned this album an extra star.
The music is fine, I guess, but the overall pace and singing makes it more like easy listening.
Brit rock, much better than us rock
Were the Smiths a singles band? Caught midway between the dense, gothic fog of their debut and the lusher productions of later albums, MiM is a patchy affair. It contains some of Johnny Marr's best guitar work, and his Nile Rodgers/Bernie Edwards double act with Andy Rourke (particularly on Barbarism Begins at Home) is joyous. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is possibly their most languidly, achingly beautiful song, but too often pretty melodies and propulsive rhythms are blighted by Morrissey at his most tedious. Strange that one his most effective lyrical efforts is on this album (the dressed up Elvis rush of Rusholme Ruffians).
Typical 80s British rock sound. Nothing special, but not bad.
I honestly cannot take Morrisey seriously at all, he's a good singer but his voice constantly takes me out, the instrumentals however are great
I am sangry
Funky, largely fun, though I'm not sure too much jumped off the page. I'm in the camp of people who find Morrissey's voice a little hard to deal with. Not bad by any stretch, and definitely interesting, but doesn't involve me emotionally. The instrumentation is terrific, Johnny Marr an A+ guitarist, it's dancey in a lot of spots and oh so very nineteen-eighties. I don't know, this genre never quite does it for me. I prefer a more stripped down sound, but I can see the appeal. I'll avoid commenting too much on the enigma that is Morrissey, he's provocative here (see album title) though maybe a little basic lyrically. So it goes with the majority of political lyrics. One place they struggle with is being fun. To draw a parallel to punk (another political genre) good punk music makes being punk sound really fun! Morrissey is more of a scold, and an especially dour one at that. Not fun, regardless of where you stand with the messaging.
Sounds like the Smiths.
I know this is not a fresh take but I just cannot get on with Morrisey's voice. I like almost all of the melodies, instrumentals etc. on this album and then he starts singing and it's just so grating.
I think I like this one more than The Queen is Dead, but not by much. I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to enjoy Morrissey’s voice.
Most artists have that one album that I think is kind of overrated, and for The Smiths it's this one. Not saying it's particularly bad, but very uneven. It's also a bit confusing to me that some of the more acclaimed songs (This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, Well I Wonder) don't really do much to me, while songs like I Want The One I Can't Have or Nowhere Fast that are a bit underrated strike me as much punchier and catchier. The melodies on this album feel a bit underwhelming and underdevelopped in general, they are much better on their other albums. That also makes songs like the title track drag on heavily. Rusholme Ruffians also has a bit of a country twang which doesn't come off as that good. The album has some amazing highlights too, the opener is stellar and Barbarianism Begins At Home is one of my fav Smiths songs and one of the best basslines ever. Also love the theme of how the education system oppresses young people. It's certainly way better than the title track which kinda reads like a twitter rant on vegetarianism. Every band has got to have a weakest album, and for me with The Smiths it's this one. However, for a weakest album it's still not too bad.
The Headmaster Ritual is an insanely good opener. Morrissey’s vocals are so unique, and his writing style is seminal. The instrumentation is ahead of its time, such a beacon for soft rock and college intellectual pop of the 90s. I can think of more iconic singles released on future albums as far as guitar work, but god this is a good album from The Smiths.
Quand même chill, wtf la dernière toune
Was ok. Do like the Smiths. Not overly political this one
It's a Smiths album. There are the some singles that are great, and Morrissey's humour shows through, but the sort of etherial sound that is the trademark Smiths sounds sounds a bit tired on this album.
Мутотень редкостная, от силы 5,5 из 10. Не в моём вкусе.
Not sure why this one is on here, decent record, but really The Queen Is Dead is the one Smiths album that needs to be on the list.
I enjoyed this a lot more than the last Smiths album I got. However fuck Morrissey now and forever
RANKING 1) Meat is Murder - 8.6 2) That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - 8.3 3) What She Said - 8.25 4) Barbarism Begins At Home - 8.17 5) Well I Wonder - 8.15 6) I Want The One I Can't Have - 8.1 -------LIBRARY LINE--------------------- 7) Nowhere Fast - 7.95 8) Rushholme Ruffians - 7.6 9) The Headmaster Ritual - 7.4 CALCULATED RATING - 8.06 PERSONAL RATING - 7.45 Guitar was good, the folk singing (something I commonly do not like) was very prevalent and brought it down. Lyrics were a mixed bag. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Barbarism Begins at Home was awesome. The rest was okay, didn't love it, didn't hate it. I think my distaste for Morrissey as a person is tainting my appreciation of the album haha.
achei bem mid :( tem boas musicas mas eles têm álbuns melhores
Music is good, lyrics are clever but as usual Morrissey’s vocals are challenging. I find it distracting and unnecessary. Otherwise a good album.
Solid album. Pretty 80s though. The Smiths have a much softer sound than I imagined.
Not my favourite material by the Smiths, but still good.
Doesn't hit the heights of Queen is Dead but still very good.
First listen. Alright, so I have listened to The Queen Is Dead before, and I did really like that one. Similar to Surfer Rosa, I feel like this is a bit less fully developed than the album that would succeed it. It's still perfectly good; I very much enjoy the Smiths as a band overall, at least from what I've heard of them so far. Meat Is Murder opens really strong and ends really strong, as seems to be the case with a lot of albums, but the middle section is just fine, as far as I'm concerned. High 3, but not quite a 4, I guess. Fav. Track: Barbarism Begins at Home Reaction: 🙂
I love the Smiths, but I've never really been able to love Meat is Murder. Headmaster Ritual is great, but the rest of the album was a let down. There was one exception, however; Andy Rourke's playing thoughout the record was inspired. I don't think I'd really noticed the bass part much in other Smiths songs, but I was consistently blown away by Rourke on Meat is Murder.
Would not buy
So far this is the Smiths album that I have enjoyed the most. However, that does say much as the others were very low in their review.
Solid
Musically great. Guitar, bass and drums all top notch. But the sacral vocals aren't my favour. favourite: "Barbarism Begins At Home", "Rusholme Ruffians"
This was fine, maybe it was the only stuff that sounded like this in the 80s because I know the smiths are pretty popular. Nothing special to me though.
Although it’s a little theatrical for my taste, I did really enjoy this album. It’s very obvious to see where the power and passion came from during this time.
Deeply not my thing but I get it now. I get it.
Sound very much as I expected the smiths to sound after having heard Morrissey. Its the kind of music where I really enjoy 1-3 songs of an album and listen to them a lot but skip the rest. This album is no different. Not bad but nothing I will listen through from start to finish again.
Not my favourite Smiths album, but there are some gems on here.
Better than I remembered it. If only Morrissey wasn't singing.