This Week's R E V I E W ...

The Smiths
The Smiths
© Rough Trade/Sire

January 28 - February 4, 2024

Year of Release: 1984
Rating:
  • Reel Around The Fountain
  • You've Got Everything Now
  • Miserable Lie
  • Pretty Girls Make Graves
  • The Hand That Rocks
    The Cradle
  • This Charming Man
  • Still Ill
  • Hand In Glove
  • What Difference Does It Make
  • I Don't Owe You Anything
  • Suffer Little Children

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    The Smiths (with Morrissey) debuts this week, not only debut on the WSVNRadio website, but their debut album self-titled The Smiths, released in 1984. The Smiths would release four studio albums. Morrissey would persue a solo career. As for many bands, tensions arose in 1987, as they would breakup. As for future reunions, Morrissey stated it would never happen. Since the breakup, Morrissey has continually released albums, from 1988 to 2020, with future albums in the works.

    Leading off the album is "Reeling Around The Fountain." It's a song that has similarities to another band that was already becoming popular, R.E.M. It's quite an impressive song. "You've Got Everything Now" has it's R.E.M. qualities, yet the first song is better. The Smiths have been referred to as one of many bands on the Independent music scene, and "Miserable Lie" easily fits the Independent music genre. Independent and also punkish, it's quite obvious with the debut of this band at the time of the album's release would have music fans taking interest. However, Morrissey's high range voice (also heard previously) does get a little distracting.

    "Pretty Girls Make Graves" returns back to Morrissey's "pleasant vocal range" and some high range vocals (but not as much as the previous track), and it's a song that is good, and giving music fans the attention that Morrissey can sing, in his unique ways. "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" is another good song, with it's R.E.M. quality. "This Charming Man" definitely has an upbeat Pop feel, and another impressive song, from the many Pop-driven songs from the 1980s decade. "Still Ill" brings back the Indie and Punk style, as heard on the early recordings of R.E.M. Likewise, "Hand In Glove" definitely has the sound of R.E.M., another good song.

    "What Difference Does It Make" was the single from the album - it's upbeat punk'ish style, may (or may not) be compared to R.E.M., but it just doesn't compare to them, when Morrissey's high-range vocal comes in. "I Don't Owe You Anything" definitely fits the 1980s Pop Decade, most comparing to the Thompson Twins (?), or even better, The Psychedelic Furs. Definitely '80s. Ending the album is "Suffer Little Children," with Morrissey's unique vocal quality (no high-range here) and unique sound.

    The debut The Smiths is a good album. Despite Morrissey's "high-range vocals" is the only complaint I would have. Otherwise, the album has a good Indie Pop sound. And with some punk (as Smith members Morrissey and Johnny Marr describe as post-punk). To point out, The Smith has their own sound. It does have the sound of what was heard throughout the 1980s decade. The biggest comparison is that to R.E.M. The Smiths may not as been as popular as R.E.M. Most likely The Smiths were from the UK, where R.E.M. was from the U.S. (I'm sure The Smiths were popular in their home country, the UK). But The Smiths have been a influenced many. Having their own sound, apart from the others, The Smiths have made their presence known in the music world. If you're a fan of R.E.M., British music, and the 1980s music decade in general, The Smiths are worth looking to, and discovering their music. And also discovering the solo music of Morrissey. More of The Smiths and (solo) Morrissey will be reviewed here, at later dates.





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