Meat Is Murder - The Smiths

The second studio album by The Smiths was released in 1985 and confirmed they were the rising force in British indie music, going to number one in the album charts. The partnership between eccentric singer Morrissey and guitar genius Johnny Marr, two very different people in perfect sync with one another, seemed the most formidable in British music for many years. Cover art Emile de Antonio's 1969 Vietnam film In The Year Of The Pig is used for a photo of a GI. Morrissey changed the message on his hat (Originally 'Make Love Not war') to 'Meat Is Murder'. The Songs The Headmaster Ritual ...  Read the complete review

Meat is Murder is the second studio album by The Smiths. Released in the February of 1985, it became their only album to reach number 1 in the UK chart while they were still together. I can joyfully report that the atrocious production that had marred (haha!) their debut album has now been done away with. The production, this time around, really does the album justice and almost every track sounds as if it has been exploited for its full potential. Although it had been confirmed with 1984's compilation album, Hatful of Hollow, this is certainly the first time on a Smiths' studio album that you truly experience the excellent songwriting partnership ...  Read the complete review

Ahhhhh... I just love that faint scent of cynicism in the air at four O'clock in the morning, don't you?.. Well, this is- in the opinions of many- THE seminal Smiths' album. Why shouldn't they? 'Meat is Murder' is the group at their rawest, most dynamic and honest: tackling controversial themes such as child abuse, radical veganism and the plight of the lonely, clad-in-black misfit- WOW! All this within the context of funky basslines, fruity guitar-riffs and the expected moaning and lyrical ambiguity of the UK's version of Michael Stipe Stephen Morrissey. I don't have anything against mister Morrissey other than the fact that hes a racist, ...  Read the complete review

In my opinion this is the finest hour of one of, if not THE most influential bands of the 1980s. Released in 1985 it was the second studio album from the band and although the first album was great, this marked a huge improvement, not only in the production but in the contribution of each member of The Smiths. Johnny Marr took his guitar playing to a new level, particularly on 'That Joke isnt funny anymore', an epic song that was released as a single but sadly didnt fair well in the charts. He also explored other styles, such as rockabilly (on 'Rusholme Ruffians'). Morrissey had also developed as a singer and a writer, delivering a beautiful vocal to 'well i wonder' and ...  Read the complete review

Meat Is Murder is the 2nd album from 80's Gods The Smiths. For me, this is one of the most influential, if not necessarily the greatest, albums of the 80s and beyond. The album starts with the excellent Headmaster's Ritual which easily brings one back to the dusty halls of school, with a metophorical emporor headmaster setting down the law. This track is one of my favourates in the album and is instantly memorable, one of many songs on the album which you will not be able to forget. The magic continues with The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and How Soon Is Now. TJIFA is most certainly more in the style of Morrissey and The Smiths - moody, reflectful and ...  Read the complete review