i've seen this happen in other people's lives...... (Meat Is Murder - The Smiths)

Member Name: clarkey7310

Product:	Meat Is Murder - The Smiths
Date:	18/05/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great songs and artwork

Disadvantages: none that i can think of

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 becoming more militant and political in his writing.
Add to that what had become possibly the best rythym section of the time in Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke and you have all the ingredients for a great album.
The later version of this lp has the added track of the anthemic 'How soon is now', a great song but im not convinced it fits in the running order. With so many great songs it's hard to pick out the stand out tracks, but my personal favourites would be 'That joke isnt funny anymore', 'Well I wonder' and for the awesome bass solo, 'barbarism begins at home'.
Even if your a little uncomfortable with some of the themes Morrissey explores this album is well worth a listen just to appreciate the musicianship present of what was a band at the peak of it's powers.

Summary: one of the best albums of the 1980s and beyond