The Smiths - The Smiths

I would give this CD five stars if it weren't for certain recording deficiencies. Being a debut, I tend to imagine that Morrissey's voice was perhaps uncharted territory - I could be guessing on that, but his voice does sound a bit dry and lifeless on this CD compared to later recordings. I think it took a time or two before the right studio or microphone and/or reverb settings were chosen. I may not have the details right on that but the general sense of what I'm explaining is true enough. This CD is still easily a classic however. Not to downplay Morrissey, but Johnny Marr's influence cannot be underestimated. His guitar riffs dance, threaten and ...  Read the complete review

The Smiths long awaited debut album was first released in 1984 and, although the production raised a few eyebrows (of which more later), it served as an interesting and often inspired introduction to the short lived but fondly remembered group. The potential of the group was immediately apparent from the record. With their tall and defiantly strange frontman and mop-topped guitar hero Johnny Marr, The Smiths were (with apologies to any Shed 7 fans who might be reading this) the last truly great British band. Cover A somewhat cheeky cover photo of Joe Dallesandro taken from Andy Warhol's 'Flesh'. The ...  Read the complete review

The Smiths (1984) Producer: John Porter, The Smiths Reel Around the Fountain You've Got Everything Now Miserable Lie Pretty Girls Make Graves The Hand That Rocks the Cradle This Charming Man (Not included on original UK release) Still Ill Hand in Glove What Difference Does It Make? I Don't Owe You Anything Suffer Little Children The Smiths was the partnership of lyricist/vocalist Steven Patrick Morrissey, guitarist John Maher (later to be changed to Johnny Marr), bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Although to be more accurate, the only partnership of any consequence within the ...  Read the complete review

The Smiths' self-titled debut album, released in 1984, met with NME's usual critical acclaim. Y'know, "the next Stones", "have the new Beatles arrived?", all the usual questions they feel obliged to ask of a new band at least once a year. Although you'd generally be foolish to listen to their opinion too seriously, in this case in late '83, they were unquestionably correct. A year or so after signing to their first record label, The Smiths got round to releasing this album, recorded in both London and Manchester over a period of several months. Since beginning to really get into music, it's always been my opinion that ...  Read the complete review

After having listened to part of this album in the Radio 1 archives of live sessions (The Smiths were regulars) I was instantly hooked and spent the next decade listening, collecting and watching them perform. I saw them live one and a half times, second time Morrissey was bottled off the stage by some idiot in Preston Guild hall, but the piece de resistance was the G-Mex gig at the Festival Of Festival Of The 10th Summer in 1986. The album release date was 1984, and it began a love affair with me over the next 2 decades with The Smiths. Taking the singles released prior to this album, the obvious choice for recognition would be "This Charming ...  Read the complete review