Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths

'Strangeways, Here we Come' is the last album recorded by The Smiths and was first released (posthumously) in 1987. Johnny Marr left the group during this period and although replacing him and carrying on was considered, common sense prevailed and, realising that Johnny Marr was not someone you could just replace, The Smiths were no more. Marr wanted to expand his musical horizons and formed Electronic with New Order's Bernard Sumner. On 'Strangeways, Here we Come' Marr's attempt to broaden his music is very apparent and for this reason the album is uncommonly strong for a swansong, with the tension between Morrissey and Marr lending an extra spark and depth to the ...  Read the complete review

The last album from one of the greatest bands of the era, wasnt well received by the press at the time of its release and is still widely acknowledged to be their weakest offering. I think this is an unfair assesment, as do Johnny Marr and Morrissey who have both, at some time declared this to be their favourite. Released after the departure of Johnny Marr and recorded amidst rising tensions particularly between Marr and Morrissey it certainly has a darker feel than previous Smiths albums. I dont know if the troubles contributed, but Marr's approach to the instrumentation seems to have changed, there is still some lovely guitar playing (see Girlfriend in a ...  Read the complete review

The last of the Smiths albums, Strangeways Here We Come is probably the band's weakest offering and paints a very different picture of the group than that of the previous three. Recorded around the time of their split, the album oozes the resigned tones of a swansong. Much like the dying swan, the Smiths' final words were beautifully tragic. Whereas the first three Smiths albums were aggressive both musically and lyrically, Strangeways seems comfortable sat back with a much calmer sound and Morrissey's lyrics seem to reflect his personal life at the time. A mix of romantic confusion and resignation, combined with the growing divisions within the ...  Read the complete review

The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) Producer: Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours I Started Something I Couldn't Finish Death of a Disco Dancer Girlfriend in a Coma Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me Unhappy Birthday Paint a Vulgar Picture Death at One's Elbow I Won't Share You Strangeways, Here We Come is the fourth and final studio album by The Smiths. The album gets its title from Manchester's notorious HM Prison (previously known as Strangeways Prison, until it was renamed in ...  Read the complete review

There is always a sense of the finite whenever listening to the final record of a band. You feel your own mortality and everything seems to have x number of moments before the bleak and final end. 'Strangeways, Here We Come' is no different. Its surprisingly bright though. Released in 1987, this LP is actually less morbid and moany than previous Smiths records; its a nice picture and indication of where they would have gone had the Morrissey-Marr relationship not been severed in its prime. In no way were the Smiths ready to call it a day when they broke up, they had another five records in them if they really wanted it, and if 'Strangeways...' is any ...  Read the complete review