'Strangeways' is the swansong of a seminal 80s band (Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths)

Member Name: Jay Pendragon

Product:	Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths
Date:	11/05/01 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good tracks, experimentation, Morrissey, if you're into that sorta thing

Disadvantages: Morrissey, if you don't like that sorta thing, its the Smiths, pretention like the Smiths had a copyright on it.

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 indication, it would have been a swell ride indeed.

Granted, this is NO 'Hat full of Hollow' or 'Meat is Murder', but its a great listen. 'A Rush and a Push and the Land is ours' starts off with Morrissey using a spooky voice with lots of echo to introduce this oddball, Beatles-esque, almost psychedelic track; there's a piano and pleasant little melody to it. Not bad. Then into 'I started Something I Couldn't Finish', which isn't all that bad, but doesn't leave much impression upon the listener either- rather a disposable single, it is. 'Death of a Disco Dancer', clocking in at over five minutes, is a few minutes too long, offering more references to 60s psychedelic/garage. Its got some nice harmonies, some hippy-bashing and more ostentatious Morrissey wordplay. But it doesn't annoy, as he is sometimes is an expert at doing.

'Girlfriend in a Coma', a classic pop single,keeps things moving: a humorous little tune that gets everyones feet tapping right quick. 'Stop Me if you think that You've Heard this One Before' has a powerful guitar riff, pummelling MC5-ish drums and surprisingly good Moz leads. You know the routine. Its almost like 'the Queen is Dead' but not as well-executed.

The seco
nd side kicks off with the classic ballad 'Last Night I dreamed Somebody Loved Me', some chugging piano, samples of a bloody war somewhere and more moaning... Ho hum. But still a nice track. I really enjoy 'Unhappy Birthday'; its a homo-erotic track akin to another song on here 'Death at Ones Elbow'(the rockabilly standard-like song), both have a western twang to them. More feet tapping shalt ensue, said the Moz.

'Paint a Vulgar Picture' pokes fun at the crass commercialism of the pop musick industry, as Morrissey narrates the twisted tale of record executives repackaging their dead musicians as pop heros. Funny, huh? Morrissey fans will eat it up.

The closing number, a ditty called 'I won't share you', is under two minutes with Moz stating simply "I won't share you..." over chiming, sweet english breezy guitars courtesy of Johnny Marr. Perhaps this is foreshadowing of the breakup which happened before the records release. Morrissey as oracle? No. But close.

Many people commited suicide and other boneheaded acts of self-destruction after this group broke up. Now, the Smiths were good, theres no denying this: but suicide? Really! I don't think Morrissey warrants suicide!.. Good record, though. To be fair, at least.

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