Strangeways, Here we come (Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths)

Member Name: davepridd

Product:	Strangeways Here We Come - The Smiths
Date:	20/07/00 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quite varied, good songs and lyrics

Disadvantages: A few weaker tracks

Although both Johnny Marr and Morrissey both have said that this is the best Smiths' album, I would tend to disagree with them, as this collection is not as consistent as 'The Queen is Dead'. That is not to say that this isn't still a very good album, as most of the Smiths' work was a lot better than what was in the charts at the time. Only a few groups such as REM and Housemartins were contempories in terms of quality and style of music.

This album is probably their most varied work, it's problem being that there are a couple of weak tracks such as the lyrically weak 'Unhappy Birthday' or the interestingly titled, but musically boring 'Death at one's elbow'. There are much less elements of rock on this than the Smiths' previous albums, with Johnny Marr playing piano rather than guitar on many tracks, and scoring some top quality string arrangements on tracks such as 'Girlfriend in a coma'. We are even treated to Morrissey's novel attempt at playing piano on the experimental 'Death of a disco dancer'.

The mood is much less depressing than in previous albums, with Morrissey's sense of humour shining through, and even miserable songs such as 'A rush and a push and the land is ours' having a distinctly tongue-in-cheek feel about them.

Summary: