Time to knock of the other two singles from 84

Heaven Knows I'm miserable Now 1984

Well I must dissent somewhat with one of the Smith's most popular singles, as the popularity of some songs are driven by their lyrical content and this is one prime example. I was going to give it 3 stars but Morrissey's lyrics really connect with the common person here, and the B side, Suffer Little Children, is good but creepy melancholy song about the 1960's murder of little children found in the moor.

*** thumbs up (NO, I changed my mind again. I think I'll stick with 3 starts)



William, It Was Really Nothing 1984

A song about me? One of my least favourite Smiths singles, though I admit it is growing on me a bit. The B side "Please, please, please, let me get what I want" is one of those songs that became immensely popular via public demand. It has been covered by...get this, at least 18! different bands, most of them notable. (Hootie Blowfish/Third Eye/ Ferdinand ect) Johnny Marr has a nice little guitar fill here, but otherwise the popularity of this song is beyond my comprehension.

** 1/2 Thumbs sideways

William, it was really nothing



Please please please let me get what I want

How Soon is now? (Single 1985)

Another infamous Smiths single, originally released on the "William it was really nothing" 12 inch single. (Just covering the 7 inch to keep it simplified) The song is most notably known for its unique guitar intro, which utilized a series of taped guitar tracks in tremolo, all played together in synch. I believe the other sound is a slide with a whole lot of reverb. Anyways the things you had to do before digital came along. I do love analog though, just a warmer feel.

Anyways a great song, it takes sometime to grow on you though, okay B side to.

*** 1/2 stars thumbs up.

How Soon is Now?



Johnny Marr talking about how he got the sound for the song.




Noel Gallagher raving about Johnny Marr & the Smiths

At a quick glance Noel Gallagher in that video looks a bit like Al Pacino circa Scarface era.

Lol, he does actually, but his weapon of choice is the guitar.

Shakespeare's Sister (Single) 1985

A quick entry for the Shakespeare's Sister 7 inch. I actually enjoy it more than How Soon is Now?, but recognize its not as good of a song. Just my own personal taste, a more upbeat release. What She Said b side.

*** stars thumbs up

Shakespeare's Sister



What She Said

Meat is Murder album 1985

I'm going to skip over some album singles here to get straight to the meat! The Smiths second album is often cited as their weakest release and I must concur. The overall mood and tone is there, but the hit singles are not. How Soon is Now? is the saving grace on the North American release, otherwise there isn't a whole lot of notable songs on the album outside of Nowhere Fast or the Headmaster Rituals. The album is much more polished than their first with the Smiths experimenting with some contemporary musical styles. Both Rusholme Ruffians and Barbarism begins at home sounds like something you would hear off of an album like Zenyetta Mondatta from the Police, but they fail to hit the mark, and then there is the dark and depressing droning off Meat is Murder. No the album just doesn't do it for me.

**1/2 stars thumbs down.

Nowhere Fast



Next up, a better album.

I am going to quickly skip over some more singles that are on the next album, but the Rubber Ring is featured on the b side of The Boy with a Thorn in his Side" which tends to be a popular song, so here it is.

The Queen is Dead Album (1986)

This is it, the album that engraved the Smiths into musical history in Britain, and put them on the map in North America as a notable indie rock band. The real question is however; should I play it safe, and give an album that has been consistently listed as one of rocks greatest feats 4 stars, or should I go against the grain and give it something else?

The album itself isn't flawless, I know that many Brits worship the Smiths like they are the second coming, but you do really have to be a straight laced poff to like every flowery pop tune on this album...just sayin. That being said, there are some beautifully written melancholy songs on here. I guess in the end, it comes down to whether or not the three heavyweight tracks (Bigmouth Strikes Again, There is a Light that Never Goes Out & Some Girls are Bigger than Others) warrant the album 4 stars. The latter of the three songs is the weakest, but the other two could easily be some of the Smiths best efforts. Bigmouth Strikes Again is my personal favourite, its fast paced acoustic rhythm pairs up nicely with the nifty electric guitar riff, while the sad tone & lyrics of "There is a Light that Never Goes Out," has Morrissey in top form. Add these to drudgy melancholy songs like "Never Had No One Ever," and you've got yourself a 4 star album.

**** stars thumbs up.

Bigmouth strikes again (my personal favourite)



There is A Light That Never Goes out



Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Panic (Single 1986)

Another great Smiths singles, largely as a result of Morrissey's lyrics, which takes aim at the shallowness of pop music visa vi...

Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE

In short, you can have a great dance single that sings about crystal castles and princes, or raps about bling and hoes, but until you start writing meaningful songs that the common person can relate to, you will just be another $hit bag pop star that caters to the fantasies of 14 year olds. I respectfully request to hang the DJ.

**** stars thumbs up

Panic



Ask (Single 1986)

I believe this is the first Smiths song I ever heard, either this or This Charming Man. A bit too feminine sounding for me, but it's a good song nonetheless.

Ask



*** stars thumbs up

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (Single 1987)

Time for The Smiths last two non album singles starting with "Shoplifters of the world unite", a decent tune that gets better with every play. It features " Half a Person" on the B side, which in itself is a great song that pushes the quality of this 7 inch up, so....

***1/2 stars thumbs up

Shoplifters of the World Unite



Half A Person



Shelia Take a Bow (Single 1987)

On a whole, I'm convinced that underground music fans have a completely different taste in music than the general public, because for the life of me I cannot understand why Shelia Take a Bow was a top 10 single in the UK. I can hardly bear to listen to it now, let alone on my own leisure time outside this journal. In short, I find it to be a big pile of sap that makes me want to hurl. Not a fan of the B side either.

*1/2 stars thumbs down

Sheila Take A Bow



Johnny Marr talking about lending his guitar to Noel Gallagher