The Smiths
"The Smith"
© Rough Trade/Sire
January 28 - 03, 2024
Year of Release: 1984
Rating:
Reel Around The Fountain
You've Got Everything Now
Miserable Lie
Pretty Girls Make Graves
The Hand That Rocks
The Cradle
This Charming Man
Still Ill
Hand In Glove
What Difference Does It Make
I Don't Owe You Anything
Suffer Little Children
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The Smiths (with Morrissey) debuts this week, not only debut on the WSVNRadio website, but their debut album self-titled
The Smiths, released in 1984. The Smiths would release four studio albums. Morrissey would persue a solo career.
As for many bands, tensions arose in 1987, as they would breakup. As for future reunions, Morrissey stated it would never
happen. Since the breakup, Morrissey has continually released albums, from 1988 to 2020, with future albums in the works.
Leading off the album is "Reeling Around The Fountain." It's a song that has similarities to another band that
was already becoming popular, R.E.M. It's quite an impressive song. "You've Got Everything Now" has it's R.E.M.
qualities, yet the first song is better. The Smiths have been referred to as one of many bands on the Independent music
scene, and "Miserable Lie" easily fits the Independent music genre. Independent and also punkish, it's quite obvious
with the debut of this band at the time of the album's release would have music fans taking interest. However, Morrissey's
high range voice (also heard previously) does get a little distracting.
"Pretty Girls Make Graves" returns back to Morrissey's "pleasant vocal range" and some high range vocals (but
not as much as the previous track), and it's a song that is good, and giving music fans the attention that Morrissey can
sing, in his unique ways. "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" is another good song, with it's R.E.M. quality.
"This Charming Man" definitely has an upbeat Pop feel, and another impressive song, from the many Pop-driven songs
from the 1980s decade. "Still Ill" brings back the Indie and Punk style, as heard on the early recordings of R.E.M.
Likewise, "Hand In Glove" definitely has the sound of R.E.M., another good song.
"What Difference Does It Make" was the single from the album - it's upbeat punk'ish style, may (or may not)
be compared to R.E.M., but it just doesn't compare to them, when Morrissey's high-range vocal comes in. "I Don't Owe
You Anything" definitely fits the 1980s Pop Decade, most comparing to the Thompson Twins (?), or even better, The
Psychedelic Furs. Definitely '80s. Ending the album is "Suffer Little Children," with Morrissey's unique vocal
quality (no high-range here) and unique sound.
The debut The Smiths is a good album. Despite Morrissey's "high-range vocals" is the only complaint I would
have. Otherwise, the album has a good Indie Pop sound. And with some punk (as Smith members Morrissey and Johnny Marr
describe as post-punk). To point out, The Smith has their own sound. It does have the sound of what was heard throughout
the 1980s decade. The biggest comparison is that to R.E.M. The Smiths may not as been as popular as R.E.M. Most likely
The Smiths were from the UK, where R.E.M. was from the U.S. (I'm sure The Smiths were popular in their home country,
the UK). But The Smiths have been a influenced many. Having their own sound, apart from the others, The Smiths have
made their presence known in the music world. If you're a fan of R.E.M., British music, and the 1980s music decade in
general, The Smiths are worth looking to, and discovering their music. And also discovering the solo music of Morrissey.
More of The Smiths and (solo) Morrissey will be reviewed here, at later dates.
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