Strangeways, Here We Come
by The Smiths

From DeusExMackia TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/13/2016 12:54 | #172842 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Strangwayss is a real mix. While it's sound is complicated, experimental and lacking a bit of structure, it is also exceptional in terms of its quality. This is by far and away the best produced Smiths album, a far cry from the rougher sound created at Strawberry Studios on their debut.

But in much the same way that Meat is Murder was a transitional album, this is too. Lots of new instruments were employed here, including lots of piano, saxophones, stings and even sound effects. Marr was really on to something with the dirtier, overdrive guitar found on "I Started Something" and "Stop Me", while Morrissey adjusted his mopey tone that defines The Smiths for a more pessimistic and disgruntled feel. This is transitional without a doubt.

But while that is all well and good, there are signs of issues here; Joyce and Rourke get very little time in the limelight, and it seems that Morrissey was perhaps taking over the band. You can hear the imminent demise of this band in this record, despite how little the lyrics refer to this.

And it begs the question, what would have come after Strangeways? Considering the quality of the production and the new sounds being tried out here, I reckon it would have been their absolute best. But that will never occur now sadly.

Yet perhaps ending the band in almost unfinished state with a transitional album is a blessing in disguise. It only adds to the romanticised mythos of The Smiths, and it leaves a brilliant legacy. Even when they weren't absolutely decided on they were going for with an album, The Smiths were still fucking brilliant.

And let's not forget that some of their best moments can be found here. "Girlfriend In A Coma" is borderline timeless in its comedic, totally inappropriate tone that is so brilliantly matched with its Bubbly, jangly melody; "Stop Me" is the song I recommended that anyone wanting to get into The Smiths starts off with, as it has a good mix of classic Morrissey lyrics and an easy-going sound; "Paint a Vulgar Picture", however ironic, is a sure-footed statement of what the band stood for, not being the typical Top Of The Pops act that was controlled by their label. There's very little to say about Strangeways that is negative, even if it is rough in some patches.

As far as final albums go, this for me does the job. An end to the band that creates the strongest of opinions as to whether they're bloody awful or whether they're the best band of the last 50 years. The band that has one of the most instantly recognisable sounds, and some of the best lyrics ever written. A band that had influenced all aspects of modern Alt Rock and defined British music in the 1980s. That's a hard thing to bring to an end, and yet they did it without leaving on a bad note, instead finishing with the prospect of what have might been.

From LedZep TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/23/2017 23:36 | #194827 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Instrumentally probably the most complex and best Smiths record. It does lack a bit of roughness of the first two records, or the overall brilliance of TQID, mostly in the lyrics. Although still unbelievably cool, humorous and ironic, the lyrics just seem a little more straightforward than the other albums, especially Meat and Queen. It was like Morrissey was trying to become a more pop lyricist while Marr had a slightly different idea of "pop"; orchestral and rich, experimental pop. Still so brilliant I had to give it 95. If you love The Smiths, you know all the people who say this is their worst have no idea what they're talking about. There's no worst Smiths record.

Really underrated album. This album shows how far the Smiths were willing to go to change up their sound. Darn shame that the Smiths broke up when Strangeways, Here We Come was released. Imagine the kind of stuff that they could have done after this album.

Strangeways suffers the same fate "Wish" did. It was the follow-up to an absolute masterpiece and the context gives it an unfair rep. I'd say that this is the strongest Smiths record behind TQID.

The production value is fantastic. Last Night I Dreamt is a masterpiece and a cornerstone of their overall repertoire . While Death At One's Elbow is clearly the worst Smiths original, the album is very consistent in quality and overarching sound.

I will say that the one drawback to this record is the diminished virtuosity of the rhythm section. Andy's basslines aren't nearly as popping and melodic as they were in the early years of the Smiths. Moz and Stephen Street really take over on this album, and I'd be inclined to say that Strangeways sounds more like Viva Hate than they do to any other Smiths record. (Edited)

A very underrated Smiths album in my opinion. It's not quite The Queen is Dead but it's very ambition in its lyrical content and production, more so than their earliest work and is probably my 2nd favourite.
Favourite songs: Girlfriend in a Coma, Paint a Vulgar Picture, Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before