I thought I had figured them out after listening two of their albums... glad I decided to listen this one. I’m relieved they pretty much left post punk and went in a more soft rock/alternative rock direction with even a couple of hints at baroque pop. I always thought they were actually never a post punk band. They sound much more in their element on this album.
Need to listen to it again better, maybe I’ll turn it to a 8/10.

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

Some poppier more upbeat songs here. Still a good album.

The Smiths are another band that managed to pass me by in my peak music discovery days. But overall, this is pretty great.

Not bad by any means but it feels like the deviated somewhat here. Took it a little too far

87/100
Fav tracks: A rush and a push & the land is ours, Girlfriend in a com, Unhappy birthday

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.

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.

Love the smiths. Like this album

The ending of "Death Of A Disco Dancer" might be the best outro ever.