The Smiths
by The Smiths

From DeusExMackia TOP 100 COMMENTER 12/15/2017 16:41 | #203158 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I've reviewed this album once already, listened to it too many times to count and I still keep coming back to it. Forget the slightly rough production, this is The Smiths laying out their mantra and their manifesto, and it is wonderful from start to finish.

I grew up with this album and it helped make me who I am today. I bought it from HMV on CD in 2014, right at the start of Sixth Form for me. Few albums could have provided a better soundtrack, with the themes of youth, loneliness and discontent with the world contextualised against the sound of early-80s Manchester that is so vividly captured in the songs on this record embodying what I myself was going through.

Contrary to what some believe, it's not depressing. Far from it. It's filled with a melancholic hope, that despite how rubbish the world is, you are not alone and you certainly don't have to feel sad about it. The Smiths' debut is a friend, an accomplice and an advisor.

And the more you listen, the more you realise how accurate and relevant it is. And just how good it is; this is Jangle Pop like no other, and I could wax lyrical about all the tracks on here. The real highlight is the second half, from This Charming Man (on CD versions) to What Difference Does It Make?, which really is one amazing song after another.

Summarising what The Smiths' debut means to me is hard, because it's so personal and so integral both to who I am and the music I've since gone on to explore. And indeed, I feel like it's one of those albums that everyone has their own personal experience with. That's what makes it truly special.

For me, its greatest strength is the message it lays out: the world is rubbish, and there's not much you can do about it. So, rather than getting wallowed down in its sadness, embrace it.

Because the music that kind of attitude produces is what makes life worth living for.

This is by far my favorite Smiths album. When I first heard it, I wasn't a fan, but after more listens, I absolutely fell in love with it. Morrissey says that he has no charm, but he is a complete and utter liar; he is the most "charming man" that has ever fronted a band. "Reel Around the Fountain" is the best track off of the album and, not only that, it is in my top 5 best songs of all time. The only track that I don't care for on this album is "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle," but it's certainly not terrible. I've listened to this album more than any other; I just can't get enough :D

Despite being a debut record, this album features a band whose sound, as unpolished as it may be, is very much theirs. Morrissey and Marr's performances give the band an instantly recognizable sound, and a good collection of songs displaying exceptional lyricism and good compositional skills make this a very solid listen, even if there is some room for improvement.

I like this album more than The Queen Is Dead.

From joedec 01/13/2013 06:31 | #61300 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

One of the greatest debut albums, The Smiths self-titled album is an instant classic. Standout tracks include "This Charming Man", "Reel Around The Fountain", "Still Ill".