The Smiths

Posted by: steviekoi on 23 April 2010

If you had to choose your first "Smiths Album"

What would it be?

Thanks in advance
Posted on: 24 April 2010 by Premmyboy
The Queen Is Dead. Definitely their best IMO.
Posted on: 24 April 2010 by steviekoi
cheers
Posted on: 24 April 2010 by T38.45
Agree...
Posted on: 24 April 2010 by pcstockton
One vote here for Meat is Murder
Posted on: 25 April 2010 by Vicca
I can't say. I am an old mature Smiths fan.
And in the time of 80's and beginning of 90's it was their 1st album to appeal musically to me (The Smiths - The Smiths).
Nowadays, it seems that the critics were right, thought: Queen is Dead and Meat is Murder were definitely more frequent in my CD player than other albums.
I vote for Queen is Dead!
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by Joe Bibb
Louder Than Bombs. If you are talking CD, try get the original Rough Trade.

Joe
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by Vicca
Yes, it's very good (Louder than Bombs) but it's a kind of a compilation, American version built from mixed "Hatful of Hollow" and "The World won't Listen" (which both are compilations, too). Versions of songs are not the same, though, overall better ones are on the Louder than Bombs, IMO.
However there are some exceptions:
I prefer "Back to the old house" from Hatful of hollow, rather than from Louder than bombs, while most of the songs from Hatful of hollow, taken from the band's Peel sessions were poorer quality recordings, and are not so expressive, in spite of their charm.
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by Klout10
My choice would be The Queen is Dead and also Meat is Murder.

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by GaryP
I would appear to be in a minority based on the above posts; however IMO I feel you really ought to start at the beginning with The Smiths - The Smiths.

There are some wonderful tracks on The Queen is Dead and Meat is Murder, but as a whole album and to understand what they brought to the student music scene of 1982/83 then neither come close to the raw energy and disillusionment of their first album

Gary
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by RAyling
Agree Gary with your sentiments. After this album, Morrissey's ego got a little too big for my liking - me me me etc.

Reel around the fountain, The hand that rocks, Hand in glove, What difference and Suffer little children are some of their very best.

Love the songs on the "this charming man" ep as well.
Posted on: 27 April 2010 by hungryhalibut
I'm with Gary; start at the beginning and trace their development through the 'proper' albums. You can then dip into the compilations with all their different versions as the fancy takes you.

Nigel
Posted on: 27 April 2010 by BigH47
Anything before their first album, I reckon. Smile
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Joe Bibb
quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
I'm with Gary; start at the beginning and trace their development through the 'proper' albums. You can then dip into the compilations with all their different versions as the fancy takes you.

Nigel


Nah, check out a really good comp like LTB, then decide whether the original albums are worth following up on.

Ignore H he is part hippie, lifelong proggie and likes the soddin' Porcupine Tree - therefore you can be sure that he has nothing useful to say on the subject of music. Razz

Joe
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Brucie
I'm going to go against the grain a bit here and possibly raise a few eyebrows. I actually think their last album is one of their best "Strangeways Here We Come." I'm not saying its better than TQID but I do think its better than MIM and on a par with HOH (in a kind of difficult to compare kinda way!).

Strangeways has some superb tracks and Morrissey has never sounded better (Girlfriend in a coma and Unhappy Birthday - does it get any better!!?). Its production is fab. It was actually the first LP of theirs I bought and that got me into them. I subsequently bought all the others and TQID is indeed THE album. But for me Strangeways is a very close 2nd.

Like I said...against the grain.

B
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Andy1912
quote:
Originally posted by Brucie:
I'm going to go against the grain a bit here and possibly raise a few eyebrows. I actually think their last album is one of their best "Strangeways Here We Come." I'm not saying its better than TQID but I do think its better than MIM and on a par with HOH (in a kind of difficult to compare kinda way!).

Strangeways has some superb tracks and Morrissey has never sounded better (Girlfriend in a coma and Unhappy Birthday - does it get any better!!?). Its production is fab. It was actually the first LP of theirs I bought and that got me into them. I subsequently bought all the others and TQID is indeed THE album. But for me Strangeways is a very close 2nd.

Like I said...against the grain.

B


Not entirely, it is the Smith LP I play most. Rush & a push + I started something would be a great start to any LP...ever.
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by BigH47
quote:
Ignore H he is part hippie, lifelong proggie and likes the soddin' Porcupine Tree - therefore you can be sure that he has nothing useful to say on the subject of music


Au contré , when the subject moves on to music I'll be happy to add even more of my wit and knowledge!
Another advantage of being old is I managed to miss sooo much of this so called music from this age so called age of enlightenment.
Still you chaps enjoy. Roll Eyes Winker Smile
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Joe Bibb
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:

Au contré , when the subject moves on to music I'll be happy to add even more of my wit and knowledge!
Another advantage of being old is I managed to miss sooo much of this so called music from this age so called age of enlightenment.
Still you chaps enjoy. Roll Eyes Winker
Smile


Big Grin

Bruce,

Not against the grain at all I like Strangeways too. Great album. But then I'd want most of them. I still think LTB is a great introduction for a newbie though.

Joe
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Steve O
Has to be "The Queen is Dead".
It must be 10 years since I played TQID yet I've just had Cemetary Gates play in my head from start to finish. A great tune. It will most likely get a play tonight though!
Regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by Steve O
That makes it sound as if I haven't listened to the Smiths in years. I have but only on the mp3 player or in the car.
regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 28 April 2010 by GaryP
Perhaps I should go and listen to some of the later ones again - but to be honest first time around I pretty much gave up after the TQID.
Posted on: 29 April 2010 by nap-ster
This remastered Best Of sounds rather good too.

Posted on: 02 May 2010 by OscillateWildly
'Troy Tate Tapes' Smile, though 'Hatful Of Hollow' is in that direction. Of the four 'studio' LPs, 'The Queen Is Dead' is probably the easiest to get into. My favourite is 'Meat Is Murder' because I don't think there's a weak track, unlike the other three.

Don't forget, they were as much a singles band as an albums band: 'William.../Please, Please, Please.../How soon Is Now?' isn't bad for a 12-inch single.

Cheers,
OW