One of the greatest albums ever.

I was 20. When I bought it I hadn't heard that the Smiths had split but upon first listen I sensed it was the end.
Too many mid-tempo numbers; GIAC was a three chorder; DOADD had the feel of Abbey Road. And though beautiful, there was a sense of foreboding throughout.

In contrast to TQID, there were no really slow numbers; no really fast ones. It felt rushed. And then it struck me: for all of its morose imagery, TQID was in the present tense:
"The Queen IS dead"
"I KNOW its over"
"STRIKES again"
"IN a tutu"

Strangeways was predominantly in the past tense:
"I STARTED something"
"Last night I DREAMT"
"HEARD this one before"

And then the last track - I won't share you - was so beautiful; so beautiful in its finality, like the last memory you have of someone who you will never see again. That has coloured my whole view of Strangeways, really. A nostalgic fondness and a bitter termination. Never again have I shared such a passion for a band, and "I won't share" it ever again.

From the first time I heard it, it felt like the Smiths were over. Then I heard the news. Music was never quite the same for me afterwards.

I remember when 'Strangeways' came out. I bought it on tape (didn't have a cd player back then-lol) and it was great. I still wish the band would have stayed together for just one more album. It would have been interesting to see what they would have come up with. Oh, I sent a possible poll question about which song off 'Stangeways' is your favorite but it hasn't been posted in a poll yet.....
texasbloke

Still my absolute favourite SMITHS album!

Exactly what i was going to say.

I remember buying the cassette at Music Plus when it came out! At first I listened to Paint a Vulgar Picture over and over in my room...I loved that song...but now I listen to the whole thing and it's all fantastic..Last Night..is the standout track now to me though.