"The Smiths" album turns 40 - various articles (February 20, 2024)

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Backloaded: The Smiths’s Self-Titled Debut Album Turns 40

In hindsight, the band's debut plays like an inverse of their final album.



Why The Smiths' 1984 debut is their most underrated album

Morrissey, Marr and co's first LP lives in the shadow of The Queen Is Dead, but it's a strong statement of intent.



Via @BookishBoy:

This One Is Different Because It’s Us: The Smiths at 40

On this day in 1984, four Manchester boys put out an album that would change the destiny of rock and pop music forever.


Seeing a few of these - will collate them here.
FWD.

 
(always has to be personal dig at Morrissey)


"I’ve been listening to The Smiths since I was inside the womb — no, seriously.

There’s a photo of my teenage mother fashioning distressed Levi jeans with a Smiths t-shirt while pregnant with me, and my first onesie matched. Not to mention my first concert ever was Morrissey in Los Angeles when I was ten.

Forty years ago today, The Smiths released their self-titled debut, which would go on to change an entire sphere of British music. At a time when bands like New Order, The Cure and Siouxsie and The Banshees were blasting through the radio waves with their heavy, elaborate wailings, The Smiths came in with Morrissey’s drab vocals and Johnny Marr’s elevated guitar work — a combination full of sweet misery.

Now, before I go on, let’s get this out of the way: I haven’t met a Smiths fan in the last 15 years who doesn’t express their fandom without first apologizing for Morrissey — me included. He sucks as a person, but I love the music so much. Regardless of one’s stance on today’s “cancel culture,” most can agree that Moz has rightfully been criticized for his many racist and clearly miserable rants. Still, there’s something about The Smiths that remains a lifelong commitment — an angsty phase we never really grow out of.

The Smiths is a collection of ten songs that encapsulates Morrisey’s obsession and distinct worldview. The record opens with “Reel Around the Fountain,” a song that’s been suspected to be about child abuse, but ultimately serves as a prime example of Morrissey’s ambiguous lyrics. And to showcase Marr’s distinctive guitar skills, the band tapped “What Difference Does It Make?” and “Hand in Glove” for singles, the latter being hailed by the group, at the time, as the best song they’d ever written.

It’s hard not to agree. In a brief three and a half minutes, “Hand in Glove” showcases exactly what it means to be a Smith and, consequently, a Smiths fan: Moz with his baring heart, Mike Joyce steady on drums, Andy Rourke’s warm basslines and Johnny Marr’s melancholy-soaked guitar riffs. The song, and the entire album, is filled to the brim with reminders that it’s okay to be tender and kind, witty and clever, and that it’s this innate understanding of the human condition — the good, the bad, and the ugly — that makes up the DNA for every Smiths song and fan.

“No, it’s not like any other love,” Morrissey sings atop the cut’s jangly pop melody. “This one is different because it’s ours.”

The album closes with “Suffer Little Children,” another song suspected of being about child abuse. It references the five children killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, later coined the Moors Murders. The song was so shocking upon the record’s release that several retailers refused to carry the album. But whether the content of Smiths music leaves you shocked or not, what makes their music so unique is that many of their songs — filled with homosexual and asexual desire — are all about the nature of lust, but without the trappings of sex.

And that’s what’s most impressive about The Smiths’ debut. That one of the best bands to ever come out of Britain not only seemed to know who they were from the get-go, but managed to capture that character with their first crack at a studio album. Though we may no longer be able to hear The Smiths without first thinking about how much of a tool Morrissey is, or listen to the band again for the first time, we can still put their debut on and be reminded of just what makes them so great and why being a fan is a lifelong commitment. Even if it’s one we didn’t sign up for. "
Samantha Lopez

Samantha Lopez is an Oregon native currently living in Chicago. She has been a gigging music journalist for nearly a decade, with work frequently appearing in Consequence and Paste. In recent years, she has also turned her focus to personal essays and poetry that explore ideas of trauma, mental health, and identity in a modern context. She is currently working on a debut collection of essays, a children’s book with her partner, and scripts for film and television. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, live music, and giving belly rubs to her black lab, Leopold Bloom.
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"

f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.

I'm absolutely sick of idiots like you thinking that because someone has different views to you, they suck as a person. I f***ing hate both left and right politics for this exact reason and i used to be a staunch socialist in the 80's, it's inbuilt in me to hate the right, but i these days i detest both, only i think i detest the left even more.

Morrissey has on more than one occasion stated he is not racist. Anyone who knows him has backed this up many many times. But people like you are too f***ing dumb to read beyond the headlines. Morrissey has a lot of problems but being a racists isn't one of them. Until people like you start calling out the press and defending him, you just add more fuel to the fire.

Morrissey supports For Britain..... response from everyone, Morrissey supports the NF, Morrissey wore a Britain First badge, Morrissey hates Muslims etc etc the lies grow and grow .....f***ing imbeciles.

From what i've just read, For Britain are against Islam and Animal cruelty. A lot of Democrats in the US are against Christianity and Animal cruelty.... whats the difference? Well i can see one, one religion seems to persecute women and the other is pro-life.... who's the bad guy again???? Oh and before you come back, i'm apolotical and from a migrant family, so f*** anyone who wants to say i support any shit party. I do respect their views on animal cruelty though.... shouldn't we all?

I can't wait until the day there is no left or right politics, no religion, no anything that divides us as people. Until then keep on keeping on (being a moron)

Imagine
 
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"

f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.

I'm absolutely sick of idiots like you thinking that because someone has different views to you, they suck as a person. I f***ing hate both left and right politics for this exact reason and i used to be a staunch socialist in the 80's, it's inbuilt in me to hate the right, but i these days i detest both, only i think i detest the left even more.

Morrissey has on more than one occasion stated he is not racist. Anyone who knows him has backed this up many many times. But people like you are too f***ing dumb to read beyond the headlines. Morrissey has a lot of problems but being a racists isn't one of them. Until people like you start calling out the press and defending him, you just add more fuel to the fire.

Morrissey supports For Britain..... response from everyone, Morrissey supports the NF, Morrissey wore a Britain First badge, Morrissey hates Muslims etc etc the lies grow and grow .....f***ing imbeciles.

From what i've just read, For Britain are against Islam and Animal cruelty. A lot of Democrats in the US are against Christianity and Animal cruelty.... whats the difference? Well i can see one, one religion seems to persecute women and the other is pro-life.... who's the bad guy again???? Oh and before you come back, i'm apolotical and from a migrant family, so f*** anyone who wants to say i support any shit party. I do respect their views on animal cruelty though.... shouldn't we all?

I can't wait until the day there is no left or right politics, no religion, no anything that divides us as people. Until then keep on keeping on (being a moron)

Imagine
Are You Okay Rose Mciver GIF by CBS
 
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"

f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.

I'm absolutely sick of idiots like you thinking that because someone has different views to you, they suck as a person. I f***ing hate both left and right politics for this exact reason and i used to be a staunch socialist in the 80's, it's inbuilt in me to hate the right, but i these days i detest both, only i think i detest the left even more.

Morrissey has on more than one occasion stated he is not racist. Anyone who knows him has backed this up many many times. But people like you are too f***ing dumb to read beyond the headlines. Morrissey has a lot of problems but being a racists isn't one of them. Until people like you start calling out the press and defending him, you just add more fuel to the fire.

Morrissey supports For Britain..... response from everyone, Morrissey supports the NF, Morrissey wore a Britain First badge, Morrissey hates Muslims etc etc the lies grow and grow .....f***ing imbeciles.

From what i've just read, For Britain are against Islam and Animal cruelty. A lot of Democrats in the US are against Christianity and Animal cruelty.... whats the difference? Well i can see one, one religion seems to persecute women and the other is pro-life.... who's the bad guy again???? Oh and before you come back, i'm apolotical and from a migrant family, so f*** anyone who wants to say i support any shit party. I do respect their views on animal cruelty though.... shouldn't we all?

I can't wait until the day there is no left or right politics, no religion, no anything that divides us as people. Until then keep on keeping on (being a moron)

Imagine
First we get “f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.” And at the conclusion you say “I can't wait until the day there is […] no anything that divides us as people.”

Do you want to achieve the latter, by means of the former?
 
First we get “f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.” And at the conclusion you say “I can't wait until the day there is […] no anything that divides us as people.”

Do you want to achieve the latter, by means of the former?

not a good strategy?
 
First we get “f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.” And at the conclusion you say “I can't wait until the day there is […] no anything that divides us as people.”

Do you want to achieve the latter, by means of the former?


I can't believe you're sticking up for a twat that's a f***ing moron that thinks Mozzers a racist.
 
I can't believe you're sticking up for a twat that's a f***ing moron that thinks Mozzers a racist.

Welcome to solo.

Could be wrong, but I don’t think Tameside was really sticking up for the author of that article.
 
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"
I totally agree!
Been a fan since November 1983 and have never ONCE apologised for, or on behalf of Morrissey, and never will.
I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but then I don't agree with absolutely everything John Lennon, Nick Cave, Mark E Smith, Ian Curtis, Jello Biafra, or Scott Walker ever said either. It doesn't diminish my love for their music in the slightest.
 
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"

f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.

I'm absolutely sick of idiots like you thinking that because someone has different views to you, they suck as a person. I f***ing hate both left and right politics for this exact reason and i used to be a staunch socialist in the 80's, it's inbuilt in me to hate the right, but i these days i detest both, only i think i detest the left even more.

Morrissey has on more than one occasion stated he is not racist. Anyone who knows him has backed this up many many times. But people like you are too f***ing dumb to read beyond the headlines. Morrissey has a lot of problems but being a racists isn't one of them. Until people like you start calling out the press and defending him, you just add more fuel to the fire.

Morrissey supports For Britain..... response from everyone, Morrissey supports the NF, Morrissey wore a Britain First badge, Morrissey hates Muslims etc etc the lies grow and grow .....f***ing imbeciles.

From what i've just read, For Britain are against Islam and Animal cruelty. A lot of Democrats in the US are against Christianity and Animal cruelty.... whats the difference? Well i can see one, one religion seems to persecute women and the other is pro-life.... who's the bad guy again???? Oh and before you come back, i'm apolotical and from a migrant family, so f*** anyone who wants to say i support any shit party. I do respect their views on animal cruelty though.... shouldn't we all?

I can't wait until the day there is no left or right politics, no religion, no anything that divides us as people. Until then keep on keeping on (being a moron)

Imagine

No one is buying the "neither right or left" bit.

You're on the right.

That's what you're here to promote.

And that is why journalists who think Morrissey's racist need to stop writing about him.
 
No one is buying the "neither right or left" bit.

You're on the right.

That's what you're here to promote.

And that is why journalists who think Morrissey's racist need to stop writing about him.


Oh f*** off you tart..... you just hate the fact that you cant point the finger, without making up bullshit about people. You're exactly what the problem is with today's left, you try to debate them and when they know they're losing they throw insults.... "you're right wing, you're a racist" mwaaaaahhhhhh hahaha what a fanny you are. Get it, i f***ing hate all politicians, try spin that into your usual bullshit you moron.

Morrissey-solo.com Fanny List
1. Malarkey
2. Any twat that thinks Morrissey is racist
 
I totally agree!
Been a fan since November 1983 and have never ONCE apologised for, or on behalf of Morrissey, and never will.
I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but then I don't agree with absolutely everything John Lennon, Nick Cave, Mark E Smith, Ian Curtis, Jello Biafra, or Scott Walker ever said either. It doesn't diminish my love for their music in the slightest.

What did Mr. Engels ever say?
 
Oh f*** off you tart..... you just hate the fact that you cant point the finger, without making up bullshit about people. You're exactly what the problem is with today's left, you try to debate them and when they know they're losing they throw insults.... "you're right wing, you're a racist" mwaaaaahhhhhh hahaha what a fanny you are. Get it, i f***ing hate all politicians, try spin that into your usual bullshit you moron.

Morrissey-solo.com Fanny List
1. Malarkey
2. Any twat that thinks Morrissey is racist

Fanny List’ 🤭
 
What did Mr. Engels ever say?
Nothing worth getting cancelled over;)
I was simply implying that nothing my favourite artists ever say is likely to sway my love of their music.
Mark Smith said he hated the CND(as did Kevin Rowland) and that he would vote Conservative; Ian Curtis had questionable views on race and Nazi history, John Lydon(not mentioned above) has political views that veer all over the place, often contradicting himself; Jello has fairly leftist views but tends to believe a lot of conspiracy theory bullshit.
Scott said in the late 60s that he could be seduced by the Right, but countered this with the neo-Stalinist thread that runs through 'Scott 4', and so on up to 'Clara'.
 
Last edited:
An angel really…

 
Stopped reading at "I haven't met a Smiths fan in the lst 15 years, who doesn't express their fandom without first apologising for Morrissey - he sucks as a person"

f*** you, you twat. You are a f***ing moron.

I'm absolutely sick of idiots like you thinking that because someone has different views to you, they suck as a person. I f***ing hate both left and right politics for this exact reason and i used to be a staunch socialist in the 80's, it's inbuilt in me to hate the right, but i these days i detest both, only i think i detest the left even more.

Morrissey has on more than one occasion stated he is not racist. Anyone who knows him has backed this up many many times. But people like you are too f***ing dumb to read beyond the headlines. Morrissey has a lot of problems but being a racists isn't one of them. Until people like you start calling out the press and defending him, you just add more fuel to the fire.

Morrissey supports For Britain..... response from everyone, Morrissey supports the NF, Morrissey wore a Britain First badge, Morrissey hates Muslims etc etc the lies grow and grow .....f***ing imbeciles.

From what i've just read, For Britain are against Islam and Animal cruelty. A lot of Democrats in the US are against Christianity and Animal cruelty.... whats the difference? Well i can see one, one religion seems to persecute women and the other is pro-life.... who's the bad guy again???? Oh and before you come back, i'm apolotical and from a migrant family, so f*** anyone who wants to say i support any shit party. I do respect their views on animal cruelty though.... shouldn't we all?

I can't wait until the day there is no left or right politics, no religion, no anything that divides us as people. Until then keep on keeping on (being a moron)

Imagine
Powerful statement 🖖
I've been dreaming of a time when...
 
No one is buying the "neither right or left" bit.

You're on the right.

That's what you're here to promote.

And that is why journalists who think Morrissey's racist need to stop writing about him.
I like your concern. To achieve the type of remedy in press coverage you and many of us wish for requires more than condemnation. The perpetuation of every ist and ism trope is serious and obvious too often now.

One idea that occurred to me was for us from now on to begin listing every journalist that lazily mislabels Morrissey as far right or racist or the like, and then go find mistakes or slanders those journalists committed in the past, and keep a prominent tab going in that vein. For consideration 😊
 
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