Best Morrissey/Smiths album

[Gatecrasher]

I'd have to plump for 'Bona Drag'; I'm listening to it now and it is sublime. Best Smiths album is probably 'Hatful of Hollow' or if you want a proper album, "Meat is Murder".

De Ja Vu anyone?

[Super Mabbutt]

Whichever one gives off most heat when burnt

[First safety]

Have you read a book by Willy Russell "The wrong boy" ?quite an amusing read which draws on the main characters liking of the Smiths.

[Father Fertile]

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
I'd have to plump for 'Bona Drag'; I'm listening to it now and it is sublime. Best Smiths album is probably 'Hatful of Hollow' or if you want a proper album, "Meat is Murder".

:hmph: The Smiths can be called many things but SUBLIME?! Can't say i've ever thought of them as that!

[Gatecrasher]

They're the greatest band in the history of popular music. Combined with Johnny Marr's fluid guitar lines and Morrissey's arch lyrics, you have a rythym section that are approaching perfection.

Sublime. Oh yes.

[Palace Palare]

Both The Smiths and Morrissey have always produced flawed albums in my opinion - some, of course, are more flawed than others. Its just the immensiity of it when they get one track right that grabs me and thankfully there are lots of examples of that :)

In terms of studio albums, I'd have to go for 'The Queen is Dead for The Smiths and probably 'Vauxhall and I' for Morrissey, so no surprises there :rolleyes:

Having said that I play 'The World Won't Listen' quite a bit due to its greatest hits type composition (don't have 'Louder Than Bombs' or any of the later compilations).

As an aside to the main question, I do like 'Strangeways here we come' and 'Maladjusted', both of which took a bit of a caning from the critics :confused:

[Gatecrasher]

'Strangeways' is very good. I particularly like 'Unhappy Birthday' which I used to play on the birthday of a girl who had dumped me when I still liked her as a kind of ...... I don't know what, and it didn't help.

Good though.

[Father Fertile]

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
They're the greatest band in the history of popular music. Combined with Johnny Marr's fluid guitar lines and Morrissey's arch lyrics, you have a rythym section that are approaching perfection.

Sublime. Oh yes.

;) As with most things in life Gatecrasher it's all about personal opinions and i was just giving mine, no more no less. Now F**k the Smiths talk there's only 15 to kick off! COME ON!!!!!!!!! :lux:

[magician]

smiths = queen is dead
mozzer= your arsenal
have been in ireland so havent heard the new one yet

[DANGERMOUSE]

Originally posted by Ed209Mrk2
De Ja Vu anyone? That was by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

[west country boy]

Deffo "The Queen is Dead", but "Strangeways..." is an under-rated gem of a record (although the intro of "Girlfriend in a Coma" always reminds me of "Jive Talking").

[El Aguila]

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
They're the greatest band in the history of popular music.
Really? I mean, do you really think that?

[Gatecrasher]

Er, yes.

[El Aguila]

Fair enough...... "Por gustos, colores". I must say I think they came along a bit late in the hsitory of popular music to be "the greatest", though.

[Palace Palare]

'Meat is murder' is a strange one for me. Its not my favourite by quite a way, but when I remind myself of the track listing I concede that it contains some irreputable classics ("That joke...", "Well I wonder", "How soon...", "Rusholme Ruffians" etc.). Perhaps its because I catch these tracks on other compilations :confused:

Anyway, there is something about the overall production on the album which muddies it :confused: I was never that keen on the title track but hearing it performed live on the Morrissey tour, two years back, it came over superbly :)

[mr.twig]

bona drag or viva hate for his solo
queen for the smiths with louder than bombs very close

[celery stick]

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
'Strangeways' is very good. I particularly like 'Unhappy Birthday' which I used to play on the birthday of a girl who had dumped me when I still liked her as a kind of ...... I don't know what, and it didn't help.



I used to do that!

It wasn't Angela was it?
:)

[Gatecrasher]

I'd like to wish you an unhappy birthday
Cos you're evil and you lie
And if you should die
I might feel slightly sad but I won't cry

Not Angela. Lisa this one's name was. :)

[DuncanW]

Originally posted by El Aguila
Fair enough...... "Por gustos, colores". I must say I think they came along a bit late in the hsitory of popular music to be "the greatest", though.

So when did that get sewn up then??

[Smurph]

I like the first one, but never bought any of the others so I'm not ideally qualified to judge.

[El Aguila]

Originally posted by DuncanW
So when did that get sewn up then??
Some time in the late sixties or early seventies, I reckon, between "Satisfaction" and "Soul Survivor". I like rock'n'roll though, and if the whole "group" thing started in the 60s, my timing seems logical.

[Tim of the 80's]

Originally posted by Palace Palare
Both The Smiths and Morrissey have always produced flawed albums in my opinion - some, of course, are more flawed than others. Its just the immensiity of it when they get one track right that grabs me and thankfully there are lots of examples of that :)

In terms of studio albums, I'd have to go for 'The Queen is Dead for The Smiths and probably 'Vauxhall and I' for Morrissey, so no surprises there :rolleyes:

Having said that I play 'The World Won't Listen' quite a bit due to its greatest hits type composition (don't have 'Louder Than Bombs' or any of the later compilations).

As an aside to the main question, I do like 'Strangeways here we come' and 'Maladjusted', both of which took a bit of a caning from the critics :confused:

I'd pretty much agree with everything you said here, some great tunes on inconsistent albums. I've actually got a preference for Morrissey's solo stuff, I think his voice got better when he left the Smiths. I also think that one of his strengths is being able to find a talented tune writing partner who he can bring the best out of (Marr and Boorer have done diddly worth talking about without him. Boomslang? Polecats?
pah!).

Incidentally, You are the Quarry has got a similar stately feel to Vauxhall and I and is rather good.

[GOD]

The new alblum is great and I've just got a ticket to see Moz at RFH next month :lux: