The Smiths

[McC]

(09-28-2015, 07:18 PM)YorkshireBengal Wrote: Okay, my all time favourite band. As an Englishman from the north The Smiths are undoubtedly the most important band to me be some distance. Given that my other favourites are mainly American, and hugely contrast in genre and style, it makes them all that more special to me really.

I guess my true goal is to find out if they have any American support at all? From what I understand the lead singer (Morrissey) didn't make a great first impression over in the U.S. ...but I was sort of hoping the music would come first. Maybe some have heard them before and taken a dislike? I'd be fairly keen to find out why as I have never understood how other British bands have been so successful in America and The Smiths haven't.

Often accused of being a 'depressing' band, simply not true. Many of the songs are generally humorous, account life in 80's Manchester (okay maybe slightly depressing, but also comforting in a strange way).

The lyrics really do make The Smiths quite special, Morrissey is undoubtedly one of the greatest lyricists of all time for me, it's just incredible poetry. The best two albums are the 'Queen is Dead', and 'Strangeways, here we come' (Strangeways being the infamous Manchester prison).

Johnny Marr on guitar, a truly special musician. Perhaps his guitar playing ability was limited by the style of the band, but his riffs and talent is still plain to see.

Such a shame they could only produce four studio albums, but anyone familiar with Morrissey would probably understand why fellow band members may have not got along with him. Regardless, they are one of the most influential British bands ever, and my personal favourite, far surpassing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

So if you're interested, I would strongly recommend a listen. Here are a few choice songs, but there are far more....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uxP8h0SZRw (Paint a Vulgar picture, 'Strangeways, here we come', a bit of a dig at the music industry and the effect it can have on musicians)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk (Please please please let me get what i want, 'Hatful of Hollow" short and beautiful)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-cD4oLk_D0 (There is a light and it never goes out, 'The Queen is Dead')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEq8DBxm0J4 (How soon is now - just in case you wanted evidence of Marr's ability and talent)

Pretty good band.   Nothing really ground breaking about them, though.  No offense, but I got a chuckle out of the Beatles/Stones comment.