Well done to the bulk of the US population for ignoring this very overrated British band. They made one great tune - How soon is now - and a couple of decent singles in This Charming Man and What Difference Does It Make. The main problem with The Smiths was Morrissey. His negative, self-pitying lyrics, his mononotonus and limited vocal delivery and his contrived NHS specs and daffodil image. Marr was/is a great guitarist and in Andy Rourke a fine bass player. They could've done so much better.

If songs about whinging self pity sung in a semi-monotone by a fey man with an Oscar Wilde hang-up to a background of jangly guitars is your thing then The Smiths will be right up your street. Other than that, avoid this hugely overrated critics fave all costs and listen to Justin Timberlake instead.

Some of the worst crap I've ever heard.One or two songs redeemed them from the lowest rating.Music to wallow in self pity by.Yecch!

They brought meaning to my life. Nobody quite says it like Morrissey does, especially this quotation: 'And when I'm lying in my bed, I think about life and I think about death, and neither one particularly appeals to me'. I love them, because they succeed in being extremely depressing and miserable, without that typical teenage angst and bloody suicide cries for help. Too bad they split up. Marr's guitar skills are superb, and anybody who forget Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce is idiot. The band did find itself on Morrissey and Marr, but they could've have done it with help of those two, especially the drums on the track 'What She Said'. I admit, from time to time, Morrissey does have an annoying voice, but not many singers are able to sing so melodicaly. They would break.

While the combination of Morrissey and Marr was the true driving force of the Smiths, in my opinion Marr was the foundation (though Morrisey received most of the attention). Many singers can be recognized on their own, but few guitarists can claim this feat; Marr is one of those who can. A good place to start with this band is their second (U.S.) release Meat Is Murder (1985) as it has better production than their first release and includes my favorite Smiths (and possibly all time favorite) song How Soon Is Now?, and the band had clearly already hit their stride. Many casual fans would be tempted to just purchase one or two of the compilation releases, but that would be a mistake (even considering how most people over recommend for their personal preferences); for though the Smiths were a great singles band, most listeners with any appreciation for the band have more than a few favorite 'deep cuts', and several of these would be overlooked by a compilation (as opposed to a band like the Cure). After Meat my next suggestion would be the band's fourth and last regular release Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) which is highlighted by the tracks Girlfriend In A Coma, Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One, and Unhappy Birthday. Next would be both The Queen Is Dead (1986) which features Cemetry Gates, Bigmouth Strikes Again, and The Boy With The Thorn In His Side and the self-titled 1984 release which includes This Charming Man and Hand In Glove. Finally, to round out your small, yet essentially complete Smiths collection, Louder Than Bombs (1987) which is basically a collection of singles that were not included on any of the regular LPs, but are some of the most well known songs by The Smiths including Shoplifters Of The World Unite, Panic, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, and Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

A great band! I still put in Meat is Murder, or The Queen is Dead every so often. This is a band that was largely overlooked, but none the less exceptional. Highly recommended.

I do not think Johnny Marr was the TOTAL driving force of this band. Marr without Morrissey is NOTHING. They were always meant to play music together, because when they don't, they tend to go downhill. :( I have never seen a band so in tune with each other. Johnny Marr and Morrissey made such total sense together in the aspect of music. The history of rock and roll would be so horrible without them. This band makes the Beatles look horrible in comparison. The Smiths have always been very underrated, which is too bad, cause most people would cling to this music after they hear it.....we love you Morrissey and Johnny...... ALSO- I must say that Virile Vagabond's rewiew of the Smiths is very worth reading, this person is highly knowledgable on this band.

They were fantastic. I thought Morrisey had a wonderful voice. He sang a lot about feeling miserable and out of place, but his lyrics were rather witty. Marr was a good guitarist, too.

how could i have ever survived high school without the smiths?!?

I just never really got them. Not a huge fan of Morrissys voice either.

Classic, Classic, Classic, what more can I say.

ah yes, morrissey's singing takes some level of tolerance, but the tongue in cheek lyrics are a hoot. i like how their music was catering to the depressed/sullen crowd, yet mocked them at the same time. classic! plus the music itself is some of the craftiest pop ever imported from the uk! show me a grey, rainy day, and i'll show you a cd changer chock full of smiths on repeat...

Ahhhhh.....doc martens, bomber jackets, the smiths and a cold brew. Who could ask for anything more?????

Louder than Bombs is a terrific blast from the past. Morrissey became so lame after Johnny Marr left...

one of my favourites... who could tire of a voice so passionately miserable, so seductively absurd...

Lyrically, Rhythmically, melodically THE standard against which to measure all other music. With the possible exception of "golden lights", not a single bad song in the entire repertoire. Their fame was found not only without the assistance of commercial radio, but in the face of a concerted blackout. The funniest, most serious, most infectious, emotional and detatched artists in any medium this century.

Morrissey is a god!

No question the greatest band to ever come of the eighties. All the crap you here on the eighties at eight pales in comparison to the work the Smiths did. Nothing will ever be so melodic and so real ever again.

Waht a great sound in the 80s - listening to Morrissey howl away about some God awful depresssing theme.

The most important 80's angst band...Panic on the streets of London...Girlfriend in a Comma...