The Smiths
Arguably the definitive indie-pop outfit, The Smiths shot to stardom during the 80s, but their music has exerted an influence on successive generations of fans. With a dextrous rhythm section, Johnny Marr’s masterful melodies and Morrissey’s extraordinary lyrical abilities at their disposal, they had talent to burn as individuals, yet the sum was always significantly greater than the parts where this singular Manchester quartet was concerned.
Offering a thrilling alternative to the glossy synth-pop so prevalent during the mid-80s, The Smiths crafted brilliantly heady, guitar-driven pop songs drenched in teenage angst. Evergreen early hits including This Charming and How Soon Is Now? established them among the UK’s great singles bands, while albums such as Meat Is Murder and the esteemed The Queen Is Dead will forever rank among their era’s defining works. Though widely mourned when they split, The Smiths bequeathed one of rock’s most bounteous legacies, and our hearts merely grow fonder for them in their continued absence.
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What Difference Does It Make?: Behind The Smiths’ First Major Hit Single
One of Morrissey and Marr’s earliest songs, The Smiths’ What Difference Does It Make? remains a classic with across-the-board appeal.
The Smiths’ Legacy: Theirs Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Arguably the most important indie band of them all, The Smiths wrote unique songs with an appeal that refuses to diminish.
Hatful Of Hollow: The BBC Sessions That Created The Smiths’ First Classic
With definitive takes of early songs, The Smiths’ ‘Hatful Of Hollow’ marked the point where “even the doubters began to believe”.
Best Johnny Marr Guitar Parts: 10 Iconic Riffs, From The Smiths To Solo
Creating entirely new styles of playing, the best Johnny Marr guitar parts reveal him to be an era-defining guitarist.
The Queen Is Dead: How The Smiths Birthed A Classic Album
Capturing the zeitgeist and casting inspiration down the decades, The Smiths’ third album, ‘The Queen Is Dead’, reigns supreme.
Best 80s Albums: 20 Classics That Defined A Decade
Defining a wildly eclectic decade, the best 80s albums cover everything from experimental art-pop to bludgeoning thrash metal…
‘Strangeways, Here We Come’: Behind The Album That Broke The Smiths
‘Strangeways, Here We Come’ became The Smiths’ premature epitaph. Morrissey and Johnny Marr still feel it’s their best album.
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