Music The Smiths

MikeUpNorth

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Really been getting back into them lately; what a band they were.

These threads aren't complete without some sort of list, so here's my top five Smiths tracks:

  1. There is a light that never goes out
  2. Asleep
  3. Heaven knows I'm miserable now
  4. How soon is now?
  5. The headmaster ritual

Best band to come out of Manchester...
 

kps88

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I'd add on to the list, although pretty sure by 4-5 posts we'd have covered em all.

What difference does it make
Panic
Please please please let me get what I want
Cemetry Gates
 

Chrisjn

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-Paint a vulgar picture
-I know it's over
-That joke isn't funny anymore
 

narnar

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How soon is now?
What difference does it make
Panic
Frankly Mr. Shankly
Bigmouth Strikes Again
This Charming man

Only recently started listening to them recently after never giving them a chance for years, my mistake it seems.
 

Brophs

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Yeah, quality band.

One of the best band names ever too.
 

moses

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I have no idea either, yet.
Aye, still relatively unknown for the actual music considering how damn good they were. Not rated highly enough in general in my opinion. Moz deserves special credit for the quality and volume of his contribution to music. I am stopping now and logging off in case I come across as a crazy fundamentalist.

Rubber Ring constantly overlooked but is a killer tune.


 

Adzzz

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What can be said about The Smiths? Just brilliant.

My favourites tend to come from Strangeways, Here we come but I'll try a little list:

1.) There is a Light
2.) Rush and a Push and this land is ours
3.) Girlfriend in a Coma
4.) Bigmouth strikes again
5.) Last Night I dreamt somebody loved me.
 

Rood

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Never got into The Smiths - partly because I have an irrational hatred of Morrisey - 'How Soon Is Now?' is a great track though
 

Adzzz

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Never got into The Smiths - partly because I have an irrational hatred of Morrisey - 'How Soon Is Now?' is a great track though
He is a bit of a cock but loads of front-men have been too, don't let it ruin the great music.

Can't believe I missed Heaven know's I'm miserable now from my list. Bah.
 

MikeUpNorth

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Never got into The Smiths - partly because I have an irrational hatred of Morrisey - 'How Soon Is Now?' is a great track though
Madness! How about Radiohead covering The Smiths to get you into it...

 

Utd heap

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I could honestly never give a favourite track.

It would change next week.
 

Adzzz

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I could honestly never give a favourite track.

It would change next week.
They're a band like that aren't they?

Most of the big Smiths fans I know (at uni especially) tend to be born and bred Mancs, I reckon it's something in the water in our city that makes us like the Smiths even more, something indelibly Mancunian about the band, even more so than Oasis.
 

MikeUpNorth

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They're a band like that aren't they?

Most of the big Smiths fans I know (at uni especially) tend to be born and bred Mancs, I reckon it's something in the water in our city that makes us like the Smiths even more, something indelibly Mancunian about the band, even more so than Oasis.
That's odd. My experience is most mancs aren't big on The Smiths and tend to prefer The Stone Roses and Oasis (sigh). Most Smiths fans I know are southerners.
 

brewlio

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I don't know if any of you pricks picked up on it, but moses and I spend half a day once slotting a Smiths track into every post we made. Fact. I've religiously had a daily blast of Smiths for over 20 years.

Jesus how do you narrow this catalogue of excellance down to a mere 5?

1. Barbarism Begins At Home
2. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
3. Shakespeare's Sister (Marr's rockabilly riff is a killer)
4. Cemetery Gates
5. London (was a toss up with Bigmouth)
 

moses

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I have no idea either, yet.
I don't know if any of you pricks picked up on it, but moses and I spend half a day once slotting a Smiths track into every post we made. Fact. I've religiously had a daily blast of Smiths for over 20 years.

Jesus how do you narrow this catalogue of excellance down to a mere 5?

1. Barbarism begins at home
2. That joke isn't funny anymore
3. Shakespeare's sister (Marr's rockabilly riff is a killer)
4. Im so sorry
5. London (was a toss up with Bigmouth)
Only Dwayne got it.
 

Adzzz

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That's odd. My experience is most mancs aren't big on The Smiths and tend to prefer The Stone Roses and Oasis (sigh). Most Smiths fans I know are southerners.
Are you based in Manchester? It's interesting because I always find southerners prefer the cure, or other such bands.
 

brewlio

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Irrespective of geographical location, the cream always filters through to those who can appreciate quality when they hear it.
 

Adzzz

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Irrespective of geographical location, the cream always filters through to those who can appreciate quality when they hear it.
Absolutely, music knows no boundaries, it's one of the true wonders of the art-form.

I still find the Smiths oozing Mancunian-ness though.
 

MikeUpNorth

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Are you based in Manchester? It's interesting because I always find southerners prefer the cure, or other such bands.
I went to uni up that way and lived in Manchester for a bit, but that's a number of years ago now.

I don't like The Cure.
 

Adzzz

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I went to uni up that way and lived in Manchester for a bit, but that's a number of years ago now.

I don't like The Cure.
I guess the Smiths are en-vogue with the vibrant indie scene of Manchesters youngsters now-a-days maybe? It's an interesting thought I suppose.

I quite enjoy the Cure, but I have to be in the mood for them, not a patch on the Smiths like.
 

MikeUpNorth

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Just out of interest, why Mike? I must admit the whole faux goth thing was a bit lame and silly, but musically they were a tidy outfit. The whole of Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is a classic.
I think it's mainly because I'm friends with a guy who played bass for them on a couple of tours and it's all he bangs on about...
 

moses

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I have no idea either, yet.
Just out of interest, why Mike? I must admit the whole faux goth thing was a bit lame and silly, but musically they were a tidy outfit. The whole of Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is a classic.
Indeed. I'm a huge fan; not just of that album - A Forest is an amazing tune.
 

MikeUpNorth

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I still find the Smiths oozing Mancunian-ness though.
It's weird that I don't really get that from their music at all, whereas I do with The Stone Roses. Not sure why, but it maybe that I don't associate that kind of clever intellectual lyricism with northern bands, which is probably some underlying snobish southern prejudice I have.
 

brewlio

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It's weird that I don't really get that from their music at all, whereas I do with The Stone Roses.
I have to agree with this. The music of The Smiths seemed to be more of a statement about hopelessness and existentialism that anyone, anywhere could relate to, in particular the British fragmented and disillusioned youth of the era. The Roses (god how I love them) jumped on a scene that was already in its infancy. For this reason alone, The Roses will always be synonymous with Madchester (as will Oasis with Britpop). I think The Fall and Joy Division epitomised 80s Manchester more than The Smiths ever attempted to, but that's subject to interpretation I suppose.
 

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Yeah, it's true Morrisey distanced himself, but he still caught the atmosphere. Like you mention Joy Division, well to me The Smiths caught desperation too, I guess that was part of the 80's atmosphere in Manchester (I'm treading ground I don't have much knowledge on here however) due to the Madchester scene, the drugs, the state of the city in general.
 

sammymc

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Agreed to a point. Mozza is very proud of his Irish parentage and how this influenced his upbringing in Salford. Post-Smiths he did like to point out how he wasn't a thoroughbred Manc.
all the smiths are of Irish descent.
 

Rood

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He is a bit of a cock but loads of front-men have been too, don't let it ruin the great music.
Unfortunately it does ruin it for me because he is a complete twat - maybe I will get over it with time

I recently go over my phobia of Damon Albarn and got round to listening to a few Blur albums so there is hope.


Madness! How about Radiohead covering The Smiths to get you into it...
No Morrisey so works for me
I would probably be best off listening to a Smiths cover band!

That's odd. My experience is most mancs aren't big on The Smiths and tend to prefer The Stone Roses and Oasis (sigh). Most Smiths fans I know are southerners.
I would take both over the Smiths so I guess I fit your stereotype
 

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It's weird that I don't really get that from their music at all, whereas I do with The Stone Roses. Not sure why, but it maybe that I don't associate that kind of clever intellectual lyricism with northern bands, which is probably some underlying snobish southern prejudice I have.

I agree. The Stones Roses personified Manchester and its spirit. The Smiths were great though, but I've always preferred The Roses' bittersweet uplifting music. The arrogance, front and never say die attitude. All very Mancunian.
 

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It's weird that I don't really get that from their music at all, whereas I do with The Stone Roses. Not sure why, but it maybe that I don't associate that kind of clever intellectual lyricism with northern bands, which is probably some underlying snobish southern prejudice I have.
The Smith are Manchester to me along with New Order/Joy Division/Magazine. Probably something to do with how much I loved them and living there at the time and being in my late teens/early 20s.
 

Wibble

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Yeah, it's true Morrisey distanced himself, but he still caught the atmosphere. Like you mention Joy Division, well to me The Smiths caught desperation too, I guess that was part of the 80's atmosphere in Manchester (I'm treading ground I don't have much knowledge on here however) due to the Madchester scene, the drugs, the state of the city in general.
Madchester was after The Smiths' time.
 

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Stone Roses don't do anything at all for me (as you all know - the lead singer being tone deaf and an utterly tuneless singer is the clincher for me) and Oasis had 2/3 albums with 4/5 good tracks on each and that was it. Shame.
 

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And it is impossible to pick my 5 favorite tracks. 5 favorite albums maybe.

Although Strangeways was a bit weak and one of the 5 would have to be a comiplation.

So I can name my best 3 albums. That is my best offer.
 

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That's odd. My experience is most mancs aren't big on The Smiths and tend to prefer The Stone Roses and Oasis (sigh). Most Smiths fans I know are southerners.
You obviously never stood in a massive queue outside the Star and Garter for the monthly Smiths disco. :lol: