The Smiths is one of the most important bands of the british music history. They influenced plenty of bands, and made with other bands like Joy Division, The Fall, The Stone Roses and the list goes on, the Manchester scene in the 80s They influenced a lot of bands and they still have a big impact in youth today.
Why? Well, when a band is composed of four talented members it is a good start.
Every band have an image, and Morrissey is that image. His charisma, great style, great sense of humor and intelligence make a whole mysterious character. Add to this, his charming voice and way of singing, and his talent as a songwriter. The lyrics are definitely a part of the Smiths success, you could quote every line of his songs. They are deep, dark with this touch of sarcasm, even if the main topics are about love, death and Morrissey’s life. "Nothing’s changed I still love you, only slightly, only slightly less, than I used to, my love…" (from Stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before)
Johnny Marr is an excellent guitarist. His style is very recognizable, in fact, his guitar is a bit like the signature if the band. Sometimes it seems like there are ten guitars playing at the same time, like in Barbarism begins at home. This song is, to me, the best examples of the members’ skills: the guitar is absolutely amazing, the lyrics are beautiful but still a bit abstract, the bass is present that in the other songs, and there is a short drum solo at the end, every instrument match perfectly with each other.
After the Smiths split up, Johnny Marr and Morrissey have both a solo career started. Marr has collaborated with a lot of bands and artists, just like Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.
Moreover, sometimes a band is known for two or three famous songs, but The Smiths released a lot singles, and there is still other songs which are less famous but great too.
The band started with their album “The Smiths” (1984), and ended with Strangeways, Here We Come (1987). They last long enough to make better and better albums. My favourites are Meat is Murder (1985) which includes The Headmaster Ritual, Well I wonder and Rusholme Ruffians. The members are all vegetarian, so it is not hard to understand the clear message of their album. Then, I really like The Queen is Dead (1986), which includes Bigmouth Strikes Again and There is a light that never goes out.
Speaking of their albums, what they include is not the only thing interesting about them. There covers are very artistic and have a part in the band’s image. They all represent at least one character who are often actors chosen by Morrissey, they all have only two colours, and they can be seen as one picture only, but when you put them together, it seems that they all make one picture.
So, if their talent, their image, their songs does not convince you, well I hope this will: The Smiths are a bloody classic!
