The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

You don't hear too much about The Smiths these days. Everyone's heard of Morrissey and Johnny Marr. But I guess they were one of the most acclaimed groups when they were making music. Heck, Acclaimed Music has them as one of the top 30 artists ever. Listening to probably their best work, I'm not sure what all the fuss was about, but I still like it, and I guess I can see what was up even if it's not exactly my cup of tea. My ear is used to louder noises, and The Smiths rarely play louder than a whisper. The melodies are never flashy, they just create a nice background for Morrissey's crooning on various subjects. The lyrics are sometimes odd, but they interplay well with the music. The dude can sing, and a good portion of the enjoyment comes from just hearing him play with words. There are a few times where they pick up the pace and make something resembling rock, but usually it's calm, soothing music.

Most of the songs are brief and to the point, but the first track is six minutes, beginning with a strange clip that segues into rapid drums starting one of the "heavier" songs. "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" gives you a bit of an idea of what they're about just from the name, with a goofy rhyme matching the song's simple, friendly tone. "Never Had No One Ever" is one of the more interesting songs, with a stranger, somewhat creepy mood. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" might be my favorite on the record, with a quicker pace and catchy chorus. There are several other tracks, all pleasant to listen to. There usually isn't that much separating the various songs, making them particularly remarkable, but they all feature solid musicianship and nice vocals. If you're looking for something wholly unobtrusive and pretty likable, I'd give The Queen Is Dead a shot.