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Can someone explain The Smiths to me?

MILKwasAbadChoiceMILKwasAbadChoice Posts: 285
edited June 2008 in Other Music
I am not that old. I have heard of the smiths and i heard of morissey before, but what was the big deal with these guys. I know its like the first emo music ever and that johnny marr was a great guitar player, but how was this stuff first received when it first came out. its sooooooooooo slow. any insight would be cool cuz im just flabbergasted.
98- 9/8.9/10.9/11
00- 8/3, 8/4, 9/1.9/2
03- 4/28. 7/8. 7/9. 7/14
04- 10/1
05- 10/3
06- 5/4!!!!, 5/12. 5/13. 5/27, 5/28, 6/1, 6/3
08- 6/19, 6/20, 6/22, 6/25, 6/27, 8/4
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Comments

  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    Not the first emo music ever.
    I would describe them more as an indie band, although I can see why a lot of people would think of them as some sort of emo godfathers.
    Johnny Marr is a very good guitar player and Morrissey had quite a unique style of writing lyrics, There one of those bands I've never really been to fussed about, although I do like a couple of songs by.
    Oh and this really should be in other music, not on the porch.:)
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • MILKwasAbadChoiceMILKwasAbadChoice Posts: 285
    sorry its early. can you recommend any stand out songs. its just i listen to them and the flow is so odd to me. i just can't imagine college kids in the early 80's blasting the smiths at a party. Do you know how big of arenas or halls they played?
    98- 9/8.9/10.9/11
    00- 8/3, 8/4, 9/1.9/2
    03- 4/28. 7/8. 7/9. 7/14
    04- 10/1
    05- 10/3
    06- 5/4!!!!, 5/12. 5/13. 5/27, 5/28, 6/1, 6/3
    08- 6/19, 6/20, 6/22, 6/25, 6/27, 8/4
  • Brain of J.LoBrain of J.Lo Posts: 3,259
    Meat is Murder and The Queen is dead are just fucking brilliant from start to finish. If you can't get into those...well...you're hopeless. :D;)

    Oh, and pretty soon someone named "pjoasisrule" will come to this thread and start cracking bad jokes about The Smiths/Morrissey, but just ignore him. He's special. ;)
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    Vicar in a tutu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6KQbjHnGqA&feature=related

    The Boy With the Thorn in His Side - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYp2LGKOF_M

    Panic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AlH2oYedfk

    How Soon is Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NrIALcNOw

    Still Ill(live)(the arcade fire do a really good live cover of this) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxZo5UODCCg

    My favourite tracks.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    no surprises here but this one does it for me:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipY
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • ChazzChazz Posts: 1,135
    Listen to Hateful of Hollow, its brilliant :)
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  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    MILKwasAbadChoice wrote:
    I am not that old. I have heard of the smiths and i heard of morissey before, but what was the big deal with these guys. I know its like the first emo music ever and that johnny marr was a great guitar player, but how was this stuff first received when it first came out. its sooooooooooo slow. any insight would be cool cuz im just flabbergasted.

    It makes about as much sense as Nickelback selling millions of records
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • Vedderman51Vedderman51 Posts: 606
    Big Mouth Strikes Again is sick!
  • MILKwasAbadChoiceMILKwasAbadChoice Posts: 285
    im feeling panic
    98- 9/8.9/10.9/11
    00- 8/3, 8/4, 9/1.9/2
    03- 4/28. 7/8. 7/9. 7/14
    04- 10/1
    05- 10/3
    06- 5/4!!!!, 5/12. 5/13. 5/27, 5/28, 6/1, 6/3
    08- 6/19, 6/20, 6/22, 6/25, 6/27, 8/4
  • jimed14jimed14 Posts: 9,488
    Funny, my girlfriend's little sister is around 23 or so .... she makes fun of me for The Smiths, The Cure and even Interpol .... "you and your "cutter" music" ... ha ha ....
    Jeetz wrote:
    Big Mouth Strikes Again is sick!

    thumbs up ...

    found this video for it ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyxaxZRuX1E&feature=related

    edit, wait, is that even The Smiths? looked like an old early video of them, but hell, maybe it's a cover band? Thoguht the crowd looked space enough that it was an early Smiths version, but, it's a pretty decent cover band

    Try this, the studio version of Bigmouth ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu6Ce2Kl58o&feature=related


    I've always found "Ask" to be fun and catchy ... I love this tune ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGD-C1tbjs

    Saw Morrissey earlier this year, and he was still amazing ... I think Coachella has offered The Smiths millions to have a reunion show and they (probalby just Morrissey) just keep saying no. God, I'd love to see that.
    "You're one of the few Red Sox fans I don't mind." - Newch91

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  • DjangoDjango Posts: 152
    Don't call the smiths emo...that's not very nice.

    Morrissey.....there's no one quiet like him, a total one off really. His persona & lyrics were so un rock n' roll and funny aswell. There's a lot of humor in the smiths songs.

    Johnny Marr ....brilliant compositional guitarist. Loads of layers of details in the recordings and very intricate too with being obviously flash. But like one of my favourite players bernard butler of suede (a huge smiths/Marr fan himself) he didn't know what he was good at. Neither were meant to be singers or front men. What they were good at is being a guitarist working with proper singers & lyricists...there I've said it.


    God I hate that phoney american emo rubbish.......:0(
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    Django wrote:
    Don't call the smiths emo...that's not very nice.

    Morrissey.....there's no one quiet like him, a total one off really. His persona & lyrics were so un rock n' roll and funny aswell. There's a lot of humor in the smiths songs.

    Johnny Marr ....brilliant compositional guitarist. Loads of layers of details in the recordings and very intricate too with being obviously flash. But like one of my favourite players bernard butler of suede (a huge smiths/Marr fan himself) he didn't know what he was good at. Neither were meant to be singers or front men. What they were good at is being a guitarist working with proper singers & lyricists...there I've said it.


    God I hate that phoney american emo rubbish.......:0(
    ^what he said^

    ...and yes I hate that word too, when I hear it, makes me want to punch someone in the face!
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  • Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    pjoasisrule wrote:
    It makes about as much sense as Nickelback selling millions of records
    If Nickelback wrote catchy songs and had a great guitar player and singer ;)
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

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  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    pjoasisrule wrote:
    It makes about as much sense as Nickelback selling millions of records
    I fail to understand how someone who has expressed, on many occasions, a genuine understanding and appreciation of hip-hop. a genre that a lot of people find difficult, could be so arrogantly dismissive of a band simply because they don't like them.

    Not liking a band =/= the band is shit.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    pjoasisrule wrote:
    It makes about as much sense as Nickelback selling millions of records

    The difference being that the Smiths had talent and were original where as Nickleback were formulaic and dull?
    What a shit, insipid analogy and I'm by no means a fan of the Smiths.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • ZosoZoso Posts: 6,425
    I like the Smiths... not a huge fan but like enough songs to call myself a fan. I think they are just an indie band with a unique style... Kinda that werid 80's thing going on there like the cure or something..
    I'm just flying around the other side of the world to say I love you

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    I love you forever and forever :)

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  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    Zoso wrote:
    I like the Smiths... not a huge fan but like enough songs to call myself a fan. I think they are just an indie band with a unique style... Kinda that werid 80's thing going on there like the cure or something..
    Very much^
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    weird 80s thing? i was in the 80s and i dont recall any weirdness. ;):p:D
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    catefrances wrote:
    weird 80s thing? i was in the 80s and i dont recall any weirdness. ;):p:D

    You lie.:p
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Jeetz wrote:
    Big Mouth Strikes Again is sick!
    Big mouth, ladadda da
    Big mouth, ladada da

    :p
    Awesomeness.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    reeferchief wrote:
    You lie.:p

    me lie? NEVER!! :p:D

    i guess guyliner, warpaint, effeminate guys, some wearing dresses some carrying gladioli, could be seen as weird. but i was always dancing for inspiration. :p
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • AiCPearlJamWeenAiCPearlJamWeen Posts: 785
    Add to all the other recommendations:

    Hand in Glove
    Girlfriend in a Coma
  • wcsmithwcsmith Posts: 165
    I came into musical awareness at the tail end of the 80's (and just in time to remember the birth of grunge). I don't really remember the Smiths being popular, but I think I do remember seeing Morrisey on MTV. Along with The Cure, I find that kind of music to being very boring. Of course, during the late 80's I thought that Van Halen and Huey Lewis and the News were great, so who am I to pass judgment?
    "I'll ride the wave where it takes me"
  • TaftTaft Posts: 454
    If you play guitar, it is impossible not to like Marr's work in the Smiths.

    Overall, some of the songs are amazing, some of my favorites:

    Heaven Knows I am Miserable Now
    Cemetry Gates
    Girlfriend in a Coma
    Bigmouth Strikes Again
    Boy with a Thorn in His Side
    Unlovable
    Joke isn't Funny Anymore
    William, This Is Really Nothing
    Hand in Glove
    There is a Light and It Never Goes Out (one of the all time great songs)


    I implore anyone to listen to those 10 songs, 10 times and not fall in love...
  • redsdiseaseredsdisease Posts: 147
    Let's clear this up. Music has been emotional since the first music was ever made. "Emo" is short for emocore which is short for emotional hardcore. "Emo" music today, as shitty as it may be, is emotional music that descends from emocore bands from the late eighties and early nineties.
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  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    Taft wrote:
    If you play guitar, it is impossible not to like Marr's work in the Smiths.

    Overall, some of the songs are amazing, some of my favorites:

    Heaven Knows I am Miserable Now
    Cemetry Gates
    Girlfriend in a Coma
    Bigmouth Strikes Again
    Boy with a Thorn in His Side
    Unlovable
    Joke isn't Funny Anymore
    William, This Is Really Nothing
    Hand in Glove
    There is a Light and It Never Goes Out (one of the all time great songs)


    I implore anyone to listen to those 10 songs, 10 times and not fall in love...

    I think my ears would bleed
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • say_hisay_hi Posts: 312
    Check out their live album "RANK". Its got a lot of really great songs and IMO the best live versions of Still Ill and I Know Its Over. If anyone can listen to that live version of I Know Its Over and not feel something, then they are in trouble. :)
    4/30/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/8/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05, 5/4/06 (Letterman Mini-Concert), 5/5/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09, 5/15/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10
  • Handsome DevilHandsome Devil Posts: 143
    MILKwasAbadChoice wrote:
    sorry its early. can you recommend any stand out songs. its just i listen to them and the flow is so odd to me. i just can't imagine college kids in the early 80's blasting the smiths at a party. Do you know how big of arenas or halls they played?

    The Smiths - Suffer little Children ( 1960s Myra Hindley and lover Ian Brady abducted and murdered several small children in and around Manchester.Steven Patrick Morrissey was the same age as several of the victims.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zqg6ds4_GI&feature=related


    The Smiths - William it was Nothing ("i dont dream about anyone except myself)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeBbfJn4EqA&feature=related

    The Smiths - Back To The Old House (You never knew how much I really liked you cause I never even told you)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q41RWez9Krk


    The Smiths - Rusholme Ruffians ( Violent lovely song) :D
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIaURk_UKCs&feature=related


    The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (Live) ("Her very Lowness with a head in a sling I'm truly sorry - but it sounds like a wonderful thing")
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ5F9yQCu_Y


    Jeane - The Smiths ( "the lowlife has lost its appeal" )
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRghlld8HU

    The Smiths Please please please let me get what I want ("Havent had a dream in a long time")
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYpd3_roHg


    Morrissey- The Smiths- A Rush & A Push & The Land Is Ours (Live) ("HELLO I am the ghost of Troubled Joe")
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNPCB3zKzFA&feature=related


    Morrissey - The Smiths- Paint A Vulgar Picture (Anti Record company song)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVTWgOMSIM
  • MILKwasAbadChoiceMILKwasAbadChoice Posts: 285
    redsdisease wrote:
    Let's clear this up. Music has been emotional since the first music was ever made. "Emo" is short for emocore which is short for emotional hardcore. "Emo" music today, as shitty as it may be, is emotional music that descends from emocore bands from the late eighties and early nineties.

    and most of these bands the emocore stuff site the Smiths as one of their biggest influences.
    98- 9/8.9/10.9/11
    00- 8/3, 8/4, 9/1.9/2
    03- 4/28. 7/8. 7/9. 7/14
    04- 10/1
    05- 10/3
    06- 5/4!!!!, 5/12. 5/13. 5/27, 5/28, 6/1, 6/3
    08- 6/19, 6/20, 6/22, 6/25, 6/27, 8/4
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    MILKwasAbadChoice wrote:
    and most of these bands the emocore stuff site the Smiths as one of their biggest influences.
    No they don't. When it was called emocore it was a style of punk music. The new "emo" bands like Panic at the disco cite The Smiths as influences but they aren't emocore. I can't imagine bands like Rites of Spring or the original emo being into The Smiths particularly. The newer bands, yes.

    This is all irrelevant though. The Smiths were a great band but have fuck all to do with emo in any way, shape or form.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
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