7: May 13th— Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) and the End of The Smiths
Listen to Strangeways Here We Come
Watch:
- “Girlfriend In A Coma”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GhoWZ5qTwI
- “Bob & Marcia - Young, Gifted and Black”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubDVUQon5BE
- “Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SckD99B51IA
- “The Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (1966)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTljMHlyA1o
- “Make It Easy On Yourself - The Walker Brothers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DirmGKf8Ndo
- “Synclavier I - the first digital synthesizer you could buy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIKwoNTicUA
- “Johnny Marr Strangeways Interview part 1”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjdDDCTCc_E
- “Johnny Marr Strangeways Interview part 2”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DWjwfdFCVo
Blog question: Following a range of singles, the band released Strangeways Here We Come which Morrissey is on record as saying is their best record. Do you agree?
I do not agree with Morrissey that Strangeways Here We Come is The Smiths’ best record. I think it is well produced and by no means do I think I could do any better, but I just don’t think it’s as creative as other records they have made. Personally, I think that The Smiths was the best record the group ever came out with. Although the sound is more amateur than later records, they are my favorite songs and I think the best representation of the band. The lyrics are creative, and their sound is distinct. I tried to follow along to the lyrics for Strangeways Here We Come, but I feel as though they have become even more difficult to understand. I found it hard to parse together any kind of storyline or theme from the lyrics, whereas with other records, there was a more clear direction of anti-establishment and angsty romance. I respect Morrissey’s belief that this is the best record; from the artist’s standpoint, I could understand that he might see this as the best executed work. I also might just not see the creative vision in the album, and thus don’t have the same appreciation for it.
ReplyDeleteI personally would have to agree with Morrissey’s statement that this is their best album. I think the production of the music was so much better than their other records. Morrissey still kept his kind of monotonous way of singing, but at the same time added different musical elements. I think the reason why this record was most appealing to me is probably because it reminded me of the 80s music that I am most familiar with. My favorite part of the album is probably the musical element that was at the end of the song “Death of a Disco Dancer”. First of all, the song overall was very well produced, and the guitar solo at the end was in my opinion very good. I have to say that of all the records that we have listened to this one was the best one.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree with Morrissey, while this is a good album I wouldn't say it's their best. I don't know if there is, but I couldn't suss out a general coherent or unified message or tone in the album. As was linked above in the article, I definitely heard the use of the Synclavier in a couple of songs. I think more than the other albums they released in the 80s, this album sounds more like what what was generally thought to be the '80s sound' of preponderant synthesizer use. Of all the songs in the album, I'm inclined to name "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" as my favorite. It has those elements that make it easy to identify it as something released by The Smiths.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, after watching the music video for "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" I'm struck by the apparent hypocrisy from Morrissey when he claimed earlier in The Smith's career that they weren't interested in music videos. That they wanted the music to speak for itself, but by 1987 they were releasing music videos you'd easily spot on MTV. Were they won over? Was it something else? I find it curious the about-face.
--Daniel Rivera
They made videos because the band had broken up by the time the LP was released and there was no other way to promote it.
DeleteI definitely disagree with Morrissey. Strangeways isn't bad by any means but it is far from The Smiths' best work. It is a compilation in the most obvious way. Unlike The Queen is Dead, Meat Is Murder, or even Louder Than Bombs, Strangeways provides no real connections between the tracks. All of the tracks range from pretty decent to pretty great. I relate to Daniel in that "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" is also my favorite off of the album. The sound of the song and the great lyricism remind me of their earlier days. Although Morrissey's songwriting probably reached its peak on The Queen is Dead, "And the pain was enough to make/A shy, bald, Buddhist reflect/And plan a mass murder" stands out to me as one of his best lyrics. I liked "Girlfriend in a Coma", "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", and "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" as well. I feel like the other songs are just sort of there. I think my indifference toward this album comes from how stripped of that iconic "Smiths" sound the album is. Like Ani and Daniel said, this album trades in the alternative/jangle-pop sounds that made The Smiths iconic for a more stereotypically 80s tone. I enjoy "mainstream" 80s music so this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just isn't The Smiths.
ReplyDeleteAdding on to the music video discussion: I find it hilarious how Morrissey said this was his favorite album but he put absolutely no effort into the music videos. After protesting the concept of the music video for so long, he finally gives in (for promotion's sake) and this is the result??? Both videos are essentially Morrissey vanity projects and lack creativity. I'm not quite sure how a bunch of look-alike fanboys and a picture of Oscar Wilde taped to a wall relates to "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" but who am I to question Morrissey's vision.
- Addison Harms
I would also disagree with Morrissey's statement that this is the best album that the Smiths ever released. Similar to some of the other commenters before me, I found this album to be somewhat stale and derivative. The previous LPs we have listened to all had a certain coherent messaging behind them, whether that be anti-establishment, anti-royal, etc. But, this album just doesn't seem to have that going for it. From a production standpoint, this album is perhaps the most "refined" in that it has the most production behind it, but for me, that doesn't necessarily equate to the album being great. In fact, that heightened amount of production can be a detractor from the album as the sound of each song on this LP has less and less of that authentic Smiths sound present on the previous LPs, a sound that was anything but mainstream 80s (whereas this LP is unfortunately more mainstream than any Smiths LP before it).
ReplyDelete- Andrew Myers
Personally, I've always enjoyed this album, but I would have to disagree with Morrissey that this record is their best work to date. I would argue this album has some of the best songs The Smiths produced and released. "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish," "Stop Me If You Think You Heard This One Before," and "Death of a Disco Dancer" are some of may favorite Smiths songs to date and capture Marr's versatility as a guitar player. He has began to move away from their classic jingle jangle sound and it shows. I also agree with everyone above that this album does sound the most polished.
ReplyDeleteI think what ruins is this album is that Marr and Morrissey's creative differences really show. Marr wanted to experiment and move away from their typical sound, whereas Morrissey wanted to stick what he knew and considered classic. It's a quite anti-climatic ending to the band's career.
By no means do I think that this is The Smiths best work. That's not to say that this is a bad album. I think far from it, this is a very good album. It's not quite as iconic as their self titled album or The Queen is Dead, but it sure as hell does encapsulate the strengths of the band. I think over the years, the production quality of the band got better and better while still maintaining their distinct style throughout all of it. Some of my favorite songs by them even come from this album. It's an unfortunate reality that many bands stay together much longer past their golden years and fall from grace to where some of their music is just embarrassingly bad or not comparable to their previous work. I don't think The Smiths is one of those groups. I think they continued to maintain a reputation of making good music and hardly ever failed to make a good album. It's unfortunate that their short career as a group ended so soon when their sound had so much potential for more and more growth, but it is a solid album and not a bad way to go
ReplyDelete-Andrew Naranjo
Although I enjoyed listening to this record, I wouldn’t say that this is the The Smiths’ best overall. Like their past records, this record utilized elements- from lyrics to studio sounds- that make it easier to differentiate this record from others, but there is nothing that makes this record stand out enough to deem it the best. I do think that every new record sounds more and more refined, and it definitely shows with this one, and Morrissey, whom I’d say usually sings monotonously, sounds more lively and dramatic in this record, which I liked. I also thought the lyrics were a little bland when compared to other records like The Queen is Dead and Louder Than Bombs. If Morrissey sang monotonously all throughout the record, I wouldn’t find much difference in this album from the first few albums.
ReplyDelete-Jenny Cho
I disagree with Morrissey as I do not think Strangeways Here We Come is their best record. I think the Smiths retracted their boldness in the previous few records and went back to making songs they were comfortable making and is quintessentially the Smiths, but unlike records like the Queen is Dead, it doesn’t define or re-define the Smiths in a novel way that qualifies this record as their best. Though I see how this record came across as more polished and professionally executed and why Morissey might consider it the best record, I personally prefer the previous ones we have listened to. - Samantha Wong
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not agree with Morrissey. After releasing 'The Queen is Dead' and 'Louder Than Bombs,' both very diverse and interesting albums, 'Strangeways' falls pretty flat. It really just sounds like they want to do what is safest and easiest, rather than taking risks and making what is going to sound the best. There are a few songs on this album that I 'vibe' with, however, altogether it just feels very safe. Altogether, I feel like I don't have that much to say about this album, as I somewhat think it is the worst Smiths album that they made. I think it is kind of sad when bands allow themselves to fall off towards the end of their career and I think this is especially sad in the Smiths' case since all of their other albums are so good.
ReplyDelete- Charlie Whitcomb
DeleteI think that this album is the best of The Smiths' in terms of production and polish. However, I do not think that it is their overall best album. One issue that I have with it is that it doesn't have their classic sound—it doesn't have their signature stamp on it. Maybe this was more of the direction that Morrissey wanted the band to go in, but it isn't a sound that I associate with The Smiths. A couple other people mentioned that is more reminiscent of stereotypical 80s music at the time, which I definitely agree with. Of course, the music is still very good, I just can't agree that it's their best work. In addition, as has been said, the album doesn't have any direction. Their other work had motive and purpose, but Strangeways seems to just kind of be there. Personally, I really enjoyed "Louder Than Bombs," but seeing as it is a compilation and not an album, I'm not sure if it makes sense to say it is my favorite. I enjoy the happy medium between the classic Smiths songs and the smooth production quality.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite track on the album is definitely "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours," for its nonsensical lyrics and lively tune.
Serafina Valisa
DeleteEvan Ibarra:
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late posting, I had several midterms this past week and just completely forgot to post my response. I think Morrissey is completely delusional for thinking this is their best album, but it is also one of those things I am completely unsurprised he is saying because if there is a bad opinion to be had, most likely he has it. It's just a fact at this point. Personally, I like some of the songs on this album such as "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", which has to be one of the more interesting songs in The Smiths discography. I really like the title of this album but I don't think this song alone and the title justify the rest of the album. It is not up to par with other albums like The Queen is Dead or Meat is Murder, in my opinion, as they have a very cohesive, tight Smiths sound that defines their work and is universally recognizable. The album doesn't sound like good Smiths music, and honestly you can tell that this was the end of them all working together. I will say, it does sound more like Morrissey's solo career, for better or for worse I am unsure.