"Paint a Vulgar Picture" is as powerful a piece of art about the shallowness of the recording industry as you will EVER hear. It is poignant and serious, depicting the vulgar greed of record company executives as they eagerly plot to exploit the death of one of their stars. Sick and funny at the same time, as are most of the Smiths' songs. It even makes a topical reference to "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby." A masterpiece!
Then just to show how you just CAN'T take them too seriously, listen to "Girlfriend in a Coma" and just SEE if you can keep a straight face. The peppy, upbeat music belies the morbid seriousness of a girlfriend placed in a coma by an obviously violent man who is secretly hoping she will die. Black humor at its best.
And "Unhappy Birthday" is a classic! "I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday/because you're evil and you lie/and if you should die/I may feel slightly sad/but I won't cry." Beautiful!
A MUST HAVE for a Smiths Fan who GETS IT!
Sean.
While the popular consensus is that The Queen Is Dead was their masterpiece, I tend to find Strangeways their finest studio achievement, which unfortunately was followed by the breakup of the band after the recording was complete (but before the album was released). How daring is it that the opening number, the great A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours, contains not one bit of guitar? Or the overlooked masterpiece Death of a Disco Dancer, where the band fires on all cylinders and Morrissey delivers some of his wryest and best lyrics to date? Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before is awesome, and if Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me doesn't tug at your heart, from the eerie intro to the pleading performances from all 4 band members, then something is wrong with you. Bitterness and sadness drip from Unhappy Birthday, which is often overlooked in The Smiths' canon of work. Even the final track, I won't share you, which is simply Marr on autoharp and Morrissey singing with a little bass from Rourke, is pure perfection. As is the album (with the exception of one song, the lame Death At One's Elbow).
To me Strangeways is the most cohesive Smiths album. Perhaps that is because it is the shortest, clocking in at a little over 30 minutes. This my favorite group of all time and Strangeways is my favorite Smiths album. I can't say whether or not it is their best because each Smiths album showcases a different hue of Smithsdom. I don't understand why some reviewers think that "Death of a Disco Dancer" is a bad song. I think it is absolutely brilliant. Morrissey is as wry as ever, seeming somewhat weary. The music grows and grows into a frenzy thanks to some odd pianer' playing from Moz and some great drumming from Mike Joyce at the song's climax. Every other song, with the exception of the somewhat listenable "Death at One's Elbow," is terrific. If you don't know much about the Smiths, I advise you-no, I command you to check them out. They are one of the few bands in history that can be truly life-changing.
I can't believe the negative comments this album gets and how everyone praises "The Queen Is Dead" over this album. "The Queen Is Dead" was same Smiths formula. Now I love all of The Smiths albums(Their one of my favorite bands ever) But lets be frank they do same formula which isn't bad because its good. However this album is the most creative and amazing albums of The Smiths. It goes from beatuy to madness. It also features Morrissey's best lyrics ever written and Marr's best guitar work out of all the albums. "Paint A Vulgar Picture" is one of the most beatiful songs I've ever heard and "Last Night I Dreamnt Someone Loved Me" is a great song for the depressed hopeless romantic like myself. Do yourself a favor if you have taste and hear for a differnt sound pick up this album.
Let me first state that I am a Smiths fan in every sense of the word. I wore my Queen Is Dead shirt to school picture day, for God's sake! But this is my honestly analytical opinion on "Strangeways, Here We Come".
The person who got me into The Smiths was my dad, British junkie that he is, and when he found this CD buried in a little indie record store, he was overjoyed and mystified, saying that he'd completely forgotten about this album (hmmm, now what does that tell us). So, I copied it and commenced listening.
1. A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
Probably the best song on the album, actually. With a mock-ghostly, dramatic beginning, blossoming into a catchy and (I wince to use this word, but I must) bouncy vocal preformance. 5/5 stars
2. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
This song is either about homosexual rape or something beyond the realms of my understanding. And what's with the gutteral growling Morrissey's been toying with? This song actually has a really good beat. 3/5
3. Death of a Disco Dancer
This is an example of what came out of Morrissey's mind late one night after downing just a few too many. A strangely artificial beginning, dry lyrics, not my favorite song on the album. 3/5
4. Girlfriend In A Coma
This one I like, despite the very un-Smiths-like sound to it. Morrissey's characteristically grim humor abounds, if looking through another person's eyes (do you really think he has a GIRLfriend?). 4/5
5. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
A good title, if nothing else! But also a good vocal, good lyrics (when are they not?). But Moz, who is the "shy, bald Buddhist"? 4/5
6. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
This song made me cry the first time I heard it, but through my tears I couldn't help but wonder who the people were, screaming in apparent agony in the backround. Oh, but I love this song. "Last night I felt real arms around me. No hope, no harm, just another false alarm." How true. 5/5
7. Unhappy Birthday
Hilarious like a sledgehammer on your head! With a mock-cocky rhythm, and cheerfully hateful lyrics, I can't help liking this. 4/5
8. Paint A Vulgar Picture
A pretty good idea lyrically, but they carry it on a bit too long. A strong dosage of reality, but not done particularly well, I must say. Except for the "dance my legs down to the knees" bit. 3/5
9. Death At One's Elbow
Oh, Morrissey and Marr, WHY? It's upbeat to the point of painful, the lyrics make little sense, and dear God was that a tambourine??? Goodbye my love indeed. 1/5
10. I Won't Share You
In my father's words, "beautiful". Well, he was never much for analyzing, but indeed it is. An acoustic is always a good way to end an album. Written for Marr, possibly? 5/5
There you are. Rate me, hate me, bless me, help me (wait, who am I talking to) keep scrolling down your computer screen, I don't care. My overall take on Strangeways, Here We Come is 4/5 stars. Cheers.
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