To: Dave
Love: Adam
Date Sent: 1/15/2019
The Smiths – The Queen is Dead
Release Date: June 16th, 1986
I remember this album shouting out at me multiple times in a very quick amount of time. Whether it appeared on Rolling Stone (currently #218 on Top 500 albums of all-time), Spotify, Instagram or any other platform, this album seemed to be begging me to listen to it. So, naturally, it sat in my saved albums untouched for months. However, with the bringing of the New Year, I decided I’d give it a go and now I cannot stop listening. I am almost certain that my friends do not appreciate me continuously forcing this album on them, so may the burden now fall on your shoulders. For me it’s a quintessential “do whatever the fuck you want” kind of album, but keep an ear open for some sneaky good music. The first song, The Queen is Dead, is a perfect example because I still have no fucking clue what he’s saying most of the time, but it all seems to blend into a pretty solid song attacking the English government.
I think I am lending most of the credit to the lead singer, Steve Morrissey, who apparently is now just… Morrissey. I was really hoping a rainbow would shoot across your screen as each letter of his name fell into place. Anyway, he’s clearly a weird dude who is reveling in his own misery, but dammit he’s good. In reading lyrics and an album review, The Smiths were apparently crushing the scene in the 1980s with back-to-back releases in 1984 (self-titled debut album) and 1985 (Meat is Murder) and were “hailed as the Great New Songwriters.” On Cemetry Gates (probably my favorite song from the album), Morrissey said he locked himself away one morning to prove to himself that he could write a great song.
Other favorites include I Know It’s Over, Big Mouth Strikes Again, and There is a Light That Never Goes Out, which I never knew was originally sang by The Smiths, so that’s tight. I am curious if it’s only me so far who likes their sound.
Dave’s Reaction:
We talked briefly about what I thought of The Queen is Dead. It is an awesome album. I like it because I hear/like something else with each listen. Each song is a little different than the last and if each is listenable (which they are), it speaks to the ability of the artist to create different sounds and still keep me interested. Your favorite song, Cemetry Gates, uses an acoustic guitar to the best of its ability, whereas the album’s initial song uses 1980s electric guitar effects. The two songs are extremely different musically, yet Morrissey’s sullen voice lets you know that it is the same band. I can dig that. He does sound depressed. I haven’t devoted time to the lyrics just yet, but can imagine how happy they are. It is a satisfying listen through and through and though I may not save the album to my Spotify account, I am happy you shared it. I really enjoy the first song and surprisingly Frankly, Mr. Shankly stands out to me. The original Light That Never Goes Out makes me yearn for Anberlin, but am excited to have been exposed to its rightful heir.
The Favorites:
Adam: Cemetry Gates
Dave: There is a Light That Never Goes Out