List #9 - The Smiths

I know I shouldn't put Joy Division below The Smiths. Instead, I prefer Morrissey solo albums than the band. Why do they get a lot of play on my iTunes then, is a good question. On former days, I didn't really into The Smiths. So I kept playing them over and over to get understand them better. Until finally I came to a conclusion, that you had to be very very depressed to understand them, and by chance, at that very time, I was on that 'very very depressed' condition. Well, story of my life.

So, The Smiths were an English Rock band that have been called by the critics as "the most important Alternative Rock band to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s". Although they had limited commercial success outside the UK, and never charted higher than top-10 in UK, The Smiths won a growing following, and remain cult and commercial favorites. The band broke up in 1987 because of the 'disagreement' reason between the vocalist Morrissey and the guitarist Johnny Marr.

The Smiths is one of the vital voices of the 80's. Morrissey and Marr have influenced many big musicians in British. They elevated rock's standard four-piece formula. Their legacy can be traced down through The Stone Roses, Oasis, and The Libertines.

Here's my favorite songs of The Smiths:

#10 How Soon Is Now? (Meat Is Murder, 1985)

One of the 80's anthem. This dark song may be the most widely known The Smiths song on general public. Also, "How Soon Is Now?" have featured in several movies.

#9 The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (The Queen Is Dead, 1986)

Back in 80s, this was the first single by The Smiths that had a music video, something that the band had resisted previously. The catchy melody combined with pleading lyrics, as the confidence mixed with the insecurity.

#8 Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Queen Is Dead, 1986)

Some people may not know this, the high-pitched voice in the background is actually Morrissey's voice altered to a higher pitch. It is credited as "Ann Coats", as a joke, cause "Ancoats" is an area of Manchester where the band originated.

#7 Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (Hatful of Hollow, 1984)

The hopeless-romantic lover song. The song featured along with "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" in "(500) Days of Summer" and have became widely-known. Yeah, the commercial success of "(500) Days of Summer" also brought a big impact to The Smiths's popularity. Some people say that The Smiths now have lost their exclusiveness as an indie band because of the movie.

#6 This Charming Man (The Smiths, 1984)

Upbeat and catchy at one blow. The combination between Marr's jangle pop guitar riff and Morrissey's lyrics revolving around the sexual ambiguity and lust.

#5 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (Hatful of Hollow, 1984)

This could be the song that nearly defines the band's whole ethos musically and lyrically. Great song to listen to when you're having a bad day.

#4 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore (Meat Is Murder, 1985)

A unique song. The repetition and sad tone conveyed are unusual for a Smith's song. But, somehow, I like this song.

#3 There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Queen Is Dead, 1986)

Oh, everyone knows this song. Enough said.

#2 Girlfriend In A Coma (Strangeways, Here We Come, 1987)

This is my favorite The Smiths's songs when I was in undepressed mode. A vicious two-minute pop song that leaves you confused.

#1 I Know It's Over (The Queen Is Dead, 1986)

And this is one of my favorite songs when I was in depressed mode. This is the masterpiece art of The Smiths.

Come, sing along, "Oh, Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head~".