The Smiths and Morrissey

Affable

Prefer The Smiths, like both Moz and The Smiths, prefer Moz's solo stuff .. Or hate both?

Discuss....

Xavi6

Love The Smiths, love Morrissey. Simple really.

And that last poll option sucks btw. Having people who like both and dislike both in the same category is just silly. Why not have an option for each? I'll abstain.

Affable

Xavi6 wrote: »

Love The Smiths, love Morrissey. Simple really.

And that last poll option sucks btw. Having people who like both and dislike both in the same category is just silly. Why not have an option for each? I'll abstain.

Yes, I know, I had three options keyed in then sent the post and couldn't go back. Might ask if a mod can change it.
TBF I would have needed multiple options not just one more, for people who liked one and not the other.

Xavi6

Affable wrote: »

Yes, I know, I had three options keyed in then sent the post and couldn't go back. Might ask if a mod can change it.

It'll just give a better idea who does and who doesn't like them if they're seperate.

Anyway, as I said I like them both a lot and they get a lot of air time on my ipod.

Affable

I love both but I find Morrissey's earlier solo work better.

Xavi6

Affable wrote: »

I love both but I find Morrissey's earlier solo work better.

Ah I don't know. 'You Have Killed Me' is probably the best solo song he's done and 'Irish Blood English Heart' is fantastic.

Affable

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ah I don't know. 'You Have Killed Me' is probably the best solo song he's done and 'Irish Blood English Heart' is fantastic.

They were still interesting albums.
But I'm more of a fan the likes of Southpaw Grammar, Maladjusted, and Your Arsenal at the mo.

loyatemu

Smiths defo - Moz has done some good solo stuff (Vauxhall and I in particular), but he's been quite inconsistent.

Howard the Duck

"Everyday is like Sunday" is probably my favourite Morrissey song while "There is a light" and would be my favourite Smiths song..both fairly obvious choices i know but they are my Favs!

Jimmy McMurtry

Both his solo n Smiths stuff r great, The Smiths is prob the better but he has got sum great solo stuff

AssaultedPeanut

Have to say I love Moz and anything he does but i just like The Smiths a teeny weeny bit more than him on his own. I think I'm just a sucker for anything that I can belt out or dance to! so its the smiffs by a hair

Ideo

i much prefer the smiths of morrissey as an artist. i wonder though whether its because the smiths catalogue as a whole is much smaller and not as broad as morrissey's? he's been plugging away for 20 years now as a solo artist so his catalogue is going to be much more varied, so there'll be some you do like and some you dont. because the smiths catalogue is smaller its much easier to appreciate the whole catalogue?

jiltloop

i much prefer morrissey's solo stuff to be honest, i seem to be in the majority here but that wouldn't be a first. i love "viva hate" and "your arsenal" and everyday is like sunday is the song that got me into morrissey, love it

Driver 8

His solo stuff just isn't anywhere near as musically interesting as the Smiths, even if he generally still has the ability to turn a phrase better than most. It's like when the Beatles broke up, Lennon and McCartney both did what they did in the group well, but lost the complimentarity of a songwriting partner.

Scubadevils

Fully agree Driver, some great tracks as a solo artist but not a patch musically to The Smiths as a band.

Although I'm not really in a position to comment on more recent releases seeing as the last album I bought was Your Arsenal back in 1992 :eek: But I had been a dedicated fan of The Smiths since '89 and have remained so... just got sidetracked with electronic music around '92 :pac:

stovelid

The Smiths.

I don't think he ever really replaced Marr as a collaborator.

rebeldiamond

I have to say that I love "The Smiths"- all of their stuff. But I do like Morrisey too- however, I find I prefer his earlier stuff more.
I would love The Smiths to get back together- Morrisey & Marr were so good together

JeanH

There was a time when I would have said The Smiths. However, late in 2006, after a few months I plucked Morrissey's Vauxhall and I out from the press I had consigned it to promtply after first listen. I dismissed it as self-pitying rubbish the first time. Listened to it in it's entirety and I knew I was going to be a fan of the solo work after that. Yes I love most of his solo work and The Smiths work but Vauxhall and I is something very special.
The early offerings from the forthcoming Years of Refusal sound promising. I'm loving All You Need is Me and the b-side Children in Pieces.
Anyone going to the gig in Kilmainham?

The Smiths..

Defo.

hallelujah

Ideo wrote: »

i much prefer the smiths of morrissey as an artist. i wonder though whether its because the smiths catalogue as a whole is much smaller and not as broad as morrissey's? he's been plugging away for 20 years now as a solo artist so his catalogue is going to be much more varied, so there'll be some you do like and some you dont. because the smiths catalogue is smaller its much easier to appreciate the whole catalogue?

Good point.

Morgans

Dedicated fan for a long time now. Morrissey's solo stuff is patchy. Even on the worst albums there are individual tracks that stand up to the best he has done, (Trouble Loves Me on Maladjusted) (First half of Kill Uncle) I cant see any redeeming elements to Southpaw Grammar. His worst by a long chalk, IMO.

What I am sure of is that none of this solo albums does he come near to the consistent brilliance of The Smiths. Some Morrissey albums are genuinely great - a must have in any serious music fans collection - I would have Vauxhall and I, Viva Hate,m and You Are The Quarry as the three best.

But The Smiths barely had a poor song not to mind a poor album. When you think that Handsome Devil, Back to the Old House were B-Sides. THink I heard Noel Gallagher say that Smiths just didnt produce any rubbish. Youd have heard the demos or bootleg versions by now.

I used to think The Queen is Dead and The Smiths were the best albums - probably had the radio friendliness going for them, but now as I have got older listening to them, Meat is Murder is the best of the lot for me. The 4 are tight then, so confident, Morrissey saying what he wanted to get off his chest, Rourke's bass in Barbarism begins at home, Marr's guitar on How Soon is now, songs like Nowhere Fast, and the Headmaster Ritual. The Smiths in 1984/85 captured what group wanted to have. A real band that could do no wrong. It probably became a little more like work for Morrissey and Marr on The Queen is Dead.

insinkerator

I prefer the smiths to morrisey dolo to be honest.

According to the toerag that is the sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1849030.ece

the odds of it happening though?

minimal imo

Whipping Boy

Huge fan of both. For me The Smiths were incredible and only ever produced one song that wasn't up their own high standards (Death At One's Elbow off Strangeways), however I also love the vast majority of Moz's solo stuff. He's been crafting amazing melodies and lyrics consistently (though maybe forget about Kill Uncle!) for the last twenty years and though there has been some ropey tracks along the way, I think a proper compilation of his greatest tracks would definitely rival The Smiths for quality.

As for the reunion rumours, it won't happen sadly, at least not with Rourke and Joyce, though maybe Moz and Marr will patch things up someday...we live in hope! :rolleyes:

Here's some retro Moz for the craic :pac:

pseudonym1

Great thread
Non comparable imo - As a previous poster so rightly said Smiths was more then just Moz and very complimentary at that - they rock.

I love all of Moz's work if only for his voice - conveys different moods feelings- not nessicaraly to everyones taste. He is what the crooners were to my parents and his voice, take and way of expressing inordinary topics whilst also managing to move with times but maintaining a classic style is why he is so brill - can be a bit mealoncholy but that is who he is dark deep complex and wonderful

As for them all re- forming - cant see that happening although maybe they are holding out as would make an absolute mint - need to do it soon though could be bit of a shame to see them all jumping around on stage as old men!

Placid_Casual

Its The Smiths for me, though I have to admit that i'm not that familiar with Morrisey's earlier solo stuff, so my opinion is only semi-informed.
Like a few people have said, The Smiths were far more interesting musically. Is there anything from Moz's solo career that can touch the likes of How Soon Is Now?

KrazeeEyezKilla

The Smiths were like the Beatles in that they were only around for a short time but were constantly releasing music in that time. The combination of them worked perfectly and there was no way it could be matched by Morrissey solo. He still has had some very good stuff solo especially You Are The Quarry.

IanCurtis

Surely Morrissey won't be stupid and attempt any reunion? I just can't see that happening.

He's a class performer in his own right.

Dan133269

stovelid wrote: »

The Smiths.

I don't think he ever really replaced Marr as a collaborator.

quoted for truth, some have described Morrissey's solo career as a fruitless search for JM mark II. Nevertheless, it's been a pretty exciting and excellent career working with guitarists who aren't as gifted as Johnny.

IanCurtis wrote: »

Surely Morrissey won't be stupid and attempt any reunion? I just can't see that happening.

He's a class performer in his own right.

I hope he'll change his bloody mind soon. It's such an utter shame that the Smiths won't reform, the 4 of them are all still young, Morrissey is 4 years older than marr, rourke and joyce, they are all in good shape, all still involved in music. They could even get Craig Gannon in as the extra guitarist. Reforms of other bands happens after 1 of them dies, when they're all old and grey etc, now would be such a perfect time for a reunion.

For those who don't know, Morrissey is still extremely bitter about Mike Joyce taking him to court in 1996 for unpaid royalties. The song "Sorrow Will come in the end" is Morrissey dreaming about murdering Joyce. Unless Moz changes his quite unfair opinion of Joyce, the reunion of all 4 of them is certainly never going to happen.

The website Morrissey-solo.com reported that Moz and Marr were spotted together in Manchester a few months back, of course sparked premature talk of a reunion. More than likely it was to talk about the release of "The sound of the smiths" which they were both involved in. I think the prospect of Morrissey and Marr working together again is plausible, although I think calling it The Smiths without rourke or joyce just isn't fair in my opinion because whatever about joyce's input into the Smiths, Rourke's bass lines were undeniably brilliant and did help form the Smiths sound.

As regards which is better, I think most Morrissey fans are in agreement that the Smiths catalogue is that bit better than Morrissey's. The fact that the Smiths songs get louder applause at Morrissey's gigs than his solo stuff says it all really. There's a good chance of Morrissey coming to Ireland again next year, he's embarking on a world tour, starting in U.S. and then Australia and New Zealand, he seems to like playing here, with it being his ancestral home and all. Fingers crossed for a few concerts anyay. Viva Moz

bigstar

smiths defo, i like morrisey too but theres nothing better than the smiths

sparkzter

I love and prefer The Smiths- a great band and while Moz's solo stuff is ok- he has never re-captured the magic of the original Morrisey/Marr collebaration!

Scubadevils

Anyone else pick up The Smiths Singles Box Set? Well worth the purchase, just bought there over the weekend and very nice to have the 7" singles with original artwork etc, and a bag of badges plus poster :pac:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smiths-7-Vinyl/dp/B001GNTFFQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1235510007&sr=8-7

http://www.discogs.com/Smiths-Singles-Box/release/1577589

Also, does anyone know if there is a another set planned? A part 2 etc would be nice.

PaulBrewer

Bought the CD!

I've seen both The Smiths and Morrissey live a few times.

The Smiths will always be on top in my mind.

Morrissey could never and didn't, replace the magic that was Marr. Mike and Andy were also players of great personality unlike the current lot.

Scubadevils

Ah yeah, The Smiths will always have a huge place in my heart too. They were like the soundtrack to my early teens especially and bring back such great memories of school discos, first time drinking alcohol, going on the hop, first girlfriends, a crush on a mates sister who liked The Smiths etc etc Same actually for The Cure too, but again, rave came along and bit me, bit me hard

PaulBrewer

Felixdhc wrote: »

They were like the soundtrack to my early teens especially and bring back such great memories of school discos, first time drinking alcohol, going on the hop, first girlfriends,

I don't really remember all that stuff ...... however I do recall my first Smiths gig!!

Scubadevils

PaulBrewer wrote: »

I don't really remember all that stuff ...... however I do recall my first Smiths gig!!

I wish I had seen them live, I only started getting into them though when I was 12 or 13 which would have been in 1988/89 so not much chance of that! I did see Morrissey once though which was a bit of a letdown.

PaulBrewer

Saw them in the SFX and Galway Leisureland. 1984 I think!

Anto McC

Love Morrissey but love the Smiths even more

pseudonym1

Moz is playing in Lsisureland in April!

Black NG-60-90

I have to say The Smiths on this one, mainly because Johnny Marr is such a great guitarist and everything they've done is just brilliant. Morrissey has released some good solo stuff but overall his solo career was kinda patchy.

Valmont

I prefer Morrissey. I only started listening to him recently but already I have more favourites from him than the Smiths but I suppose that's just down to Morrissey's output. Vauxhall and I is just brilliant. You have Killed me is one of my faves but Speedway definitely takes the win for best Morrissey song.

Notorious

To me the Smiths and Morrissey are all the one, I love both of their music. I haven't gotten Years of Refusal yet, but I've played "Throwing my Arms Around Paris" a few times and so far I'm not overly keen on it. I'll be getting my hands on the new album very soon though. I'm too young to have seen the Smiths live. I'm very jealous of all of you who have!

If I was to pick favourite songs;
Morrissey - "Hairdresser on Fire"
The Smiths - "Cemetery Gates"