Album of the Week #85: Meat is Murder by The Smiths

Dudess

Release date: February 1985

Pretty harrowing stuff. The title track, Barbarism Begins at Home and The Headmaster Ritual used to disturb the hell out of me when I was a kid.

But that does not make The Smiths miserable and whingey!

ludwit

1st Smiths album I ever listened to. Class album and their only album to go No.1 in the Uk. Headmasters Ritual is a very good example of how good an album it is. Its not as poppy as the other 3 but doesn't suffer for it.

Spiritoftheseventies

Yes saw the Smiths in the Stadium at the time this album was released. Arguably Marr's best guitar work. They definitely went poppier after that.
Standout tracks.
Boy with The Thorn in his side, Rusholme Ruffians, Meat is Murder, What she said.

loveissucide

We havn't had an Album Of the Week poll this week.

Spiritoftheseventies

yes noticed that.

Notorious

bayviewclose wrote: »

Yes saw the Smiths in the Stadium at the time this album was released. Arguably Marr's best guitar work.

I would love the opportunity to have seen the Smiths play live. You lucky thing!

Absolutely brilliant album. "How Soon Is Now?" was one of the first Smiths songs I heard and it's up there with my favourites. I almost get a chill listening to "Meat is Murder" and hearing that saw in the background.

freewheeler

Quite simply one of the greatest albums of all time...from one of the best bands ever. Pity they're not still around:(

Reisman

Magic album. Headmaster ritual, what she said, that joke isn't funny anymore, ah every song. Was too young to have seen them live, can only imagine. A seriously classy album, and I didn't even mention rusholme ruffians or nowhere fast. Must admit I'd completely forgotten how soon is now was on it, one of the all time classic works, when Morrissey played in the encore at his last show in the Olympia I nearly dropped my pint of wine.

Mozerst

My favourite version of Rusholme Ruffians is to be found on Rank, when the band splices in some Elvis after the intro. Apparently they did that in a number of their live shows.

Morgans

His Latest Flame was the Elvis number.

This is my favourite Smiths album. Queen is Dead has the infectiously pop tunes like Bigmouth, The boy with the thorn in his side but the making of that album was fraught and maybe was the first time that being muscial geniuses became like hard work for Morrissey and Marr. Here, they simply cant put a foot wrong with many experiments such as those on How Soon in Now, Barbarism begins at home hitting the mark. The Headmaster Ritual is about as close to a perfect alliance between the duo/foursome as you can get. If the trust that the lads had in each other on that track/this album that all indie bands should be looking to achieve. They simply didn't know how to do things wrong around this time.

NapoleonInRags

Great album I agree - but I've always had Meat is Murder quite a way behind either the album before it (The Smiths) or after it (The Queen is Dead).

Meat is Murder just doesn't seem as coherent as the other two - almost like the band were at a creative crossroads before deciding on a more pop-driven sound with TQID and Strangeways. Having said that, How Soon Is Now is one of the most powerful and evocative singles of all time - but seems somehow misplaced in the context of the overall record.

ludwit

How soon is now wasnt on the original release

Weekend Warrior

Not my favourite Smiths album (that honour probably falls on Strangeways) but still bloody brilliant. The Headmaster Ritual, What She Said, How Soon Is Now and Meat Is Murder are my stand-outs.

Mozerst

@Morgans: Thanks for giving me the Elvis song title.

I know it's slightly off-topic, but how you all feel about the instrumental numbers like Oscillate Wildly and Money Changes Everything? Much as I love Morrissey, I wish there were more than three of these.

barry333

oh yes:D

Notorious

Mozerst wrote: »

I know it's slightly off-topic, but how you all feel about the instrumental numbers like Oscillate Wildly and Money Changes Everything? Much as I love Morrissey, I wish there were more than three of these.

+1 to that. Marr really is an awesome guitarist, and the work he did on the instrumentals is brilliant. From what I know the whole band take vredit for producing these gems. I wonder how much of an input Morrissey had on these?

sonx

Sorry I know I am posting in totally the rwong place, but looking for a free download site for music as I am so sick of the old songs on my ipod, help needed URGENTLY!!! Thanks, Son

Glassheart

I was listening to this as i walked past Johnny Marr yesterday evening on Grafton street! Bit of a surreal moment...

The Headmasters Ritual is my favourite Smiths song.The guitar playing is pure genius.

loyatemu

my favourite of the 4 official albums (though I think "Hatful of Hollow" is their best release overall) - Rusholme Ruffians and Barbarism Begins at Home are just superb (love the funk workout at the end of the latter).

They did go a bit poppier after this, I think this one has the best production of the 4 albums too (the debut is very murky, while the production on the later records sounds a tad dated now).

ludwit

I have been relistening to it and I agree with loyatemu
it really hasn't aged all that much compared to Strangeways and The Queen is Dead. Maybe someday it will be considered their best album.

nlgbbbblth

bayviewclose wrote: »

Yes saw the Smiths in the Stadium at the time this album was released. Arguably Marr's best guitar work. They definitely went poppier after that.
Standout tracks.
Boy with The Thorn in his side, Rusholme Ruffians, Meat is Murder, What she said.

Boy With The Thorn In His Side ain't on this LP.

I was at The Stadium too. February 1986 so technically still the Meat Is Murder tour. Second ever gig for me. Supported by The June Brides.

Great record. Rusholme Ruffians is amazing.

loyatemu

oh yeah, "Well I Wonder" is on this album too, which is a little underappreciated gem - really beautiful vocal performance from Morrissey on that one.

orourkeda

loyatemu wrote: »

oh yeah, "Well I Wonder" is on this album too, which is a little underappreciated gem - really beautiful vocal performance from Morrissey on that one.

I agree.

However, any album with How Soon Is Now on it should go down an an all time classic

nlgbbbblth

orourkeda wrote: »

I agree.

However, any album with How Soon Is Now on it should go down an an all time classic

How Soon Is Now? isn't on the original Meat Is Murder LP.

* "How Soon Is Now" was only included on all formats in the USA, Canada and Japan, on all formats released in Australia on CBS, on WEA CDs and cassettes and on the 2009 LP reissue on Rhino.

The LP doesn't flow right with How Soon Is Now? but if you grew up listening to a version of Meat Is Murder with it there, then naturally you'll consider it part of the album.

olhos

cant beat the debut album. the impact that made was huge. none of my frinds listened to those sort of lyrics before. lyrics like vaseline and melodies like skin. the title track meat is murder i never rated much, i enjoyed my bacon, steaks etc so the big Mo trying to convert me put me off the smiths. seen them live in st francis xavier hall a few months after they had played trinity. 87 ? i think. if u like smiths, listen to dublin band sack. mo. is a bug fan of theirs.

nlgbbbblth

olhos wrote: »

cant beat the debut album. the impact that made was huge. none of my frinds listened to those sort of lyrics before. lyrics like vaseline and melodies like skin. the title track meat is murder i never rated much, i enjoyed my bacon, steaks etc so the big Mo trying to convert me put me off the smiths. seen them live in st francis xavier hall a few months after they had played trinity. 87 ? i think. if u like smiths, listen to dublin band sack. mo. is a bug fan of theirs.

The played the SFX a couple of times in 1984. Definitely not 1987.

bullpost

For anyone interested I'd recommend this book on The Smiths:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780711930001/Morrissey-and-Marr

I saw them in the National stadium and for Meat is Murder they bathed the place in Red light - Brilliant spectacle.
They also played Waterford around the same time and someone i know still has a piece of morrisseys shirt from that gig.

nlgbbbblth

The Waterford date was November 1984. It was on in the Savoy. Bush and tree action. Lots of flowers.
They also played Limerick, Galway, Cork, Letterkenny, Dublin, Coleraine and Belfast on the same tour - 25 years ago this month. Promoting Hatful Of Hollow.
Pay no more than £4.99.

The National Stadium gig was a little later - 10 February 1986. They played Dundalk and Belfast the two following nights.

National Stadium setlist
Shakespeare's Sister
I Want The One I Can't Have
Vicar In A Tutu
(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians
Cemetry Gates
Still Ill
Stretch Out And Wait
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
Nowhere Fast
What She Said
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Bigmouth Strikes Again
Meat Is Murder

Encore #1
William, It Was Really Nothing
Heaven Know I'm Miserable Now

Encore #2
Miserable Lie

olhos

i must be older than i realise. gig was probably 84. anyone remember the support act 2 japanese girls with backing track or drum box. terrible, they were abused by the public. any name ? i had seen smiths 1 on totp prior to arriving in the front row at the stage. kept flowers from the big mo on top of my wardrobe for years.

nlgbbbblth

olhos wrote: »

i must be older than i realise. gig was probably 84. anyone remember the support act 2 japanese girls with backing track or drum box. terrible, they were abused by the public. any name ? i had seen smiths 1 on totp prior to arriving in the front row at the stage. kept flowers from the big mo on top of my wardrobe for years.

the support was The Frank Chickens. They were quite good.
Fujiyama Mama was a decent track that was comped on K-Tel's Hungry For Hits in 1984.

loglogbarkbark

Meat is murder was my favourite album it would be on repeat constantly at night when i was fifteen.Mum would constantly pop her head round the door to check that I haven't killed myself.What she said is my favourite song but i have over played it so I listen to the b-sides now.What a fantastic body of work they have.I'm very happy they broke up (before i was born) as there is no sh1t last gasp 1993 album that comes with a lot of eighties groups.

jacool

the memories, the memories
As an oldie, I had the vinyl version and no HSIN?
It was a rush to get the album, get on the bicycle back home and devour the entire thing repeatedly.
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore seems to have been the lasting success as it always appeared on Fanning's Fab 50. Perhaps not their best album, but certainly easy to love.

ruamar

sorry for resurecting an old thread, but I thought some of you might be interested in this station:

Indie 103.1 and this show in particular:

Breakfast with the Smiths

Just remember the time difference.

Apparently this was today's playlist:
The songs played tonight were:

I'm throwing my arms around Paris
Suedehead
This charming man
These things take time
Everyday is like sunday
Shakespear's sister
Sing your life
Pregnant for the last time
Honey, you know where to find me
Rubber ring
Sunny
You're the one for me, Fatty
Nowhere fast
My love life
William, it was really nothing
Alma matters
There is a light that never goes out
Death of a disco dancer
What difference does it make?
Panic
To me you are a work of art
First of the gang to die
The operation

Also played were a track by Electronic and Boz Boorer's band!

The Pontiac

I think that 'album of the week' thread was a great thread.

I think an 'album of the month' thread would be a good idea (a week is a bit much), and just keep it for current releases i.e. new Alternative/Indie albums actually released that month.