The Smiths

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Backloaded: The Smiths’s Self-Titled Debut Album Turns 40

In hindsight, the band's debut plays like an inverse of their final album.

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Why The Smiths' 1984 debut is their most underrated album

Morrissey, Marr and co's first LP lives in the shadow of The Queen Is Dead, but it's a strong statement of intent.

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Via @BookishBoy:

This One Is Different Because It’s Us: The Smiths at 40

On this day in 1984, four Manchester boys put out an album that would change the destiny of rock and pop music forever.

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Forty years ago, The Smiths released their now-iconic self-titled debut album. Mark Beaumont speaks to drummer Mike Joyce about the trouble bubbling behind the scenes, the controversies it stirred, and how it came to inspire and define an indie rock explosion.


Regards,
FWD.

The Smiths’ popularity keeps growing and growing. For the first time they have reached 15 million monthly listeners on Spotify ánd made their top 500 artists which deserves a special mention on Spotify’s platform.

Not sure if this is a joke: tweet says Trump added Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want to his pre-rally music in Laconia, New Hampshire.

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UPDATE 12:34PM PT:

Surface posted the link:

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Media coverage:

• The Hill: Smiths guitarist rips Trump for using band’s music: ‘Consider this s‑‑‑ shut right down’. Link from shoplifterromo.
• Billboard: Johnny Marr Rips Donald Trump For Playing Smiths Songs at Rallies. Link from shoplifterromo.
• The Guardian: Johnny Marr blasts Donald Trump for playing the...

The new Uncut ranks the 500 greatest albums of the 80s. All five Smiths albums make the top 100, with two of them making the top 10.
Typically, Morrissey is ignored…


Full top-10:
1. Kate Bush – Hounds Of Love – 1985
2. Talking Heads – Remain In Light – 1980
3. Joy Division – Closer – 1980
4. Kraftwerk – Computer World – 1980
5. De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising – 1989
6. Prince – Sign O’ The Times – 1987
7. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead – 1986
8. My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything – 1988
9. Talk Talk – Sprit Of Eden – 1988
10. The Smiths – Hatful Of Hollow – 1984

What Difference Does It Make? (Rough Trade Records)

The photographer Kevin Cummins writes a piece in every Manchester City home game programme based on events in his life relating to the town / city the opposition are based at.

Today (Saturday 30th December) City faced Sheffield United and Cummins detailed attending The Smiths gig in Sheffield on 31st January 1984, under the title
"It's Time The Tale Were Told"