#113 The Smiths, 'The Queen Is Dead' (1986)

Previously #218

“To die by your side/Is such a heavenly way to die.” How can such a miserable git like Morrissey write such beautiful lyrics? Those lyrics are taken from ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,’ the second last track on ‘The Queen Is Dead,’the brilliant third album by Manchester’s The Smiths. Two quite different musicians, Morrissey and Johnny Marr were a match made in Indie Rock heaven with Morrissey’s poetic lyrics over Morrissey’s jangly guitars. “But still I'd rather be famous/Than righteous or holy, any day, any day, any day,” taken from ‘Frankly, Mr. Shankly’ is typical Morrissey. 

Elsewhere on the record, songs such as ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again,’ ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side,’ ‘Cemetery Gates’ and ‘I Know It’s Over’ are all works of depressing, angsty art. Morrissey’s sense of humour combined with Marr’s sense of melody makes for a great record. I Don’t think I’ve listened to this record since the last time I did the countdown and I’m not sure why as I really like it. Something that I never noticed last time, which was really evident this time is how great Andy Rourke’s bass playing is, especially on the title track (which features more great Morrissey lyrics; “So I broke into the Palace/With a sponge and a rusty spanner,” a reference to the break in by Michael Fagan). Mike Joyce also does a perfect job of tying it all together on the drums. This album will always remind me of a trip I took to Manchester with a mate of mine in 2010. After walking through the middle of nowhere Manchester, we landed up at the famous Salford Lads Club, which was used on the sleeve for this record.

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