put out that really great album, i don't know the name of it, but the one with the Ouji Board song, and the Hairdresser on Fire song..
i know you're talking Smiths. sorry :)

Are you for real? Have you actually tried listening to ALL the Smiths albums?

... they havent made a classic album

good observation

'strangeways...' could be considered a classic. although 'last night i dreamt somebody loved me' is a bit much. i'm sure all their albums are considered classics by some.

But Hatful of Hollow, to me, is much better than QID. Strangeways is great too. Debut and Meat is Murder are flawed and dated but definitely worth having.

they've never made a classic album???

Ignoring my cup of tea and slice of toast, I haven't had breakfast this morning :s

Meat is total classic.

for its sheer ridiculousness.

and the first album.

This thread can be deleted now!

hatful of hollow
meat is murder
maybe strangeways
. .
. end thread

The debut - not great, bad production mars it. 6/10

Hatful of Hollow - Probably the best "album" (although it isn't an album) - 9/10

Meat is Murder - Some excellent songs but not a great cohesive album. 7/10

The Queen is Dead - Plenty of upsides but Never Had No-One Ever and Vicar in a Tutu are filler. Ends with Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others which, although nowhere near as bad as some make out, isn't a great song. 8/10

Strangeways Here We Come - probably my favourite Smiths album but it falls away towards the end. 9/10

Louder Than Bombs - first Smiths' CD I ever owned. Not a proper album but I have a real affection for it. 8/10

"The Smiths have never had a classic album."

I'm here to stick up for it. Reel Around The Fountain? Still Ill? You've Got Everything Now? Charming Man? You guys: "Oh, but the production is dated! How can I appreciate something which wasn't recorded the day before yesterday?". #rolls eyes#.

all virtually perfect!

The production on the 1st is dire, very hollow and lifeless. I'd have done a better job.

Meat Is Murder & TQID are acknowledged as the best, but for me it's got to be Strangeways.

It sounds like an epic journey to implosion, it's wonderful!

But, as you guessed by my username, I find it hard to be objective about them.

I *love* The Smiths to a berserk extent but they haven't released a bona fide classic album. The closest is 'Hatful' but that's a comp. The debut sounds like a wasp trapped in a margerine tub. 'Meat' is a stinker, it's got too much filler on it. 'Queen' is good but it highlights their biggest failing - if they had one problem it was not that they were depressing but *not depressing enough*. All of that Frankie Howerd, Round the Horne bullshit like Vicar in a Tutu, Frankly Mr Shankly and the viciously shit Girlfriend In A Coma can go and play in the fucking traffic as far as I'm concerned. Strangeways is good but still too full of comedy filler.

The best Smiths album? The Best Of The Smiths vol 1 and 2.