The Smiths' debut album came out at a time when frenzied synth pop groups such as and celebrating great success. A greater contrast with the thoughtful guitar group The Smiths was hardly imaginable. When you listen to this album you immediately notice who ruled the group: guitarist and singer . The first with its inventive playing, sometimes strikingly fierce, at other times romantically whining,
… but never one note too much. The silent Marr is the opposite of Steven Patrick Morrissey, the self-assured singer with the echoing voice and archaic language. The anti-macho who sings phrases like 'I've never had a job because I'm too shy'. The album was recorded in two instances, after the first recordings with producer Troy Tate were rejected. Yet John Porter's 'improved' production still sounds remarkably flat. That problem has hardly any consequences for rock-solid songs like Hand In Glove, What Difference Does It Make? and This Charming Man. Those songs earned The Smiths a rightful reputation as the most important English indie group of the 1980s. (PdK)more
