Bleep

Within 4 years the Smiths released as many studio albums on Rough Trade, and their reissue is a chance to bask in the brilliance of these masterpieces of British rock, with ‘The Queen is Dead’ perhaps the finest of the set. ‘This Charming Man’ sees Johnny Marr pulling off a twanging folky virtuosity in the lead guitar line with incredible swagger, over which Morrissey intones sharp witticisms. Coupling this with the incendiary power of the title track and the classic balladry of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’, the album has more greats songs than many bands have packed into a career, and is as pleasurable listen now as it would have been in 1986.