This is it, the big one. The Rolling Stone five star all time great Smiths album. I don't really believe in this kind of stuff, especially with this band. BUT, if you're going to leave the house to DJ, or if you're going to throw a record on the turntable, this is probably the one to have. I mean really you should have most or all of their discography in your iPod, but if you don't, this is a great place to start. "Bigmouth Strikes Again," is probably the most played Smiths "club" track. "Cemetry Gates," is one of their greatest and most talked about tracks, "The Boy with the Thorn In His Side" is the "Morrissey Night" Fave. There's also "Some Girls" (if you don't have the live version track it down it's amazing) and the title track - for whatever reason when the English sing politics it sounds so fucking cool, but when we (Americans) do it we sound like total douche bags... "Franky Mr. Shankly," is a personal fave of mine about a record executive asshole they had to deal with. "I Know It's Over" and "Never Had No One Ever" are the two least talked about tracks and both are fantastic - you start to hear Morrissey developing the sound that would emerge in his solo stuff, more moody and broody. "Vicar In A Tutu," another short jingle jangle song that I would again urge you to track down the Rank version of. Which leaves us with "There is a Light That Never Goes Out." Perhaps the greatest song that's ever been recorded? For real, this is THE Smiths song, if you only own one Smiths song, this is the one you should own, so if you only own one Smiths album, a real crime I'd say, but if you do, this is the one to own. I can not really put this song into words, play it over and over if you've lost a love, or found a love, found a friend or lost a friend, like so many of us have this bitter sweet summer. If you love music of any kind this album will not collect dust, a must for everyone...

• 180g black vinyl pressing
  
• housed in full color repro gatefold packaging
• printed inner sleeve
• original release year: 1986
• music label: Warner Brothers 2012

reviewed by Roctakon 08/2009

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