The Smiths – The Smiths (Vinyl LP)

The Smiths is the debut studio album by English indie rock band The Smiths, originally released in February 1984 via Rough Trade Records.

Arriving in an era dominated by synth pop and gloomy post-punk, the Smiths’ eponymous debut was the bracing beginning of a new era. On the surface, the Smiths’ sound wasn’t radically different from traditional British guitar pop, but it was actually an astonishing subversion of the form, turning the structure inside out.

Very few of the songs followed conventional verse-chorus structure, yet they were quite melodic within their own right. Johnny Marr’s inventive songwriting was made all the more original and innovative by Morrissey’s crooning and lyrics.

Writing about unconventional topics, from homosexuality to child molestation and murder, Morrissey had a distinctively ironic, witty, and literate viewpoint whose strangeness was accentuated by his off-kilter voice, which would move from a croon to a yelp in a matter of seconds.

While the production of The Smiths is a little pure, the songs are vital and alive, developing a new, unique voice within pop music. Though the Smiths continued to improve over the course of their career, their debut remains startling and exciting.

This album is a 2012 reissue on black vinyl with a printed inner sleeve, pressed in Europe via Warner Music.