THE SMITHS-MEAT IS MURDER.

dereksmusicblog ♦ August 8, 2011 ♦ Leave a comment

THE SMITHS-MEAT IS MURDER.

There are some eras when music wasn’t exactly at its strongest. One example that spring to mind are during the 1970s’ when prog rock was popular. It seemed like an overblown and pompous type of music. Thankfully, it hasn’t made a comeback. Another era that immediately springs to mind are the mid-1980s’. During that period, I was at college, and was exposed to every type of music that was around. Although I enjoyed some of the music, much of it left me cold. However, one band I loved, and still love, are The Smiths. In February 1985, they had just released their second album, Meat Is Murder. This was the follow up to 1984’s eponymous album. On Meat Is Murder’s release, it became the group’s only number one album in the UK. It was a very different album from their debut album, as it was much more political and vociferous, even controversial. It dealt with a number of subjects including vegetarianism and corporal punishment. This touched a nerve with and suddenly, Morrissey became a spokesman for a generation. That helped launch the band and quickly, they became one of the most poplar bands of the decade. Incredibly, they’re as popular today, as they’ve ever been, and their music as relevant as ever.

The Smiths previous album The Smiths been critically acclaimed on its release, and a commercial success, reaching number two in the UK album charts. When the album was released some people were slightly disappointed with John Porter’s production of the album. This they felt, let the album down. 

By the time the group had reconvened to record Meat Is Murder, the band decided to make one change from their previous album. John Porter who had produced their debut album, wouldn’t produce the new album. Instead, Morrissey and Johnny Marr decided to produce the album themselves, assisted only by engineer Stephen Street. At the time, many people must have thought this a strange decision as neither Morrissey nor Marr, had any previous production experience. This decision worked well, and the production on Meat Is Murder is far superior to that of their debut album. 

One thing that made Meat Is Murder stand out, was the album cover. The cover is an edited still from Emile de Antonio’s 1969 documentary In the Year of the Pig, which traced the origins of the Vietnam war. In a previous article, I wrote about some of the  greatest album covers of all time, which included Meat Is Murder. The album cover made this one of the most instantly recognizable albums of the decade. With the combination of brilliant, powerful music and a classic album cover, this made Meat Is Murder a potent combination. On the album are ten songs, and they include some of the best songs The Smiths ever recorded. 

Meat Is Murder opens with The Headmaster Ritual, an anti-corporal punishment track, which railed against children being belted or caned in schools. Thankfully, that no longer goes on, but when this track was released, this had been the norm. The track brightly bursts into life, with Johnny Marr’s jangling guitar combining with  Andy Rourke’s bass and Mike Joyce’s drums. When Morrissey’s vocal enters it’s strong and clear, sitting above the rest of the arrangement. It’s instantly apparent that the production is much better than on their debut album. Everything seems clearer, the sound seems fuller. It’s a vast improvement. Morrissey sings the lyrics that  tell about not wanting to go to school for fear of being beaten by cruel and sadistic teachers, whose mission in life was to brutalize the pupils. His rendition of such powerful lyrics is masterful, and Johnny Marr’s guitar playing is sublime. Together Morrissey and Marr have produced a powerful, passionate track about the shameful past of the UK’s education system.

Rusholme Ruffians sees Johnny Marr add some rockabilly guitar licks to the arrangement. This demonstrates Johnny’s versatility as a guitar player. Add to the mix Morrissey singing about going to the fair and the turbulent events that would play out during such a trip. A trip on the big wheel, the waltzer, the possibility of romance, one night stands, fights and the people working there, all play their part in what’s like a short story put to music. Here, the arrangement is relatively simple, just Johnny and his rockabilly guitar playing, bass and drums, with Morrissey singing the lyrics with feeling, as if they bring back vivid memories. Regardless of whether this is the case, Rusholme Ruffians is a very different track to most on Meat Is Murder, but brilliant all the same.

I Want the One I Can’t Have is a song about growing up and adolescent love. The sound of what sounds like a helicopter flying overhead greets the listener. Then, when drums and Johnny Marr’s guitar combine, the tempo becomes almost frantic. Morrissey’s strong vocal somehow manages to keep up with the rest of the band. Sometimes, Johnny’s guitar chimes melodically, as guitar and drums drive the track along. Mike Joyce’s drumming role on the track shouldn’t be underestimated, his drumming is tremendous. One minute it’s no frills, the next using drum fills aplenty, to fill out the sound and add variety. Overall, it’s another good track with a strong, dramatic, narrative.

At the start of What She Said what sound likes a wall of shrieking guitars plays. Having said that, it’s a virtuoso performance from Johnny. He’s really given a chance to let loose. Similarly, the drums play at a blistering speed. It’s a heady combination Morrisey is up against. He’s really having to sing loudly to be heard against the backdrop of guitars and drums. Morrissey doesn’t let the side down, and produces another energetic performance, of lyrics that are literate, slightly morbid and tinged with a dry sense of humor.

The second single released from Meat Is Murder was That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore. It’s quite different from previous tracks, and sees the band slow things way down. An acoustic guitar with reverb plays before Morrissey sings. He too, sings much more slowly, and is accompanied by a bass which is slow and spacious. The drums and guitar get in on the act. They’re played slowly, and the combination of slow drums, bass and guitar is highly effective, adding drama to the track. All of this contributes towards making this one of the album’s highlights.

How Soon Is Now is one of the most recognizable songs from the album. It was also the first single taken from Meat Is Murder. On both How Soon Is Now and That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, Johnny Marr played some of the guitar parts forwards and backwards, combining to them both to produce the sound you hear. This was a complicated process which he achieved by turning the master-tape around and adjusting the volume, and playing the guitar part backwards. When How Soon Is Now begins, you hear that familiar guitar introduction loaded with reverb. After that, Morrissey produces one of his best vocals on the album. His vocal is laden with a combination of emotion, frustration and almost anger. Meanwhile, the rest of the band produce one their best performances on the album. Both Johnny’s guitar playing and Mike’s drumming producing the musical backdrop for Morrissey’s vocal. Together, the band produced one of their most memorable tracks ever.

Nowhere Fast is a humorous song. Cross The Smiths meet the Carry On team, and you’ve got the picture. It’s another track with a quick-fire tempo. The band rattle through the song, jangling guitars, frantic drums and Morrissey’s vocal a mixture of humor, sarcasm and defiance. Many people say this is just a light hearted song, but listen carefully, and the witty, catchy lyrics will leave you smiling.

Acoustic guitar and bass open Well I Wonder, with drums joining shortly afterwards. Straight away, the promise of a melodic track is apparent. Morrsissey’s sounds as if he has the weight of the world upon his shoulders. His rendition of the lyrics is bathred in sadness. This is in total contrast to the beautiful, bright, deeply melodic sound produced by the rest of the band. Essentially, it’s a dichotomy of a track. Together, they combine perfectly, producing an emotional, yet melodic four minutes of magical music.

A treat and surprise awaits the listener on Barbarism Begins At Home, another anti corporal punishment song. On the track Andy Rourke plays some amazing funky bass. Most people wouldn’t expect to hear funk and The Smiths in the same sentence, but listen carefully, and you’ll hear Andy play some funky bass, brilliantly. It’s Andy’s funky bass playing that opens the track, that and Johhny’s guitar playing. As usual, Johnny’s guitar jangles and chimes, a perfect accompaniment to Andy’s bass playing. Even Morrissey decides to get in on the funky act, whooping during is vocal. For a minute it’s as if Morrissey thinks he’s James Brown. However, normal service is soon resumed. Thereafter, Morrissey gives his usual strong, emotional and here, slightly angry rendition of the lyrics. During the track, the band experiment slightly, with Morrissey, ad-libbing, sound effects being heard, and Andy venturing into a prolonged funk based solo. As usual, Johnny Marr’s playing is brilliant. Barbarism Begins At Home is an epic track. It lasts nearly seven minutes, and during that time The Smiths produce a mesmeric funky sounding track, about a truly barbaric practice.

Meat Is Murder is the final track on the album. It’s a song about a subject Morrissey has always been hugely passionate and vociferous about vegetarianism. Here, the song is pro-vegetarianism. When the track begins, you hear the sound of cows mooing. It’s quite a powerful sound that brings home the reality of the subject. The lyrics are equally powerful. Morrissey sings them slowly. This really gets home his message. Behind him the arrangement is slow and very dramatic, the drama further increasing with the sound of cows and sheep being heard. Drums play slowly, a piano plays an almost eery solo, and even the guitar and bass slowly play. Overall it’s a really dramatic arrangement which does justice to the powerful and moving lyrics. 

I’ve always been a huge fan of The Smiths, and loved their music. I remember clearly their debut album being released back in 1984. Like many people, I eagerly awaited each of their new albums. When I heard Meat Is Murder, I instantly realized that this was a hugely influential, classic album.  Morrissey and Marr’s partnership  was a hugely talented partnership, writing recording and producing some brilliant music. However, it would be unfair to give all the credit to Morrissey and Marr, as Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce played a huge part in the group’s success. On Meat Is Murder, Joyce’s drumming plays a huge part in the album’s sound, driving many of the songs along. Likewise, Rourke’s bass playing shouldn’t be underestimated, especially his slow, spacious playing on That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore and his funky licks on Barbarism Begins At Home. The ten songs on the album see a variety of serious subjects tackled, many of which are serious.  Amongst the most powerful are The Headmaster Ritual, Barbarism Begins At Home and Meat Is Murder. By contrast, Nowhere Fast is a track laden with humor. Overall, Meat Is Murder is brilliant album, full of great songs, played and sung brilliantly, and is one of the best albums The Smiths recorded. Standout Tracks: Rusholme Ruffians, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, Barbarism Begins At Home and Meat Is Murder.

THE SMITHS-MEAT IS MURDER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkPWwTJTSw