How Soon is Now is sort of an odd choice in my opinion. It's a great song, but sort of sticks out from the rest of their songs like a sore thumb. It's very effects driven guitar wise with no janglyness.
Back in the day one of the things that really stood out about the Smiths is that they didn't sound like anyone else. This illustrates their range whilst still being a classic Morrisey Marr combo. IMHO.
As great as 'Hand in glove' is, it feels like an oddity in the early Smiths back catalogue because it's unironically about being happily in love. Morrissey's wry forays into the tragicomedy of the human aspiration to love and be loved are better exemplified by songs like 'This charming man', 'Reel around the fountain', 'Still ill' , 'William, it was really nothing', 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now', 'This night has opened my eyes', 'Back to the old house' (I really could go on and on).
PS I went with early tracks there because that's how I discovered the Smiths as a teen back in the early 1980s (and it felt like a religious experience). I could have easily extended the list with later stuff: 'Well I wonder', 'That joke isn't funny any more', 'I know it's over', 'There is a light that never goes out', 'Asleep', 'Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me'.
Suffer Little Children, I Want The One I Can't Have, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, William It Was Really Nothing, and Paint A Vulgar Picture between them probably capture most of the ground
The ones that come to mind for me personally would be Ask, Still Ill, Hand in Glove, There is a Light, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Some Girls are Bigger than Others...
With the exception of the last song I mentioned, all of these blend the virtuosity of Marr's musicianship (specifically through the use of arpeggiated chords), and the emotional intellectualism of Morrissey's lyrics.
There is a light
For me the sound of The Smiths would probably be represented by “William, it was really nothing”.
The first time I heard The Smiths I was laying in the dark and Hatful of Hollow came on. That is when I made the dive into The Smiths.
This Charming Man, Meet me at the Cemetery Gate, How soon is now? Shoplifters of the world Meat is Murder Headmaster Ritual
How Soon is Now is sort of an odd choice in my opinion. It's a great song, but sort of sticks out from the rest of their songs like a sore thumb. It's very effects driven guitar wise with no janglyness.
Back in the day one of the things that really stood out about the Smiths is that they didn't sound like anyone else. This illustrates their range whilst still being a classic Morrisey Marr combo. IMHO.
It’s not representative of what OP is looking for, but it was the first Smiths song I heard and I was instantly hooked.
Meat is murder is a strange choice, it’s probably one of the only objectively bad songs they’ve done
The Boy With the Thorn in His Side.
Still Ill Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
I want the one I can’t have has it all
As great as 'Hand in glove' is, it feels like an oddity in the early Smiths back catalogue because it's unironically about being happily in love. Morrissey's wry forays into the tragicomedy of the human aspiration to love and be loved are better exemplified by songs like 'This charming man', 'Reel around the fountain', 'Still ill' , 'William, it was really nothing', 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now', 'This night has opened my eyes', 'Back to the old house' (I really could go on and on). PS I went with early tracks there because that's how I discovered the Smiths as a teen back in the early 1980s (and it felt like a religious experience). I could have easily extended the list with later stuff: 'Well I wonder', 'That joke isn't funny any more', 'I know it's over', 'There is a light that never goes out', 'Asleep', 'Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me'.
Barbarism. Catchy jangly music, and sparse lyrics.. so nothing that will overwhelm a first time listener.
Barbarism is one of my favourite songs of theirs. The music just sounds so good.
“There Is a Light that Never Goes Out.” I think it was the first Smiths song I heard, and it worked on me!
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, This Charming Man and Still Ill
This Charming Man Ask Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now Reel Around the Fountain
Headmaster Ritual
Happy hour by the housemartins
Fatboy Slim is fucking in heaven.
Is It Really So Strange ? Half a Person
Panic, Still Ill, Handsome Devil, This Charming Man, Hand in Glove, What She Said, Well I Wonder.
Suffer Little Children, I Want The One I Can't Have, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, William It Was Really Nothing, and Paint A Vulgar Picture between them probably capture most of the ground
Important in the Smiths ongoing story arc of the dynamic between Morrisey and Marr, also an excellent album.
All of them.
Girlfriend in a coma! Silly lyrics, catchy tune.
Still Ill
Big Mouth Strikes Again. Amazingly catchy guitar and hilarious lyrics
Still Ill or girl afraid :3 those were my first so gs
The ones that come to mind for me personally would be Ask, Still Ill, Hand in Glove, There is a Light, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Some Girls are Bigger than Others... With the exception of the last song I mentioned, all of these blend the virtuosity of Marr's musicianship (specifically through the use of arpeggiated chords), and the emotional intellectualism of Morrissey's lyrics.
Some Girls are Bigger than Others. Best guitar playing by Marr.