The Smiths

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Never really bought into the hype surrounding The Smiths. Johnny Marr is a great guitarist but Morrissey is an egotistical prick and not really much of a singer - he has three voices - the deep one, the warbly one and the high, squeaky one. The best of what they did together is pretty decent but not exceptional.

Holy shit, Xammy. If you don't think The Smiths are exceptional, what do you consider exceptional?

Frank Zappa. Miles Davis. Joni Mitchell. Igor Stravinsky. Richard Thompson. Björk. Nick Drake. Black Sabbath. Todd Rundgren. The Bonzo Dog Band. All exceptional - I could go on and list dozens more.

The Smiths never grabbed my soul like any of the bands in the list above did. Morrissey's voice does not move me (although I will conceded his lyrics are very good at times - but not up to the standard of Joni Mitchell) and all of the gladioli waving, like a third-rate Dame Edna, left me cold.

I suppose you gotta be at least part gay to really feel The Smiths like I do.
Me likey Joni Mitchell. Any album as good as Turbulent Indigo, though? Cannot find.

Blue is probably her finest album - certainly in my onion - although everything up to Don Juan's Reckless Daughter is amazing. Her output took a dip in the 80s but improved in the 90s, with Night Ride Home, Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger. Her latest studio album - Shine - the first collection of new songs since the millennium is a disappointment. There is no Joni album that doesn't have at least a few great songs.