The Smiths were a definitive British indie rock band of the early 80s.The group consisted of
singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. The
Smiths released four studio albums, three extended plays, one live album, 10 compilation
albums, 25 singles, one video album and 13 music videos in their 5 years of being together. In
1987 The Smiths disbanded due to tension in the band.

Morrissey’s voice is very different from a lot of other artists from the 80’s. He has a low-pitched
voice and never high-pitched in his songs. For Morrissey, lacking vocal training he has an
admirable voice.

Hateful of Hollow, which contains some of their most known songs; “Heaven Knows I’m
Miserable Now” and “This Night Has Opened My Eyes”, was produced in 1984 and consists of 16
songs around three minutes each. The album starts off with the track:”William, It Was Really
Nothing”. The second track, “What Difference Does It Make” is commonly used to suggest that
the choice of either option is meaningless or irrelevant. The instruments used in the song and
Morrissey’s vocals really bring this track together. The third track “These Things Take Time” is
funky and has a good beat with the drums and guitar. The fourth track, ”This Charming Man”, is
one of their happiest, most upbeat songs and has a lot of meaning in their lyrics. One of their
best tracks on this album is probably “This Night Has Opened My Eyes” because it has sort of a
mellow tone to it and sounds different to the rest of the songs on the album.

Unlike all of the other tracks, “This Night Has Opened My Eyes” has its own feel to it. Best
listened to on a foggy day or warm night, the solemn lyrics mixed with the pleasant backing is
comforting. Even though the lyrics and message are pretty sad, I can always imagine it playing
in a coffee shop or somewhere cozy. The message describes how dumb love can make us and
the consequences of our actions.

Another notable song that covers love is “How Soon Is Now?” When I heard this song for the
first time ages ago, the chorus stuck with me. The way Morrissey delivers the line “I am human
and I need to be loved just like everybody else does” really creates a memorable, smooth song
that can be listened to anytime.

With sounds and trends of the 80s increasing in popularity among teens, the Smiths are
gradually making their comeback to the youth. Songs such as “This Charming Man”; and
“There’s a ight that never goes out”; are making their way back to the top charts.

Overall, Hateful of Hollow is a wonderful album to start with if you’re interested in listening to
The Smiths. The lyricism, sound, and overall quality of the band is a timeless staple that’s
perfect for your playlist. I highly recommend these tracks to anyone who likes The Cure, New
Order, The Psychedelic Furs, David Bowie or Sonic Youth.