The Queen Is Dead Review: Morrissey and Marr at Their Peak
9.5/10 — The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Pros
- Johnny Marr's guitar
- Witty, emotional lyrics
- Classic songs
Cons
- Morrissey's persona divides listeners
The Queen Is Dead followed a period of internal tension and legal battles, and it finds the Smiths at their peak. Morrissey’s lyrics veer from comic to heartbreaking.
What works
‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’, ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ and ‘The Boy with the Thorn in His Side’ are brilliant, and Johnny Marr’s guitar work is endlessly inventive. The title track opens the album with a bang.
Where it falters
Morrissey’s lyrics are not for everyone, and his later controversies have complicated listening for some.
Verdict
A witty, tuneful and definitive indie album.
