The Smiths
Who they
are: Foursome from musical bedrock city Manchester, England
When: 1982-1987
Why they
matter: Because self-obsessed thespians need love, too
Fronted
by Morrissey, one of rock's greatest misanthropes, the Smiths
are the house band for the mopers, the ... moregoths, the kids who find pleasure in gray
skies. That's their reputation, at least; but with their chiming, multilayered
guitars, peppy beats, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, their music -- as best
exemplified on "The Queen Is Dead," their 1986 masterpiece -- is more sunny
and funny than morose. Even "How Soon Is Now?" widely considered the mope-rock
"Stairway to Heaven," has an underlying irony that blends beautifully with the
song's overriding sense of sorrow.
Extra credit: the Cure, the Housemartins, New Order, Joy Division
(Paul Slattery / Retna
UK)
See photos: Rock's Top Mopes (Morrissey
and More)
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