MEAT IS MURDER
An album which touches on a variety of issues, Meat Is Murder is The Smiths' most opinionated album. From reminiscing about horrific childhood school experiences in "The Headmaster Ritual" to taking a stand against animal slaughter and consumption in the title track, Morrissey shows us that he is not a force to be reckoned with. This album definitely showcases some of The Mozzer's finest written material, and of course, vocal style.
A fine performance from the rest of the band as well. Johnny Marr is excellent on several of the tracks, especially on the hard-edged "What She Said," and the very beautiful "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore." Bassist Andy Rourke finally shows off his talent on this album with a very funky (and long) bass solo in "Barbarism Begins At Home," a song about child abuse. Meat Is Murder pulls together extremely well both musically and lyrically.
Despite some of the strong messages this album may have, it's not preachy. "Meat Is Murder" could be taken that way, but I firmly believe that Morrissey is trying to get a point across about something he wholeheartedly believes in. It is by far the most compelling song on the whole album, even with the animal and slaughterhouse sounds in the background. It just gives the song a much greater effect and the lyrics that much more meaning. Apparently, that song alone has made a vegetarian out of many a fan. As for the other songs, Morrissey is not ranting about school violence or child abuse. He very brilliantly pours his heart out. He talks about loneliness and an impending turn of events in "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore." Not originally on the Rough Trade release of this record but on the Sire release is "How Soon Is Now," the theme for lonely and outcasted youth, and probably The Smiths' most well-known song. Wonderful and very beautifully written indeed.
Although much more evident in the follow-up The Queen Is Dead, Morrissey is starting to bear his soul to his listeners here. Meat Is Murder is one album that needs to be paid attention to if one is to fully understand the genius behind Morrissey's songwriting. The same would go for all The Smiths' albums of course, but Morrissey's songwriting is developing even further here. It would be the next step in many beautifully penned songs and albums in the future, both with The Smiths and with his impending solo career. Definitely a must-have.
LYRICAL HIGHLIGHTS
"I want to go home. I don't want to stay. Give up life as a bad mistake." - The Headmaster Ritual
"I just might walk home alone, but my faith in love is still devout." - Rusholme Ruffians
"On the day that your mentality catches up with your biology, come 'round." - I Want The One I Can't Have
"If you ever need self-validation, just meet me in the alley by the railway station." - I Want The One I Can't Have
"I want the one I can't have, and it's driving me mad. It's written all over my face." - I Want The One I Can't Have
"I smoke 'cos I'm hoping for an early death, and I need to cling to something." - What She Said
"When you laugh about people who feel so very lonely, their only desire is to die." - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
"It was dark as I drove the point home. And on cold leather seats, well, it suddenly struck me: I just might die with a smile on my face after all." - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
"There's a club if you'd like to go. You could meet somebody who really loves you. So you go and you stand on your own. And you leave on your own. And you go home and you cry and you want to die." - How Soon Is Now?
"When you say it's gonna happen 'now,' when exactly do you mean? See, I've already waited too long, and all my hope is gone." - How Soon Is Now?
"When I'm lying in my bed, I think about life and I think about death. And neither one particularly appeals to me." - Nowhere Fast
"Gasping -- but somehow still alive. This is the fierce last stand of all I am." - Well I Wonder
"Unruly boys who will not grow up must be taken in hand. Unruly girls who will not settle down, they must be taken in hand." - Barbarism Begins At Home
"It's not natural, normal or kind, the flesh you so fancifully fry. The meat in your mouth as you savour the flavour of murder." - Meat Is Murder
"Kitchen aromas aren't very homely. It's not comforting, cheery or kind. It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench of murder." - Meat Is Murder