In the 80s, The Smiths brought joy and happiness to brooding teens everywhere. Helmed by the Captain of Melancholy, Morrissey, The Smiths became hugely popular and influential without obtaining a single entry on the US charts. The band was on a steady rise throughout the decade and seemed poised to hit it big with their 1987 album, "Strangeways, Here We Come." But despite the strengths of tunes like "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" and "Girlfriend In A Coma," it just didn't work out and they broke up. After the breakup, Morrissey finally broke through on the American charts as a solo artist with 1994's "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get," which reached #46. It would remain his only charting single. Famed guitarist Johnny Marr also had his taste of chart success in his new band, Electronic, whose "Getting Away With It" hit #38 in 1990.
Steven Morrissey, who simply goes my his surname, got his start as the lead singer and songwriter for The Smiths. The Smiths were favorites at college radio in the 80s and introduced the world to Morrissey's soothing baritone and cerebral lyrics. Infighting between Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr led to the band's breakup in 1987, and the beginning of Morrissey's prolific solo career. Between 1988 and 1997, Morrissey released six records to critical acclaim, although he's had little commercial success in the US. His only brush with the American charts came in 1994 when the stalker's anthem, "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get," reached #46. Unfortunately, the US did ignore Morrissey and he got no closer to mainstream success. Bet I'm betting he prefers it that way. The Master of Mope took an extended hiatus from recording, then released a marvelous comeback record in 2004 called "You Are The Quarry." Among the many terrific songs on this record, some of the most mature and thoughtful of his career, is "The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores." Has anyone better articulated the struggle thoughtful people must endure having to dwell among people who fail to nurture their intellect?
