The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come - LP, Album, RE, RM, 180 - Mint (M)

Stangeways Here We Come was The Smiths final album. And while it was sad for many Smiths fans to realise the bands demise, this album caught the group at its very best. Guitarist Johnny Marr is all over this album (except for the first track) and whether it is via his guitar, he shows he is also a sensitive master of both the saxophone and synthesiser. His so tight strumming on I Started Something I Could't Finish is testament alone to his sheer, intuitive feel and skill. There is no doubting here that both Morrissey and Marr were at their absolute finest. This album just flows with the best Smiths music. Morrissey's utterances as well prove he was at his confident best and very relaxed with it. Marr"s piano stomping on Last Night I Had A Dream That Somebody Loved Me is a gem of a song and in some ways reminds me of Bowie's - the late Mick Ronson on guitar - so deft is Marr's contribution. Paint A Vulgar Picture could be The Smiths p... take on record companies actions when they realise too this is the last Smiths album. And while the seminal Girlfriend In A Coma is pure Smiths, Stop Me If You Think You Have Heard This One Before pulls out all the stops. Yes, The Smiths gave their finest outing via Strangways Here We Come. It is still very sad, this band is no more. I guess it was a time and a place.