fluff was still a viable option to
of all: The Smiths. The alienated,
spend our weekly allowances
disaffected, disenfranchised youth
on, music shifted back to a
who discovered the band whether
deeper, more introspective,
through their UK television
thought-provoking medium
appearances, the magazine space
and it was our option to
they fetched on both sides of the
select from a wide array of
Atlantic, or in a hip friend’s record
powerful, insightful, inspiring
collection, discovering The Smiths
music that, in many cases, has
upon their arrival on indie record
remained a vital part of who
charts was a momentous occasion
we are many years later.
for those looking for a band who
Bands like U2, The
said and looked what they were
Replacements and
feeling.
The Pixies have
From a personal standpoint,
managed to retain a
although what the words and
fierce, loyal fan base
the music said to me from
that mostly consists
the perspective of a confused
of followers who
teenager, they almost seem
discovered them at
more meaningful to me now.
a very early stage
Morrissey and Johnny Marr
in their musical
were not a whole lot older
journeys. Kids who
than me when I first heard
bought albums by any
“This Charming Man” for
of these bands when
the first time decades ago, but,
they were first released
looking back now, they were
are, more than likely,
both leaps and bounds ahead
still pretty moved by
of their time in terms of musical
those same records and
maturity and songwriting craft.
by the bulk of the work of these bands.
The
And then there’s the band
through Morrissey’s words and the
who’ve elicited the most
sheer, ringing beauty that chimes
ferocious and rabid following
from Johnny Marr’s impeccable
14
longing and angst that weaves