Keep in mind that this board is mostly populated by shut ins and social misfits with no lives. And they've been like that since birth.

Heh. Loogs' generalization is even more awesomer.

Though, there could be truth to it, no way of knowing for sure really.

If you think of the Smiths music this way (eg sad sack wallowing), you miss the whole point of them. The proper way to listen to the smiths isn't alone in a dark room depressed and focused on each and every word. Its with a bunch of buds taking in the infectious melodies of Johnny Marr's guitarwork singing along with Morrissey in crooning style, drink in a hand, only occassionally stopping to think how morbid the lyrics are that you just were singing along to with a smile on your face. Its all meant to be taken tongue in cheek.

I can see how some people don't like the Smiths, but I love 'em.

Yeah, a lot of the Smiths material really gallops along. Think 'She Said' 'Shakespeares Sister' 'The Queen Is Dead' 'William, It Was Really Nothing', 'Handsome Devil' and a whole lot of others. They were a rock band, first and foremost and while they had their moments of introversion and love lost, these are themes that virtually every band and musician has covered at some stage.

As for the 'depression' angle, well no lyricist in history has made me laugh out loud (and not in derision either, wise guy) more than Morrissey has. If anyone out there has been to a Smiths or Morrissey concert they would know they are hardly 'miserablist' affairs. They invariably get cut short when the stage is stormed.

It wasn't meant to be that way, I just wrote it in phases between work, so it may not have come out as well. The original comment, as clarified, was a smartass comment more than anything else. The sad sack wallowing was in response to all the poor depressed children in high schools.

High School's also a time when some kids start really thinking about things; their lives, their parents, the state of the world, etc. I think it's pretty safe to say that there are probably quite a lot of H.S. kids who already have a lot to think about given their life situations---e.g. divorce of parents, money problems, and all the only possibly realities of life. If that's the situation in your life then it often follows that you seek out music that reflects that in some way.

To state the obvious here: music can be one of your best companions in hard times. I'd say Morrissey reflects sadness, but then takes it and pokes fun at himself for it. It's like having a best friend who understands you but can cheer you up. The Cure's Disintegration got me through some rough times in H.S.

I know this all sounds cheesy. It's just a subject that's a little dear to my heart. You can't "tell" kids they should be having the time of their lives in H.S.. Of course that's the ideal---but then again so is having two loving parents, comfortable finances, etc.---but it's just not the reality for a lot of them.

Why? Why do I keep coming back to this thread & feeding it??

Don't know if I'd agree with that, Senator. WRAS and WREK are phenomenal radio stations for eclectic music-- not just indie or alternative, but WREK especially is totally diverse. And when I was in highschool, WRAS is all I listened to, as did most of my friends.

I guess this is as good a time as any for my 2-cents. I'm born in '62 and really enjoyed the Smiths from the first note I heard. I never found them depressing, except for "How Soon is Now?" which is among the saddest songs I can think of. Whatever the lyrics are, ironic or depressing, the music is generally pretty upbeat, I'd add to KonstantinL list with "What Difference does it Make", "Russholme Ruffians", "Girl Afraid", "Hand in Glove" "Barbarism Begins at Home" and "The Headmaster Ritual". The one time I saw them live, it was a very uplifting show in which young girls constantly came on stage to hug, kiss and give flowers to Morrissey. I had never seen anything like it before or since, probably not unlike seeing Engelbert Humperdink or Tom Jones in their heyday.

As for their relative obscurity...most of the people I knew when The Smiths were around had no clue who they were, and I wouldn't think anything would be any different today. I would be more surprised if someone knows who they are than doesn't.

Couldn't have said it better.

I was trying to get this point across, but you did it much better than I.

And we do a lot of as well.

I was referring to NOW, and where I live NOW. In MOBILE ALABAMA.

WRAS has its moments, but I could never just let it ride or anything.

Looks like Strangeways hit #55 on the US albums charts nearly 20 years ago - hardly cultural saturation. Your buddy would've had to do some work to get into the Smiths, but he's most likely aware of U2 and Def Leppard and Bryan Adams or other smash-eroonies from the 80's.

He's not like you. He probably knows some amazing football stats, though. Leave him be.