A collection of both live and album reviews for The Smiths and Morrissey.(Select a year below to jump to a section).
1989
Spin – 1989 Concert Review
Yet another Wolverhampton review
1988
Record Mirror – Viva Hate Review
Jimmy Brown gives an overwhelmingly positive review of Viva Hate
Melody Maker – Viva Hate Review
David Stubbs gives a mixed review of Viva Hate, specifically mentioning Bengali In Platforms
The Catalogue – Rank Review
Nick Kent describes Rank as “good enough”, and points out the hard rock sound.
NME – Rank Review
James Brown gives a positive review of the live album Rank
NME – 10 December 1988
Danny Kelly has nothing but complaints for Louder Than Bombs and single reissues
Bravo – 1988
A strange article that both reviews/talks about Morrissey’s character and image and mentions Viva Hate.
22 December 1988 – Wolverhampton (Footage + Reviews)
The first Morrissey solo show, and unofficial Smiths farewell concert. Included in this post is a link to the leaked footage, and 3 reviews of the historic event.
1987
Back to top
New Zealand Listener – 1987
Short article updating on recent events of The Smiths, and a positive review of The Queen Is Dead
Melody Maker – The World Won’t Listen
Steve Sutherland at it again with another negative review, this time for “The World Won’t Listen”
NME – Strangeways Review
Steve Sutherland gives “Strangeways, Here We Come” a negative review.
NME – 12 September 1987
Len Brown gives a positive review of “Strangeways, Here We Come”
NME – 7 November 1987
A negative review of “I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish”
Creem – May 1987
Roy Trakin gives a positive review of the Louder Than Bombs compilation.
NME – 15 August 1987
A positive review of “Girlfriend In A Coma”
NME – 9 December 1987
An absolutely scathing review of “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Love Me”
1986
Back to top
Spin – 1986, The Queen Is Dead
Rich Stim gives a positive review of The Queen Is Dead
Sounds – November 1 1986
Hugh Fielder gives a mixed review of The Smiths at the London Palladium on 26 October 1986
Record Mirror – 14 June 1986
Andy Strickland adds to the mass of glowing reviews for “The Queen Is Dead”
Record Mirror – 13 October 1986
Dave Sexton gives a positive review of The Smiths live at Sands Centre in Carlisle on 12 October 1986
Review – Pier 84, 6 August 1986
David Fricke writes a positive review of The Smiths at Pier 84 in New York on 6 August 1986
Record Mirror – 26 October 1986
Karen Swayne gives a positive review of The Smiths at the London Palladium on 26 October 1986
NME – 24 May 1986
Roger Holland gives a positive review of specifically Morrissey for Bigmouth Strike Again, but criticises Johnny Marr.
NME – 18 October 1986
Positive review of “Ask”
NME – 14 June 1986
Adrian Thrills deems The Queen Is Dead “an excellent record”
NME – 1 November 1986
Mat Snow gives a generally positive review of The Smiths live at the London Palladium on 26 October 1986
Melody Maker – 18 October 1986
Will Smith gives a positive review of The Smiths live at Gloucester Leisure Centre on 18 October 1986
Melody Maker – 11 October 1986
“Ask” given positive review, named single of the week.
Melody Maker – 26 June 1986
A very positive review of Panic
Melody Maker – 14 June 1986
Nick Kent gives a glowing review of The Queen Is Dead
Sounds – 14 June 1986
Roger Holland names The Queen Is Dead album of the month in a very positive review.
Review – From Manchester, With Love
Reviews of the same event, “From Manchester, With Love”, featuring The Smiths, New Order, and The Fall
1985
Back to top
Melody Maker – 22 September 1985
Tom Morton gives a positive review of The Smiths live at Magnum Centre in Scotland on 22 September 1985
Melody Maker – 16 February 1985
Ian Pye gives a generally positive review of Meat Is Murder
Star Hits – April 1985
David Keeps gives a positive review of The Smiths at Royal Albert Hall on 6 April 1985
Sounds – 20 April 1985
Hugh Fielder gives a mixed review of The Smiths at Royal Albert Hall on 6 April 1985
Royal Albert Hall – 6 April 1985
Vici MacDonald gives a mixed review of The Smiths at Royal Albert Hall
No. 1 – 1 March 1985
Max Bell gives a positive review of The Smiths at Brixton Academy on 1 March 1985, along with reactions of audience members
NME – 1985
Mat Snow gives a positive review of Meat Is Murder
NME – 20 April 1985
Danny Kelly gives a very positive review of The Smiths live at Royal Albert Hall on 6 April 1985
NME – 9 March 1985
Richard Cook gives a mixed review of The Smiths live at Brixton Academy on 1 March, 1985
NME – 9 February 1985
A mixed review of “How Soon Is Now?”
NME – 1985
Short review of Meat Is Murder
NME – 14 June 1985
Dave Thomas gives a generally positive review of The Smiths at The Opera House in Boston, Massachusetts on 14 June, 1985
Record Mirror – 1985
Eleanor Levy gives a very positive review of The Smiths at Brixton Academy on March 1, 1985
Sounds – 27 February 1985
Dave Massey gives a neutral review of The Smiths at Chippenham
Melody Maker – 20 April 1985
Allan Jones reviews The Smiths at Royal Albert Hall in London
Sounds – 16 February 1985
Bill Black gives a positive review of Meat Is Murder
NME – 16 February 1985
Paul Du Noyer gives a generally positive review of Meat is Murder
Janice Long – The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Janice Long gives a mildly positive review of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Melody Maker – Meat Again
Melody Maker’s review of The Smiths’ career in 1985
1984
Back to top
Melody Maker – Suffer The Smiths
Review of The Smiths’ Career in 1984
Creem – 1984
A generally positive review of The Smiths’ debut album by Dave DiMartino
The Guardian – 1984
A mixed review of The Smiths’ debut album.
Sounds – 1984
An “above average” review of The Smiths at Lyceum.
Rip It Up – April 1984
Review of The Smiths’ debut album by George Kay
Record Mirror – 25 February 1984
Mixed review of The Smiths’ debut album by Graham K Smith
No. 1 – 1984
Review of The Smiths’ tour, with announcements of various release dates.
NME – 25 February 1984
Don Watson reviews The Smiths’ debut album
NME – 17 November 1984
Adrian Thrills gives a positive review of Hatful of Hollow
NME – 7 April 1984
Mostly positive review of Sandie Shaw’s collaboration/cover of Hand In Glove. “Single of the week!”
Melody Maker – 1 February 1984
Review of The Smiths by Simon Scott at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke-On-Trent on 1 February 1984.
The Guardian – 14 February 1984
Mary Harron review The Smiths at the Lyceum Ballroom in London on 14 February 1984
Sounds – 17 November 1984
A fairly neutral review of The Smiths’ Hatful of Hollow comp.
Melody Maker – 17 November 1984
An unfavourable review by Adam Sweeting of the “Hatful of Hollow” compilation
Melody Maker – 9 June 1984
Review of The smiths in Belfast on 9 June 1984.
The Sony Tape Rock Review – 1984
A general review of The Smiths’ career so far.
Melody Maker – September 24 1984
A positive review of The Smiths at Gloucester Leisure Centre on 24 September 1984.
Melody Maker – 1984
Review of The Smiths’ Rockpalast performance on 4 May 1984
Melody Maker – 25 February 1984
“The Healing Festival” A positive review by Allan Jones of the debut album.
Melody Maker 1984 – Review
Review of… Morrissey himself
Melody Maker – 9 June 1984
Review by Adrian Maddox of the Belfast gig on 17 May 1984
1983
Back to top
Sounds – 14 May 1983
Dave McCullough reviews The Smiths at University of London Union on 6 May 1983
NME – 12 November 1983
Review of This Charming Man single
NME – 11 June 1983
Review of the Hand In Glove single.
NME – 4 February 1983
Jim Shelley reviews The Smiths live at the Hacienda on 4 February 1983.
City Fun – 25 January 1983
Cath Carroll reviews The Smiths live at Manhattan Sound on 25 January 1983
Sounds – 5 October 1983
Dave McCullough reviews The Smiths live at ICA in London on 5 October 1983
Smash Hits – 17 November 1983
Don Perretta reviews The Smiths live at Westfield College on 17 November 1983
NME – 17 October 1983
Amrik Rai reviews The Smiths live at Sheffield University on 17 October 1983
Melody Maker – 7 August 1983
Adam Sweeting reviews The Smiths live at the Lyceum on 7 August 1983.
NME – 15 September 1983
Barney Hoskyns reviews The Smiths in London at ‘The Venue’ on 15 September 1983
Record Mirror – 5 November 1983
The Smiths reviewed by Graham K Smith
Melody Maker – 3 December 1983
Review by Frank Worrall of The Smiths’ Hacienda gig on 24 November 1983.
