IF IT'S NOT LOVE THEN IT'S THE POLL THAT WILL BRING US TOGETHER - ILM Artist Poll #72 - THE SMITHS - RESULTS THREAD

Catching up -- I was one of the #1 votes for Cemetry Gates, it's got everything I want from the Smiths in one place. Tuneful, sardonic, a little precious, shimmering guitars, nice vocal.

(I realize that describes a lot of Smiths songs, Cemetry Gates just hits those marks particularly well for me.)

"The pain was enough to make a shy, bald Buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder" is such a great line!

http://i.imgur.com/JBY6niP.jpg

9. THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE (Single A-side)
980 points | 43 votes | 2 first place votes

sufficiently low

Not one of the highlights of TQID for me, but the strings and jangle work surprisingly well together with Morrissey's wordless cooing.

I love it, but it's no 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others'

y'all really think "i started something" was exiled from the top 50?

― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson)

I'd be disappointed if this missed out but I was actually referring to I Won't Share You. As it hasn't been mentioned once on this whole thread, I've officially given up hope of it sneaking in.

Thinking about what people have posted about liking, and the other songs that have done well, I'd now be surprised if I Won't Share You doesn't place, as it does what it does extremely well.

Seems unlikely methinks. There's 8 really big ones yet to place.

I can only think of 5 "really big ones" that haven't placed

I find everyone else's standards re: this catalog unfathomable. As clearly evidenced by these results. Barring a couple songs (HSIN and TIAL) i have no idea whats left to place.

http://i.imgur.com/GXnCYjR.jpg

8. BIGMOUTH STRIKES AGAIN (Single A-side | Album track from The Queen Is Dead)
1008 points | 44 votes | 1 first place vote

I'd be shocked if there's not two further songs beyond that from one particular studio album alone. And several A-sides.

XP: and there's one of the former!

'Bigmouth Strikes Again' is one of those that I played the shit out of repeatedly when I first got The Queen Is Dead but nowadays I could easily live without hearing it again. When I was re-listening to all of the albums etc. the other week, this one struck me as being a little too over-familiar. I think it's a great song, but I guess it wore on me quite quickly in comparison to some of their other tracks.

'There Is A Light...' and the title track still yet to place from The Queen Is Dead.

Love Morrissey's 'chipmunk' backing vocals on this one

Bored with "Bigmouth." I don't hate it when it's on, but I would never seek it out.

dear 44 people who voted for this, I really don't understand you

Jeez y'all really hate this completely excellent song

I don't hate it. I just think there are like 50 better songs by this band.

http://i.imgur.com/3K5nzax.jpg

7. THE HEADMASTER RITUAL (Album track from Meat Is Murder)
1018 points | 42 votes | 2 first place votes

Bigmouth is like a Johnny Marr sizzle reel. One of his best showcases.

Dgaf about this song

sarahell otm. it's fine and deserves to place (on the strength of the backing vox, yes!) but top ten is lulzy

this is one of those songs that maybe i'd like better if i were british

Was starting to fear this wouldn't make it. Now starting to fear one of their best singles won't. (Not "Ask." Fuckers.)

headmaster. huh.

Headmaster is the best guitar track on the best Smiths guitar album. Layer upon layer of gorgeous invention.

After this, the only song left from my ballot likely to place is The Queen is Dead.

Didn't vote for it, but it's a good song.
"He does the military two-step dow-ah-ah-own the nape of my neck."

I love it, but TOO HIGH!

Headmaster is the best beans on toast track on the best Smiths beans on toast album

Like, 'The Headmaster Ritual' totally deserves to be up there, and I've always particularly loved the guitar playing on it. If it had placed just within the Top 20, that would have been perfect, but no way is it one of this bands 10 best songs. That it placed far ahead of 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' is just "wut?"

Marr's playing on this is so layered and propulsive at the same time; I have no complaints about where it placed.

I don't think the Smiths go for dissonance all that much, but the yelpy chorus tempers the usual Marr prettiness really well on "Headmaster". Extended chorus ending is hypnotic. Hated the song the first time I heard it though

I guess "Jeane" isn't going to make it.

but no way is it one of this bands 10 best songs

I had it at #4, so for me this is too low. Meanwhile, I've got a suspicion we might still see Ask, which would be the real scandal - I'd have that about #52.

http://i.imgur.com/WZbXm1w.jpg

6. ASK (Single A-side)
1138 points | 48 votes | 2 first place votes

My #1! So delightful.

^ and there's your answer!

Also wish Jeane had placed, seems too late for it now.

(x-post to Eyeball Kicks, of course)

The most boring chord sequence on any Smiths song played over and over for three minutes. I do actually like this song, but I kind of hate the sound of it.

This last two are totally meh to me.

I know that 'Ask' isn't a favourite of everybody, but I've never really had a problem with it. It is a surprise to see it beat out 'Panic', though!

NATURE IS A LANGUAGE
CAN'T YOU READ

I would like to have heard what John Porter planned for the mix. "Ask" was my introduction to the Smiths, but I eventually began to despise it. Their second-worse non-LP single.

That it placed far ahead of 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' is just "wut?"

It was my #4 and TJIFA was my #3

Pleased to see how high "Ask"came in.

I have to say, it was hearing Janice Long play this that first prompted me to investigate the band. Once I started getting into them, however, I soon forgot all about "Ask"