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Meat Is Murder
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work
Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by The Smiths and was released on 11 February 1985 on Rough Trade. Recording ran from mid-1984 to December in London and at Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey. Guitarist Johnny Marr made the demos at home in his flat in Earl's Court. Singer Morrissey gave him and engineer Stephen Street his own records of BBC sound effects to take samples from. The band went into the album with confidence, after the success of the debut and the compilation Hatful of Hollow.
The sound is more varied than before, with influences of indie rock and post-punk. The lyrics are more political and deal with vegetarianism, corporal punishment and loneliness. The cover shows an American soldier from the Vietnam War, with a helmet bearing the words Meat Is Murder. It became the group's only studio album to reach number one in Great Britain. The reactions were mostly positive, although some critics found the album too monotonous.
Listening
Track list
- 1The Headmaster Ritual4:53Apple Music ↗
- 2Rusholme Ruffians4:20Apple Music ↗
- 3I Want the One I Can't Have3:14Apple Music ↗
- 4What She Said2:42Apple Music ↗
- 5That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore4:58Apple Music ↗
- 6Nowhere Fast2:37Apple Music ↗
- 7Well I Wonder4:00Apple Music ↗
- 8Barbarism Begins at Home6:54Apple Music ↗
- 9Meat Is Murder6:12Apple Music ↗
30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗