Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths' final studio album expands beyond the guitar patterns most closely associated with their early work. Johnny Marr's arrangements leave room for piano and other colours, while Morrissey's writing moves between comedy, accusation and unusually direct expressions of need. The result feels varied without losing the band's identity.

“Girlfriend in a Coma” compresses a disturbing premise into a light melody. “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” takes a much slower, more dramatic approach. Putting those songs together makes the album's emotional range especially clear.