The Smiths' 'The Queen is Dead' Named The Greatest Album Of All Time By NME

Posted: 10/23/2013

 

Despite disbanding 26 years ago after only four albums, The Smiths have never stopped receiving praise. Now, the band's short career is being said to have produced the greatest album of all time.
NME gave that title to "The Queen is Dead," The Smiths' third album, on its newest list of the 500 best LPs in music history. The British music publication's updated rankings -- the last list came in 2003 and is frequently cited as a compendium of music's greatest releases -- appear in this week's magazine. The Smiths top lauded album by The Beatles, David Bowie, Pixies and Radiohead.

"The Queen is Dead" provided some of the band's most beloved songs, including "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" and "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out." Released in 1986, "Queen" garnered perfect reviews from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Q Magazine. The album peaked at No. 2 on the U.K. Albums Chart and No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold a few years after its debut. The Smiths went on to release one more album, 1987's "Strangeways, Here We Come," before their notorious split.

"Queen" appeared at No. 8 on NME's previous list of the greatest albums, while The Stone Roses' self-titled release slotted at No. 1. The new list finds The Beatles' "Revolver," David Bowie's "Hunky Dory," The Strokes' "Is This It" and The Velvet Underground & Nico's eponymous album rounding out the Top 5.

What do you think of The Smith's hefty accolade? Are they deserving of NME's crown? Sound off in the comments below.

Conversations:

italbear

"The U.S. is bound to have a different perspective on this choice, but the Smiths were a radical force to emerge during Thatcher's England, and their music was outrageously sophisticated and intelligent compared to the pablum that was being foisted on the public at the time. I'm an American, but I was blown away by the Smiths, and by that album in particular. I think it is certainly one of the greatest albums of the rock era. To quibble over which is best is a futile exercise in individual tastes."

 

marred

"I love the smiths dearly but this is not the best album of all time and it's not even the best smiths album. Strangeways is way better!"

 

Dan Delago

"Actually The Smiths' 'Meat is Murder' is a better album because it has their best song on it, 'How Soon Is Now.'"

 

totaleclipse

"I also prefer Meat is Murder but primarily for "Rusholme Ruffians". "I might walk home alone...but my faith in love is still devout!" or "Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen...this means you really love me!""