10 Greatest Final Rock Albums Of The 1980s
2. Strangeways, Here We Come - The Smiths
Morrissey might be one of the hardest people to like in all of human history, but his band The Smiths have retained their position as one of the most influential bands ever.
The bridge between new wave and modern indie rock, The Smiths' four albums from 1984 to 1987 are held up as sacred relics by lovers of disgruntled soft boi music and, to be honest, they have every right to preserve these wonderful collections.
Their final outing was 1987's Strangeways, Here We Come. Critics praised the record for being the band's most varied to date, showcasing Johnny Marr's advanced technical playing and the enhanced production techniques that were now available.
Alas, by the time Strangeways had come out, The Smiths were dead. They had broken up earlier in the year, after Morrissey and Marr had fallen out one too many times.
Marr allegedly hated how Morrissey wanted the band to play covers of Cilla Black songs, which is a fair thing to hate.
The Smiths probably benefitted from only being around for a short period of time, as they were able to go out at the peak of their powers. If only Morrissey had quit music for good...