Not widely considered to be the band's best but it does contain their biggest hit, "How Soon Is Now?". MIM contains the perfect mix of Smiths' style songs including both fast and slow, fun and political. I remember back in the 80's when 'Spin Magazine' had "How Soon Is Now?" ranked as the best single of all time. I also remember thinking, "You know, that isn't even one of my favorite Smiths' songs." Actually not even my fave from this album. To me HSIN had great lyrics and a cool sound but was generally not very Smiths-like. The song lacked the rawness and edge of their other material due to its high-gloss production... precisely NOT the point of the band. Still it's a wonderful song with a catchy, highly original melody and Mozz' sharp wit.

I've always been partial to the underappreciated songs from this album. The haunting "Well I Wonder" is dreamy and melancholy declaring "This is the fierce last stand of all I am." "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is simply brilliant as we watch the knife of past words turn sharply against the protagonist. "What She Said" speeds up the pace but remains downbeat lyrically with its angst and sarcastic humor; Marr delivers an understated but excellent performance. On "I Want the One I Can't Have" the singer laments his inability to hide his emotions or capture the subject of his desire. And in "Nowhere Fast" Morrissey questions whether he has the capacity to experience life or emotionally progress at all (hence the name).

The title track is often clasified as over-the-top and may be many people's least favorite from this collection of songs. I beg to differ. Morrissey is entitled to his opinion on us meateaters and I have no issue with that. He states his case in a dark, poetic manner backed by the cries of cattle and sounding of the screaming knife. Missed in the criticism of this track is MArr's ability to craft an otherwordly guitar melody that is both sad and majestic in a way I've rarely heard. Quite simply, this is the vegetarians' anthem. Actually there was a t-shirt in the 80's with every single lyric printed on it. "The Headmaster Ritual" speaks of systematic cruelty embedded in British schools while "Barbarism Begins at Home" echoes that abusive cruelty in the home.

All in all, this is not the band's best but still merits every bit of 5 stars. In other words, an average Smiths' release.

i got turned on to these guys when i was living in baton rouge, louisiana, by a black woman who was really into alternative music. then i got my best bud to make me a tape of this album and strangeways, here we come. both are excellent records. this one i really like alot because you really see morrissey's sense of sarcasm and humor coming into bloom.i have never skipped a track since i've started listening to it. best songs are: " the headmaster's ritual," " i want the one i cant have," meat is murder " which is noteworthy because it takes on the subject of animal cruelty, and "how soon is now," which is the ultimate whipped puppy's anthem. such a shame morrissey and marr didn't get along. but the output they created was enough

Meat is Murder was one of my first forays into indie music as a 15 year old kid in 1987 and what a great place to start. Full of painful angst and alienation, Morrissey really bears himself... his wretched life lives all over these songs. Maybe it's a little dramatic, but it never seems faked and it always sounds fantastic.

This was the Smiths' 2nd album, and a very good one at that. I would still recommend "The Queen Is Dead" or "The Smiths" (debut) before this, but it's still a worthy one to add to one's collection. "Meat Is Murder" shows Johnny Marr's maturity and mastery as one of the 80's best guitarists. "I Want The One I Can't Have" and "Headmaster Ritual" absolutely rock. Flat-out stunners. And "Well I Wonder" and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" show the Smiths at their more contemplative brooding mood. I think I'll go listen to it right about now!

how perfect are these lyrics? absolutely. hey, morrissey may have had his moments of despair, but overall he was a very sarcastic person. those imbeciles who don't understand the concept of sarcasm should bury their heads in the sand and continue to listen to tripe like creed and kravitz, lyrically challenged to the last. music can MEAN something and be done in a clever way that the beforementioned will never achieve. alas, i digress...

anyway, on this album, as is the case with the queen is dead, johnny really goes off on his guitar. the strumming in "rusholme ruffians" and "the headmaster ritual" is truly inspiring.

always criticized for being a depressing lot, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotional song than "well i wonder." a very simple, but moving moment to this album. if you haven't heard "how soon is now?" buy this album just for this song, though you will find all of it excellent. this one song is arguable the quinessential track of the '80's. brilliant and haunting.