Just 12 months on from the first album, this shows how radically improved this band had become. They had a proper swagger from this record forward. Considering Johnny Marr was 21 at this point is astonishing. Andy Rourke knitted in his funk bass chops and Mike Joyce had the good sense to not over indulge in his brilliant drumming. It’s lovely to listen back to this stuff from when I was 14/15. Morrissey has been such a tool for a long time it’s put me off re listening. But he was genuinely funny, and by this time had become much less ambiguous in his lyrics. This song is very much a report on our schooldays from the 70’s and early 80’s. The routine casual violence dished out by certain teachers still amazes me. It wasn’t so much being sent off to be formally punished but just randomly walloped by some dysfunctional goon for no reason. I remember being thwacked by ‘kipper the slipper’ in the showers after football quite often. It was pretty normal. Enjoy the rest of this wonderful record!
@@handsolo1209 Hahaha, did Dave Gahan pass out on your lawn once? Because your unflinching commitment to slagging Gahan and post-2000 Depeche is a sight to behold. :)
It's about Morrissey's schooldays and bullying teachers, probably the ex-military types who suffered no fools gladly and who saw a sensitive soul like him as someone to be picked on and toughened up. Thankfully they were a dying breed by the time I made it into the education system. This is my favourite Smiths album, partly because there were things happening in my life at the time which some of the songs seemed to be directly related to. However, it is a step up from the first, the production is much better and less muddy. Marr has said he thinks there are too many fast songs. Maybe that's part of why I like it.
Would you consider reacting to some solo Morrissey? He sounded great in The Smiths but I think his voice got much better the longer he progressed in his career. His live performances are usually very good too if that opportunity ever presents itself.
![The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual [Reaction]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y35oKCmgI60/mqdefault.jpg)
Driving, energetic malaise... and the strange chord structure... a masterpiece I.M.O., thanks for the reaction.
I adore this song from Morrissey's vocal to the dark lyrics to the really cool bass line.
I love the way they combine rockabilly and funk on this album
Yodelling is the word you were looking for 🎉
Just 12 months on from the first album, this shows how radically improved this band had become. They had a proper swagger from this record forward. Considering Johnny Marr was 21 at this point is astonishing. Andy Rourke knitted in his funk bass chops and Mike Joyce had the good sense to not over indulge in his brilliant drumming. It’s lovely to listen back to this stuff from when I was 14/15. Morrissey has been such a tool for a long time it’s put me off re listening. But he was genuinely funny, and by this time had become much less ambiguous in his lyrics. This song is very much a report on our schooldays from the 70’s and early 80’s. The routine casual violence dished out by certain teachers still amazes me. It wasn’t so much being sent off to be formally punished but just randomly walloped by some dysfunctional goon for no reason. I remember being thwacked by ‘kipper the slipper’ in the showers after football quite often. It was pretty normal.
Enjoy the rest of this wonderful record!
in my opinion, the best album in history - I wish you a good listening experience
Even better than Spirit and Exciter? How is this possible?????
@@handsolo1209 Hahaha, did Dave Gahan pass out on your lawn once? Because your unflinching commitment to slagging Gahan and post-2000 Depeche is a sight to behold. :)
@@handsolo1209 I can honestly say that I have never heard anything worse than exiter and spirit in my life - and I'm a big fan of Depeche Mode
@@martinmartin8172 Preach brother!
@@mattsnider2667 His ego probably cast a shadow on my lawn. It wasn't a solar eclipse in 1999, it was his head blocking out the sun.
Superb song. From imo,their best album
It's about Morrissey's schooldays and bullying teachers, probably the ex-military types who suffered no fools gladly and who saw a sensitive soul like him as someone to be picked on and toughened up. Thankfully they were a dying breed by the time I made it into the education system. This is my favourite Smiths album, partly because there were things happening in my life at the time which some of the songs seemed to be directly related to. However, it is a step up from the first, the production is much better and less muddy. Marr has said he thinks there are too many fast songs. Maybe that's part of why I like it.
Oh I love fast songs, so that little tidbit has me even more excited now. And more generally, I appreciate all the info and opinions, Mark.
@@mattsnider2667 Nah, it is about "the incident" 😜
definitely bullying as I experienced it at school. Bullying needs stamping out altogether.
Would you consider reacting to some solo Morrissey? He sounded great in The Smiths but I think his voice got much better the longer he progressed in his career. His live performances are usually very good too if that opportunity ever presents itself.
Maybe this is related to that story about why he doesn't use his first name.