With their second proper album Meat Is Murder, The Smiths began to branch out
and diversify, while refining the jangling guitar pop of their debut. “The
Headmaster Ritual” and “I Want the One I Can't Have” are fine
elaborations
of the formula they laid out on the debut, while “Rusholme Ruffians” is an
infectious stab at rockabilly. Such was their creative thrust at this point;
they were seen as the most important British band since Joy Division. Above all
though, there was no other British group making music quite like this in
1985.
