Did we already crown The Queen Is Dead as the Smiths' masterpiece? Because Strangeways, Here We Come is hardly a descent from the mountaintop. Call the band's final two albums twin peaks, because there is a similar feel to these black comedies that made them, at the time, perfect partners for sides A and B of a 90-minute Maxell. "I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday, 'cause you're evil and you lie/ And if you should die, I may feel slightly sad but I won't cry," sings Morrissey on "Unhappy Birthday," which only places second in the album's macabre sweepstakes. The real award goes to "Girlfriend In A Coma," another brightly jangling number that portrays decidedly mixed feelings about a loved one's hospitalization. Its title referencing the name of a Manchester prison, Strangeways seems to recognize that hell is other people, and sometimes you might just be better off walling yourself in. These sentiments are wrapped in brighter-than-ever melodies, including the effusive power pop of "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" and the tale of a fading pop star that is "Paint A Vulgar Picture," the latter sporting the first-ever Smiths guitar solo. It would… read more »