The Smiths "Panic" Reviews

THE SMITHS 'Panic'
(Rough Trade) 

Another one I'd been avoiding - frightened of burning my fingers, I suppose.

Well, what can I say except that I find The Smiths' music the most sterile, conservative rubbish in the world? Morrissey sells his masturbation fantasies and people buy them. On this one he yelps "hang the DJ" over and over until you want to hang him (the stupid crybaby) by his little toes, from a great height.

A very short thrill at two minutes 19 seconds.

THE SMITHS: Panic (Rough Trade)

"Hang the DJ! Steve Wright? Yes! No messing. A stunningly astute critique of pop-culture under late capitalism leads Morrissey to the conclusion that terrorism is the answer. In this he is wrong of course. Individualistic action is no substitute for the action of the masses but at least he is sussed enough to realise that lynching - being a group activity - is superior to those methods of assassination that require a knowledge of technology that is not available to ordinary working people. Whilst our support of The Smiths is this instance must be critical it is also wholehearted and without reservation.

This from a man who didn't have a job and then he found a job and God knows he's miserable now, etc, is pretty good going. This is the first Smiths single that uses a different tune and that manages to avoid ropey introspection and clever-clever adolescent poetry. The lads in the office tried to hide this record from me. They thought that my previous condemnations of the Mozzer were based on blind unthinking hatred and unjustified prejudice. Far from it. I always believed it when they told me that the man was a genius, I merely awaited proof. It now seems as if my goading has borne fruit.

SMITHS OF THE WEEK

THE SMITHS

Panic (Rough Trade)

Just when you thought it was safe to write off The Smiths as the ultimate album band, here comes "Panic" to re-establish Morrissey and Marr as undisputed champions of pop's most vital artwork. As well as being thoroughly superior to the rest of this week's crop, "Panic" should also finally knock the dour bastards myth on the head once and for all. The very thought of Morrissey ever getting involved in anything more dangerous than a nosebleed is funny enough, but when he brings the young lad in at the end for the "hang the deejay" chant, it's impossible not to join in and echo the sentiments of anyone who has ever once attended a youth club disco. "The music that they constantly play says nothing to me about my life," croons Mo, but a few blasts of "Panic" and that particular situation will soon be put to rights. Johnny Guitar hasn't sounded as damned EMPHATIC since "Hand In Glove", and with "Vicar In A Tutu" and a ludicrous instrumental funk workout on the 12-inch, it sounds as if The Smiths are back with a vengeance. Brilliant.