Review:

on 2011-08-24 CharlesMartel Said:

He we go with some interesting jangle pop-cum-post punk from the Manchester Miseries. The Smiths exploded on the scene with this single becoming the first true indie band to appear on Top of the Pops. In those times, live performances were not allowed, so each band had to lip synch. And the Smiths promptly proceeded to make their own statement by pointedly refusing even to look like they were playing their instruments  Morrissey spent the whole time waving a bunch of gladioli in the air. That evening, after recording their appearance, the band travelled back to Manchester to play a gig they had booked many weeks before. The whole exercise was pretty much one of downright contempt for the mainstream which was inviting them in. "This Charming Man" was a good, rolling number, but it lacked the get up and go of some of their later stuff. Still, it was a good track then though it hasn't aged that well.
Rating: 6/10