iSound

At the beginning of the '80s, both the British pop and independent charts were filled with synth-pop, goth-rock, and lightweight new wave. In this climate, {The Smiths}' first single, "Hand in Glove," caused a quiet revolution. With their first album and singles, {The Smiths} led rock & roll into a new era, where songs were again of the utmost importance, guitars replaced synthesizers as the prominent instrument on the pop and indie charts, and where lyrics were unabashedly personal and poetic; in short, they helped post-punk become alternative rock. In their native England, the band were superstars; each of their albums hit the Top Ten. America never warmed to their distinctly British sensibility, yet they did earn a sizable cult following across the USA. Ten years after the release of their first album, their influence is still substantial; from {The Stone Roses} to {Suede}, the Smiths were the root of nearly every significant development in British music since 198...