The Smiths

The Smiths lives in the middle ground — 23 moderate songs that balance intensity with control. 7 quiet anchors and 4 songs where they let go completely.

The character of The Smiths

Across the 34 The Smiths songs we've measured, intensity averages 44/100 — right around the catalog average (46/100).

They run from Back to the Old House (the calmest here, 15) to How Soon Is Now? (the most charged, 88), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1983–1987.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to How Soon Is Now?.

6.5
Avg Intensity
34
Songs Decoded
0
Fan Stories
Share on X Facebook Reddit Similar Artists →

The songs that hit hardest

The controlled burn

Back to the Old House moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
Hand in Glove moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1983
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1984
Reel Around the Fountain moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1984
Still Ill moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1984
What Difference Does It Make? moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1984
Meat Is Murder moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1985
Ask moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1986
Bigmouth Strikes Again moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 8 · 1986
Cemetry Gates moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1986
Panic moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1986
The Boy with the Thorn in His Side moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 8 · 1986
The Queen Is Dead moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1986
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 9 · 1986
A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1987
Death at One's Elbow moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1987
Death of a Disco Dancer moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1987
Half a Person moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1987
I Started Something I Couldn't Finish moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1987
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 8 · 1987
Shoplifters of the World Unite moderate
layered texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1987
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1987
Unhappy Birthday moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1987

The quiet ones

Frequently asked about The Smiths

Answered from our measurements of every song above.

What is the most intense The Smiths song?

Of the 34 The Smiths songs we've measured, “How Soon Is Now?” scores highest at 88/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.

What is the calmest The Smiths song?

“Back to the Old House” measures gentlest at 15/100. It runs 72 BPM. The songs here span 15–88 on our 0–100 intensity scale.

How intense is The Smiths overall?

The Smiths averages 44/100 intensity across 34 measured songs — right at our 46/100 catalog average.

What is the average tempo of The Smiths?

The The Smiths songs we've measured average about 108 BPM — midtempo.

Which The Smiths songs are calm enough for background listening?

These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others”, “Girlfriend in a Coma”, “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”, “William, It Was Really Nothing”.

The Wall — Fan Stories

Share your story

No stories yet.

Click any song and share what it means to you. Be the first voice on this wall.

Add your story to the wall

No one has written about The Smiths yet. Write the first piece →

Looking for artists with a similar feel?

See Artists Like The Smiths →

Know a The Smiths song we haven't decoded?

Analyze a Song

Don't see your favorite artist?

Request an Artist
← Back to Library
Find The Smiths on eBay · eBay partner
The Smiths vinylThe Smiths CDsConcert postersT-shirts & merchSigned memorabilia

Music I Want earns a small commission on eBay purchases through these links. Nothing changes for you; the page costs no more than visiting eBay directly. We only link to categories that fit the page you are reading.