16 artists like The Smiths
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 34 The Smiths songs (averaging 44/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same melancholy register and averages almost the same intensity (41/100). 89 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (57/100), with the same energetic register running through 57 measured songs.
65 measured songs that keep the same warm register — averages almost the same intensity (45/100).
Shares the same melancholy register and runs hotter overall (52/100). 82 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (43/100), with the same calm register running through 38 measured songs.
23 measured songs that keep the same nostalgic register — averages almost the same intensity (44/100).
Shares the same intense register and runs hotter overall (54/100). 50 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (58/100), with the same heavy register running through 22 measured songs.
110 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — runs hotter overall (50/100).
Shares the same calm register and runs hotter overall (52/100). 60 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (52/100), with the same calm register running through 38 measured songs.
95 measured songs that keep the same contemplative register — plays calmer overall (38/100).
Shares the same intimate register and averages almost the same intensity (49/100). 48 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (45/100), with the same calm register running through 40 measured songs.
62 measured songs that keep the same energetic register — averages almost the same intensity (42/100).
Shares the same joyful register and runs hotter overall (53/100). 43 of their songs measured.
Frequently asked
What artists sound like The Smiths?
The closest matches we measure are R.E.M., Arcade Fire, The Cure. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 34 measured The Smiths songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
R.E.M.: “King of Comedy” (90% feel-match); Arcade Fire: “Put Your Money on Me” (90% feel-match); The Cure: “Club America” (91% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the The Smiths centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is The Smiths overall?
Across 34 measured songs, The Smiths averages 44/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
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