What is the best album by The Smiths?

Four studio albums and a lifetime's worth of Morrissey's wit and Marr's guitar genius — a catalog that punches far above its brevity. Which one is the masterpiece?

1. 1
   The Queen Is Dead

   The Smiths' 1986 masterpiece, considered one of the greatest rock albums ever made, perfectly balancing wit, darkness, and melodic beauty.
2. 2
   The Smiths

   The Smiths' 1984 self-titled debut, an instantly distinctive arrival featuring 'This Charming Man', 'Hand in Glove', and 'What Difference Does It Make?'
3. 3
   Meat Is Murder

   The Smiths' 1985 politically charged second album featuring some of Morrissey and Marr's most impassioned work including 'How Soon Is Now?'
4. 4
   Strangeways, Here We Come

   The Smiths' darker and more ambitious 1987 final studio album, released posthumously after the band's breakup, featuring 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me'.