# 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?

*By YPB Team · Published April 14, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-album-by-the-smiths*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

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. **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. **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. **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'.

Tags: music, 80s, rock, bands, indie, british