肉食即谋杀 (1985)

Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 11 February 1985 by Rough Trade Records. Following the release of their self-titled debut album in early 1984, the Smiths maintained a prolific output with non-album singles and the compilation Hatful of Hollow, while also drawing media attention for their outspoken political views and provocative lyrics. The band began working with engineer Stephen Street during this period, a collaboration that continued into Meat Is Murder.

Recording for the album took place between mid-1984 and December of that year, with sessions held in London at the Fallout Shelter and Jam Studios, and in Surrey at Ridge Farm Studio. Guitarist Johnny Marr developed many of the demos in his Earl's Court flat, often incorporating BBC sound effects records provided by Morrissey, a technique that became a recurring part of their creative process.

Musically, the album expanded the band's sound, incorporating elements of indie rock and post-punk. It marked a shift toward more overtly political themes, with songs addressing vegetarianism, corporal punishment, and social alienation. It became the band's only studio album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart, and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks. The album was an international success, spending eleven weeks on the European Top 100 Albums chart and peaking at number 29. In the United States, it reached number 110 on the Billboard 200.

Background

Following the release of their self-titled debut studio album The Smiths, the band continued to generate both critical attention and controversy; the song "Suffer Little Children" addressed the Moors murders and drew backlash from the press and some members of the public. The Sun claimed the track was insensitive to the victims' families, alleging it contained offensive lyrical content. Morrissey expressed distress at these allegations and the lack of opportunity to publicly clarify his intentions. In response, the band issued a press statement affirming that the song did not condone child abuse and had been written with serious intent. In the aftermath, a positive outcome emerged when Morrissey was contacted by Ann West, the mother of Lesley Ann Downey, a ten-year-old girl who had been killed in the Moors murders, who came to believe that the song was written with sincere and respectful intentions.

In May and September 1984, they released the non-album singles "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "William, It Was Really Nothing", respectively. The former became their first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, and both songs were later included on the compilation Hatful of Hollow, released in November 1984. "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" marked the beginning of the band's collaboration with then-engineer Stephen Street, who would become a key figure in their subsequent recordings. They had first met Street on the session for the song and requested his contact number. The Hatful of Hollow compilation brought together BBC Radio session tracks, B-sides, and alternative versions of previously released songs, further consolidating the band's early fanbase and public presence.