Mark wrote - 
I clearly remember that when I heard the first Smiths album, 
I absolutely hated it.  I even referred to Morrissey 
as "Lettuce Head" due to both his strident vegetarianism and 
simply because I thought he was an insipid whiner.  It took a 
while, but with a few more albums and Johnny Marr's melodies, 
I really began to appreciate the band.  And I now really 
enjoy both the sharp attack and the droll humor in 
Morrissey's lyrics.   

I've had the opposite experience - loved the Smiths from the 
first time I heard them on John Peel in the 80s and *Meat is 
Murder* remains one of my all-time faves (still maintain that 
*Queen is Dead* is a tad overrated) but I can't bear to 
listen to Morrissey's awful drone anymore...pity because Marr 
is a guitar genius.

cheers

N/P: Watashi Wa - The Love of Life (Tooth and Nail)