Indisputably, The Smiths were the ultimate British indie-rock group of the 80s, bridging the gap between new wave and the guitar-oriented music that dominated the alternative scene well into the 90s. Incorporating intelligent, melancholy and ironic observations within the constraint of the three minute pop song structure, The Smiths' core members -- vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr -- proved that music could be innovative, thoughtful and inspiring without rejecting outright the traditional instruments or structure of popular music.

The follow-up to their eponymous, critically acclaimed and commercially successful first album would seal this legacy of creativity for good. Hatful of Hollow, a collection of non-LP singles, B-sides, and John Peel BBC sessions, established a questionable tradition of repackaging Smiths material ad infinitum; however, this first compilation proved to be their most enduring, as well as being one of the classic indie-rock albums of all time. Featuring unpolished versions of many of their classics -- including the bittersweet "William, It Was Really Nothing," a stripped-down"This Charming Man", the beautiful and melancholy "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", the sarcastic "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," and the masterpiece "How Soon Is Now?"

Although Hatful of Hollow followed their dark, dense, self-titled debut, and preceded the brilliant Meat is Murder, the band's second "studio" album, its minimal production, lo-fi aesthetic and nonstop barrage of incredible songs truly captures the delicate intensity and impact of the band better than any of their prior or subsequent studio albums. The success of The Smiths spawned a multitude of similar bands such as James and the Trash Can Sinatras, but ultimately led to a change in the landscape of indie rock in general. After The Smiths and their soundalikes had come and gone, the impact, despair and beauty of their music went on to influence thousands of bands to follow.