"In my own strange way, I've always stayed true to you."

Well done, Johnny Ray Houston; nice reference to the Wildean imagery in FOTGTO!

J. Razor
San Francisco

And ripe with truths. Vauxhall and I remains Morrissey's best solo record, and it IS fantastic, but it is rightly pointed out that Boz and Alain have tended to the "turgid and generic" since. Equally correct is the assertion that Morrissey's voice is presently as its most beautiful. With the exception of Vauxhall and Your Arsenal, I alwways feel as though Morrissey could be doing SO much better if he was writing with more adventurous musicians. There is nothing wrong with Morrissey's voice and his vocal phrasing remains superb. I just feel there's been an unfulfilled potential with Morrissey from Southpaw onwards - that if the music was more accomplished, he could really fly. He is a genius after all. Remember what Johnny Rogan said - Morrissey writes his best lyrics when presented with better music. If only he would consider working with a few other people for some, if not necessarily all, of his next album. His loyalty to Alain and Boz is very commendable, but the author hits the nail on the head when he says it sometimes acts "to the detriment" of his music.

the new album is great, i dont think morrissey should look anywhere else!

lyn

and I like the thoughtful response above by anon.

However, I don't think any fair-minded person could disregard "You are the Quarry" as musically generic or uninspired. At the moment, I'm saying very positive things about Morrissey and so some here have tried to portray me as a sycophant. I'm afraid this is nonsense. I've been very critical of the wails and grunts in past morrissey shows, the strange choice of setlist before 2002, and extremely critical of some of the songs on "southpaw" and, especially, "Maladjusted" which featured the appalling "Papa jack" and one or two other songs well below what we have come to expect from morrissey.

However, "You are the Quarry" is a work of genius. It's got all of the ingredients of a classic - fantastic songwriting, lyrically and musically; great singing; plenty of variety; and it keeps the listener interested. Echoes of the Smiths, early Morrissey and later era Morrissey abound, and yet it does sound quite contemporary. There are plenty of excellent songs on there, and potential singles.

However, I do agree with the thoughtful post above. I don't see why morrissey couldn't continue to write with Alain, who wrote some of his finest ever songs on "Quarry" and Boz who has written a number of past classics, while also working with other people - such as Jesse and even Gary and Deano. Remember "lost" that Morrissey co-wrote with Spencer Cobrin? Fresh ideas are always welcome. Morrissey is a songwriting genius, and I just want to see those around him give him the best possible chance of writing another great album. He doesn't have seven years this time, so perhaps he needs to try a new approach and diversify. Boz, Alain, Jesse and perhaps even a few other guest co-writers could work with him.

I know this seems contrary to morrissey's "band" or "gang" ethos, and he fears turning into Elvis Costello, but I just can't see it happening. He just needs to be more adventurous. What the worst that can happen? If writing with Jesse fails to bear fruit and the other writing is weak, Alain and boz will still be there. I also think even if Alain can't return to the band, they should continue writing together, because some of his stuff on Quarry is extraordinary.

I think one reason morrissey is so conservative about who he works with is his own musical history of losing Marr, and, as he sees it, being deserted. This left deep scars in Morrissey's psyche and the collapse of his working relationship with Stephen Street and subsequent musical nightmare of the "Kill Uncle" era probably exacerbated rather than helped alleviate these feelings. I think having had those experiences, it's perfectly understandable that morrissey feels he's found his "band" and his "friends" and he wants to stick with them, and show them loyalty, which he hopes they will repay.

I wholeheartedly agree - I think it's great that he has a settled and very talented band, I just think that *if* new ideas are needed, he should be less afraid of putting his finger into other pies, and working with other musicans *as well as* Alain and Boz. This would be far preferable to what happened in '97 when they ran out of ideas and simply released the mish-mash of great, good and distinctly crappy songs on "maladjusted." If he does that again, it will kill a remarkable comeback off, and possibly finish off his career.

broken

Am I to assume all this talk means Alain Whyte is gone for good?
I usually keep my ear pretty close and heard he was sick but now it sounds like he's out. If so he'll be missed.

Bring back "STEPHEN STREET!" I love the quarry, I really do but Morrissey hasn't written song as good as "Everyday is like Sunday", "Last of the famous...", "SUEDEHEAD", the bona drag B sides, blah, blah, blah. Out of all the recent albums "Quarry" is the closest to his "Viva Hate" days. Especially "First of the gang to die".

Oh I almost forgot. Bring back "Vini Reiley" at least for a couple of songs.

Yay San Francisco!! This seems to be town that loves to put Morrissey in their papers. Thank gawd he's paying us a visit! See you there.