Well-written enough review, but really very silly to talk about Johnny Marr throughout.

Judge the LP on it's own terms, not on music created with Marr 20 years ago.

Terence Stomp

We need more "My Dearest Love's"
Although also not really 'really' good or original, it has definitly a more emotional touch to it and stays far away from the boring rock songs that mister Tobias has given us the last 3 albums... which i'm getting sick of..

That's how people grow up is horrible song.... All you need is me mediocre... Squeezing funny but like many before that on ROTT...I love Mozzer to death, but God... he needs to pair up with some creative writers/guitar players quick!!!

ROTT was the worst album ever... i pray YoR won't be as bad as that!

I don't think Marr is the answer to this problem - a cursory listen to "Bommslang" shows that some of his modern material isn't great and I don't think the "Smiths reunion" would sound as people hope it would.

Nevertheless, it is true that Morrissey seems to have lost it, at least temporarily. Since Southpaw each album has been no more than average at best, and the fact is that Boz, Jesse and, to a lesser degree, Alain (although Alain's tracks tend to be the best ones overall)have offered Morrissey little of interest musically for a long, long time. "Paris" is pleasant but no more, "Grow up" just truly dire. I read a review from 2004 that said that Morrissey's band "dip his grandest endeavours in lead" and I think this is true. There are sparks of a good melody in "Paris", but it never really takes off or goes anywhere. And Jesse just writes Southpaw album filler tracks.

The frustrating thing is that Morrissey could be so much more than he is - he sings beautifully and still is the only person to write lyrics in the style he does. He should collaborate with people like Bernard Butler, Richard Hawley, Maurice Deebank from Felt, Luke Haines, anybody who will shift him from this comfort zone. He should explore new musical styles - he is capable of grand torch songs or simple acoustic laments (a la "Changed my plea" or "i know very well") - hew has overdone the radio rock, it is boring now.

I still think "Vauxhall and I" might well be one of the best albums ever made, but he has regressed since that outstanding moment - and very badly. He is damaging his artistic legacy by refusing to move forward or to change in any way. But, more than anything, he needs co-writers (not Marr) who can deliver the great melodies and memorable tunes he deserves. He should be able to knock the competition out of the window - EASILY - but he is stopping himself from doing so.

Number One - I refuse to read anything or listen to anybody who reviews/talks about 'Years of Refusal'.

Number Two - I will not read/listen to anybody who talks about a Smiths' reunion.

                                        Fini.

it's just based on the one-off playback at Pigalle from a few weeks ago, and is one of a number of reviews from that.
the first proper review has yet to appear...

Well, everybody is entitled to an opinion. So, mine is totally pro-Morrissey! I think he's doing very well alone. We should stop comparing what he did with what he does. This is Morrissey's music now, so you take it or leave it, but stop expecting from him to do what he did in the past. There's something called evolution!
I loved The Smiths to bits, they were great and they made me believe in music. I still love them as I love Morrissey, but I'm also against a reunion. It wouldn't be the same, because two of them wouldn't be in the band. Also, it would be pathetic to fall into another 80s revival band. They were wonderful, don't destroy our loving memory of what they were. If Morrissey and Marr want to play/collaborate together again, that's up to them, but they should come back with a different name, because it would be a different band.

... with the return of J Marr. People just don't want to admit it.

You know you'd all like to hear those melancholic chords rolling behind Morrissey's lovely croon again.

but i can't say i would totally disagree with this reviewer.
morrissey isn't as good as he was with the smiths.

that wants to see the smiths reunited just because he thinks that morrissey is not good enough solo.

well, after all said by morrissey about the smiths reunion (about eat his own balls too :P) i hope it will never happen. Will be a sad and bad show i bet.

Why can't Morrissey and Marr just work together on their own?

In no way does it have to be a Smith's thing.

It would be preferable to a Smith's reunion and probably would come out sounding pretty good (can't be worse that Moz working with Tobias and even the present abilities of Boorer).

I'd actually think Moz would be redeeming himself after a lack luster 4 or 5 years since Quarry.

These people who are so nostalgic for The Smiths that they dismiss Moz solo every chance they get are like people who get divorced, start thinking about the good times, conveniently forget the bad, then want to get back together with the person they divorced. Believe it or not, The Smiths' catalog wasn't perfect. By the time Strangeways was released, critics were lining up to say that The Smiths had disbanded at the right time because they (Smiths) had run out of ideas. Are some of these critics exalting The Smiths now the same ones who dissed them back then?

I think it's a bad review. It's 2008 (tommorow 2009) and Morrissey's music can't be compared with the Smiths'.It makes no sense at all. And I don't think that there will be a reunion either...

Happy New YOR :)

or Years Of Refusal

or year

as you want !!

xxx

stupid... really really stupid

I have read a post by you where you stated that "All You Need Is Me" was one of his best singles in years. Why the change of heart?

what are you in about.....PETA excutes???????

Eric Hartman is a wanker who likes posting "stingy" posts in here. Years of Prozac....I mean, give us a break!

How Dramatic: "What has happened to Morrissey?" and "This bad review comes as no surprise".

Eric comes across like a fickle school girl with no real opinions.

Eric should take Prozac!