. . .the only sane "critic" in the world.
Happy to read what we all see.
Happy to know we are not alone.
Happy to have eyes wide open.
Happy to be a fan of Morrissey.
Love,
from NYC

an ethnic george carlin obama or the writer?

either way it gives me the willys

Well since he has become irrelevant in the world of cinema - at least in serious cinephile circles - he's probably just trying to get himself some exposure...

Regards,
Carlos "El Chapo" Reygadas

Wow, this is good. Great to see someone tackle a subject commentators very rarely bother to examine in any depth - Morrissey's radical potential. It's written in a very sophisticated way, shows a real sense of context with regards to the pop scene in general and Morrissey's previous work in particular. The release of 'Years' seems to have prompted this piece, and there are some great observations about the new LP here too. Morrissey and the Smiths' debt to punk is something that doesn't get enough attention, and the author here proves how relevant Morrissey's punk roots still are; in fact, they're probably more relevant than ever.

Good stuff, nice to see.

JD

"Songs like “You’re the One For Me, Fatty,” “The National Front Disco” and “The Father Who Must Be Killed” depart from the glib, comfortable sarcasm that typifies youth music, offering real political and social challenge."

"Fatty" and "The Father Who Must Be Killed" offer real political and social change? Enough. Even The "National Front Disco" is a ridiculous example.

In fact, interpreting such things from flippant pop songs begs the question: What was this loon on when he wrote this?

"But famously, puckishly “celibate” Morrissey claims his pop legacy with wittier agitprop."

Morrissey has not claimed such a thing in a decade or more...close to two decades. He has stated in the past that he has had relationships...of what type, that is his business, but I'm tired of the “celibate” talk. If he still is “celibate”, that is his business. If he isn't “celibate”, that is his business, but to keep describing him that way for 25 years is tiring.

David Essex holding a baby Moz?

I rely on Morrissey to articulate the feelings and emotions I can't. I rely on Armond White to articulate my feelings and emotions about Morrissey.

I find that White offers the best writing about Morrissey, even more so than Mark Simpson. Maybe it's the whole Brit vs. American thing. White, obviously, comes with his own perspective and agenda, but wraps it so wonderfully around Morrissey that it borders on quasi-comic...which is really quite Morrissian.

And that artwork -- a masterpiece. I hope it's hanging above his bed.

Armond White has often written about Morrissey. He wrote similarly in-depth pieces on "You Are The Quarry" and "Ringleader of the Tormentors." When he was the Arts Editor for The New York Sun, he covered all things Morrissey/The Smiths. His pieces on "Your Arsenal" and the MSG show on the "Kill Uncle" tour are also in his collected works of criticism: "The Resistance: Ten Years of Pop Culture That Shook The World." Among critics of pop culture in general, he is the Morrissey of criticism. Sometimes his by-lines feature a teaser for a book about Morrissey titled: "Knee Deep In Great Experiences." As with Morrissey's song titles, he doesn't even have to write the book because the title says it all.