Morrissey should do a U2 and re-record kill uncle because everyone knows from the live versions that it could have been a much better album. As it stands its gonna be first to go.

as everybody knows is just a piece of rubbish, worst production ever in a Morrissey record. Songs are not bad and it could have been better given a different treatment but as it is, its just crap.
"found found found" is also the worst song probably ever to appear in a Morrissey record.

I can't vote on here because I like them all too much.

BUT i have not stopped playing
quarry for a yr now ~
jesus , camden , hector , dykes
crashing bores , black sky in the day time
all add up to my fav

markmustb1

Why does this album always get such a bad wrap? I love it!

Southpaw is such a good album. Kill Uncle has to be the first to go!

Southpaw Grammar marked the end of my initial fascination with Morrissey. After the artistic triumphs of Vauxhall and I, I think many of us were still expecting wondrous things.. but then Southpaw arrived, and it was an abysmal disappointment. I know these are fighting words, but I could scarcely find a decent song on the album (though Dagenham Dave and Boy Racer have kind of grown on me); the song craftsmanship seemed mediocre at best, and the well of magical that inspired Vauxhall and so much of what preceded it seemed to have dried up.
Of course, I didn't write Morrissey off at that point - I was certain that this bad record was simply an unfortunate fluke - but then he followed it up with Maladjusted. If not for Trouble Loves Me and Alma Matters, I'd have thought Morrissey & Co. were done for good! Yet another lackluster album, yet further artistic decline. It was an unsettling, almost heartbreaking revelation: Morrissey could.. well, suck.. for (no) lack of a better term.
Then followed a long, dry, virtually silent period. His hibernation phase. It was during this time that Morrissey just sort of faded from my life.. something I would have deemed hugely unlikely just a few years before. When at last he returned with You Are The Quarry, I was excited, but not in the way I would have been back in 1994. Morrissey the Myth was now simply Morrissey the Man.. an interesting, often wonderful bloke with many good songs.. but alas, the rush of excitement I used to feel had vanished. I went to see him in concert in support of Quarry.. and while he was as good as he's ever been, I noticed yet again that the thrill (for me, anyway) was gone. As of today, I still love the guy - he'll forever remain one of my very favourite artists, but I seem to miss what I used to feel. It's not his fault, of course. I've grown up a bit since those earlier days.. and Moz set the bar so high back then.. it was unfair to think he'd always maintain that.

Morrissey never recover from the abomination who hears the name Sothpaw Grammar.But after Kill Uncle(Kill Uncle si superiro to the 3 last albums) he delivers us the Your Arsenal and V. & I.
Btw wer must burn Jerk the Gog :P
Maladjusted is better from Quarry and SG.

Seems to me that a lot of people complain about the Lads (Boz and Alain in particular) been stuck in a rut since Vauxhall yet the glaring hypocrisy is that Southpaw Grammar is such a musically diverse album and so different from the successful Vauxhall.

They were trying something new and completely different yet they're slated for not being the same (as Vauxhall) yet not trying something new!

I still love you Southpaw...

I wish I could be more original, but Kill Uncle, in my opinion, simply is the worst. That's not to say its 100% rubbish, but there's no great, standout track. "Mute Witness" and "Driving Your Girlfriend Home" are so-so, but the production is awful.

Having said that, Quarry's production milks the life out of a great batch of songs, and Maladjusted contains (in my opinion) the worst Morrissey song committed to record - "Papa Jack".

Again, just my own view, but the best three Moz albums are: 1) Vauxhall 2) Southpaw 3) Viva

Jilted John

Everyone knows the first three to go. Lets start from there.

No album can top Vauxhall !

'Bona Drag' kicks ass! Where is it? Some of the collections should be in this list. I voted for 'Southpaw' because I never listen to it. 'Kill Uncle' was much better live but it looks to be the first to go. Thetexasbloke

"Kill Uncle" is by far his weakest album, and I think "Vauxhall & I" is his best.

I'm not sure how the rest should be ranked between 'em. I'm changing my opinions all the time on the others.

While "Kill Uncle" is my least favorite and I often feel a little sad when I play it because it could've been so much better, I still enjoy the album. It's a frustrating album in comparison to the rest of his body of work, but it's still got good songs.

It seems like Morrissey let his standards go way down on "Kill Uncle" before he found a new band, in order to just get an album released, or something. I recall an interview he did at the time in which he stated that the music side of things isn't all that important, that it's the voice and lyrics that matter. This sounded defensive to me.

From the day I heard it, Southpaw Grammar has remained my favorite Moz record. It captures a raw energy and emotional cohesiveness not seen on any other Morrissey LP. It blows albums like the cold and clinical Quarry out of the water.

I am of the strict opinion that those who don't care for it - or worse, never even listen to it -just don't know very much about good songs and good music.

so there
 

this poll had to arrive on a day where iam [even now as itype this] listenin to 'Kill Uncle', and absolutely loving it. this album is disregarded far too easily. the songs are great- campy, poppy, playful- the production is suitable- light, airy- and the lyrics are tremendous- clever, funny, insightful, inspiring. when the time comes for me to vote this one out- and it will come indeed, unless it should vanish before then (which seems likely early on)- iwill hav to do so with a heavy heart.

but that time is not as yet at hand for there is one other album which should be dismissed before any other- 'Maladjusted'.

It hurts my heart to see Kill Uncle first on the chopping blcok. Surely Maladjusted deserves the first blow.

Obviously Kill Uncle is dire. I never liked it then and do not like it now. Awful. Southpaw rocks! Whats wrong with you lot? Kill Uncle should then be followed by Your Arsenal - the gigs were great but who plays that album in its entirety still? Surely not.
I would be happy if Vauxhall, Southpaw, Viva or Quarry won - wont be able to decide if it comes down to those 4.

Worst songs.
Worst production.
Worst sleeve.
Worst record label.

I wish it had never been made.

Where is Bona Drag?Cause if one album can top Vauxhall and I is Bona Drag, and Maladjusted is far better tha You are The Quarry(Quarry has the wort song in Morrissey car. Im Not Sorry-so boring and the flaute at the end did not save it-).Anyway i dont care about your fucking miserable opinion.The 2 least like albums from the solo car. is Kill Uncle(Production- whats wrong with The Harsh Truth Of The Camera Eye?I love it!) and Southpaw Grammar( i loath The Boy Racer, Dagenham Dave and Do Your Best and Don't Worry).

Uncle has some good songs that are knackered by rubbish production and musicianship, whereas with Maladjusted the production is very good, and the band competent, but the songs (or the good majority of them) are turgid, unrescuable rubbish. That said, it had some of the best b-sides ever, while Uncle's b-sides were mind-bogglingly abysmal.

just a quick note about kill uncle which i believe is too easily dismissed. I see it as the inverse of a normal morrissey record, good with a bad reputation. Here was morrissey being new and innovative witha poppy sound instead of old rocky morrissey. Unfortunatley innovative morrissey soon died with the introduction of the polecats ressurrecting old rockabilly/bland morrissey, oh well nevermind!

what is WRONG with you slags? KILL UNCLE IS VIOLENTLY ADORABLE. i voted for southpaw grammar. i do like this album, however it pales in comparison to viva hate, bona drag, your arsenal, and vauxhall and i [all of which i love equally].

Your Arsenal is the most overrated of them all. Of course, I voted for Kill Uncle, but Your Arsenal is soon to go. I don't know why everyone thinks its so damn swell. Sounds like Vauxhall and I, part two. Outside of Tomorrow, there is not much on there that I adore.

Still...Kill Uncle does indeed suck. I do enjoy Our Frank and Sing Your Life.

--Philharmonic On Cassette

i suspect maladjusted is next, and vauxhall will remain until the end.

Are there actually people who think Vauxhall is the worst, or is that some sort of joke?

#1 Vauxhall
2 Arsenal
3 Viva Hate
4&5 Quarry and Maladjusted tie
6 Southpaw
7 Kill Uncle

*All great albums though, tough to decide, and your decision today will only change tomorrow. Wonder where Bona Drag, World Of, MEBY would filter and fall in???

Oddly enough, when his worst album was released, along with his most annoying single (Alma Matters I've never cared for), is when I started really getting into Moz. Maladjusted got my vote. I finally heard it in its entirety, it's not that the songs were terrible and the musicianship was shitty. It simply had no real energy or distinction. Workman-like one would say. The only decent song was the Satan anthem...

My god you are all morons. Voting off kill uncle. That album is pure genius. Southpaw is garbage send it your vote. But it is obvious that you are all a bunch of trendy bastards who go along with the crowd and vote for kill uncle even though you have probably only listened to it once if that. Maybe you are all just jealous that you were not there for the best tour ever. No intelligence, you all have no intelligence. A work of art getting voted off. You might as well be voting off Viva Hate. Or how about Vauxhaul And I, a very overrated album with only a couple good songs on it. You all should just stf^. Morrissey has been putting out garbage for the last 10 years with a few exceptions. And to all of you people who think Lost is the best song ever, go jump of a fnnnnnnnn cliff. You must be really hideous.

I love all of the albums- but my least favourite is YATQ.

The cover photo is very odd.

The production isn't that great. The music is not very unique. The songs are not "quirky" enough for me. Most of the songs lack a great deal of emotion (compared to other albums).

Don't get me wrong- It is a *great* album- it is just my least favourite.

On the other hand, "Kill Uncle" is very, very original and daring and *very* quirky indeed.

Always-
Ken Stavitzke

I love the Kill Uncle album, it will always be my favorite solo album. My theory on many who dislike Kill Uncle...I believe it has to do with the type of fan the person is. Most of the fans on this website have just recently been listening to Morrissey, their first concert was probably from this last tour. They do not understand/appreciate the wit that Morrissey puts out on the Kill Uncle album. Every new generation of fans get involved with Morrissey's music because of what he most recently has put out. The music and the lyrics have been on a downgrade ever since Vauxhall, sure, there are glimmers of hope such as nobody loves us and Edges but nothing much to write home about. Anyway, the lyrics and music are soo different from the early 90's it is easy to see why the newcomers prefer quarry to earlier albums. Tastes have changed but not for the better.

Maladjusted included some of the worst songs of Morrissey's career. He Cried, Ambitious Outsiders, Papa Jack, and who can forget the absolutely worst track in the Morrissey cannon: Sorrow Will Come In The End.

To harp on something like King Leer, or Found, Found, Found, while ignoring such an atrocious attempt at spoken word poetry, is baffling.

Apparently, Morrissey decided that he wanted to have the band create music around prearranged vocal melodies for Maladjusted, and it was a total flop. As a result, the songwriting process was much too transparent. Southpaw was dull as well.

It seems that since Southpaw, Morrissey has been gradually trying to build himself back up into the artist that he once was, with each successive release, as if Southpaw left him crippled, and in need of rehabilitation. Unfortuantely, it's rather late in the game, and the process is rather sluggish. While YATQ was much better than Southpaw, and Maladjusted, it is in no way comparable to Morrissey's best.

While Kill Uncle seems lightweight compared to YA, and VI, its production was ten times more interesting and creative than either Maladjusted, or Southpaw. To paraphrase one reviewer at the time of Southpaw, "Morrissey used to stand apart from his contemporaries, now he has become them."

It seems that many people want Southpaw's glaring weaknesses to be excused because it was a progressive attempt. This isn't the Special Olympics. You don't get a ribbon just for trying. A songwriter's first obligation should be to create a good tune, period. You can then add your own personal stamp to that, as Johnny Marr did with what was essentially, mostly sixties style songwriting.

...and the winner is:"VAUXHALL AND I"! oh my.

oh my you say,well i just dont understand why everybody raves about it. because frankly my dears i find it a crashing bore.granted side one has some great songs but side 2,yeech.side 2 is where you find:'i am hated for loving',boring 'lifeguardsleeping,girl drowning'boring 'used to be a sweet boy' boring 'the lazy sunbathers' boring !. If an album with those songs is considered the best then im not the typical Morrissey fan. Next to the obvious 'Kill Uncle',"V and I" is my least favorite album.Give me the rocking of 'Your Arsenal' and the storming "Southpaw Grammar' anytime.

What the hell? Why does everyone hate Southpaw Grammar? I dont understand it. The songs rock, they explode out of the speakers in ways Morrissey never has. It also has some of his best melodies ever...
"You dont know a thing about their liives"... my god you're telling me you don't sing along to that? Thats pure pop goodness.

The only bad thing on Southpaw is the first song, which is bit dull and long, but even still the lyrics are good, and the band really gets great in those last couple minutes... Its still very well arranged.

The song "Southpaw" is one of Morrisseys all time best songs. "The girl of your dreams is sad and alone"... jesus christ, what does it take for you people? This is a beautiful song, full of atmosphere (walk home to this song on a dark foggy night and try not to cry)...Its like an epic masterpiece, and I love how long it is, cause I never want it to end.

Boy Racer and Dagenham Dave are both biting and fun as hell...

And when the strings come in to the bridge of "Reader Meet Author"... My god, so nice...

I dont get why everyone hates this album.

(I voted for Kill Uncle by the way... just cause the production is so off and kind of lifeless... though I do love the songs, like "King Leer", "Our Frank" "End of the Family Line" and "There Is A Place..." ... some of his best songs)

-Jordan

I find it hard to choose which I dislike the most, because I love each and every single one. From day one, I have liked Southpaw, perhaps because I'm a "new generation" Morrissey fan who only got the album in the last year. This meant of course that I had heard all the bashing and was ready for a great steaming pile of crap... But what I get is a great storming mile of immensity. I like it a lot, because I regularly wish to listen to it, as it makes for a nice change from listening to the slower, deeper songs on Hate and Vauxhall... Which is another reason why I'm gutted that Bona Drag is not on there... I've never been a big fan of the comp albums, but this beauty is just simply immense in it's quality. Now I Am Blind, Lucky Lisp, Hairdresser, Never Marry... Why is it that I never hear these songs listed in "favourites" lists?

it should rate like this:
Vauxhall
Quarry
Viva Hate
Southpaw
Maladjusted
Arsenal
Kill Uncle

I used to use this album to help fight my insomnia, helps me fall asleep in 20 mins.

Is there anyone out there who enjoys listening to all the songs in their entirety from Viva Hate to YATQ!? I do it often and I love it, Ok so I only skip Everyday like sunday and Suedehead because they pop up 5 or 6 times including in a couple of bootlegs. I also skip asian rut and harsh truth, but thats it! I even listen to Sorrow Will Come In The End!!! :D

It will sadden me when this album drops off the list. I was too young for the Smiths(discovered them AFTER Morrissey) and therefore didn't get into Morrissey purely because i wanted him to sound like he did in the past....this album is a stunning piece of work, Morrissey proving that he can produce a physical record and his lyrics sound the best ever for sounding like they are NOT trying too hard....brilliant melodies, coherent, no tracks to skip over(as much as I love Arsenal and Vauxhall I often pick and choose the tracks I listen to)......and the closing track is perfection, AND NOT LONG ENOUGH AS I WISH THE FADE WOULD GO ON AND ON....Southpaw Grammar is my favourite album of all time and the album I choose to lend non-believers who think his music is weedy...and they all love it.

x

I voted You are the Quarry because I hate, hate, hate the production, it's so tame; the songs sound so much fresher and cleaner on Live from Earls Court. But if you will employ the prodcuer of the goddawful Blink 182...

As for Kill Uncle, yes, the production is terrible. I remember reading an interview with the producers (Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley)at the time in Melody Maker and they gave a run-down of how each song was made and at the end one of them said "I hope we haven't messed it up for Morrissey". Guess what guys; you did!

...that some people voted out Vauxhall and I?! It's probably one of the best albums ever...

Seems to me that an awful lot of people are skipping Viva Hate, assuming its place as second or third. In all honesty I believe it has to be considered a true contender with Vauxhall for best album. Some true classics on there: Hairdresser, Suedehead, Maudlin St...amongst others. Sure it was his first solo attempt but it was a rather good one.

As for what goes first, I voted for Kill Uncle (as predictable as that is), but I also believe that Maladjusted and Southpaw should stay in longer than YATQ. YATQ just seemed to wallow in safe, mid-tempo songs, which whilst being far from bad and much more consistent than the two previous efforts, didn't have any spark.

Maladjusted and Southpaw still had that spark, despite it becoming lost amongst much lesser songs.

yo!
Firstly i like them all in different ways, its just like asking me to chose between the kids i dont have. But its a game so lets play....i voted Kill Uncle out first.

Secondly i've always thought Southpaw Grammar was his most personnal album, beautifully mysterious and dark and angry like the ocean. Of course i thought i was tripping until i heard The Man himself claiming last year on radios and interviews that it is his favourite solo album.

Thirdly i feel sorry for all those who hate that album, i really think they're missing something there.
Of course Vauxhall & i is going to win, we all know that, Moz fans are so predictable sometimes.

that is a good cd for newer fans it just tells you why people don't like YATQ as much as his old stuff. because his old stuff is brilliant.plus the front cover is not to bad either.

The end result will be a duel between Arsenal and Vauxhall, the 2 mega albums of his solo career.

viva hate towers above the rest of his solo work. beautiful songs that show morrissey moving aaway from the sound of the smiths. if only he had continued to work with vini reilly. an amazing album tinged with a sad nostalgia. last night on maudlin street is possibly the best thing he has ever done.

kill uncle is much better than people seem to think. has some terrible songs but also some great ones. your arsenal good, but ultimately a bit bland. vauxhall his second best, but similarly limp in places. southpaw not great, but certainly interesting and much better than most people seem to think. malajusted is simply crap. quarry is better but still epressingly mediocre. morrissey desperately needs to hook up with a songwriter on a par with johnny marr (or at least half as good).

my ranking:
1. viva hate
2. vauxhall and 1
3. southpaw grammer
4. your arsenal
5. kill uncle
6. you are the quarry
7. maladjusted

I don't dislike any of them, but I find myself shoving Maladjusted aside sometimes. I love the songs Maladjusted, Ambitious Outsiders, and Wide To Receive, but the rest of the album, to me, is a little weak. Not the best Morrissey could do, I suppose.

How I rank them:
1. VIVA HATE
2. Your Arsenal
3. Southpaw Grammar
4. Kill Uncle
5. Vauxhall and I
6. You Are The Quarry
7. Maladjusted

There i was loving the Smiths. Then they split but Morrissey was making some great solo stuff. Then Kill Uncle. That was it for me. From buying every LP or single that came out i walked away. Kill Uncle was responsible for not just me, but a lot of people not willing to give uncondtional appreciation of any Moz stuff whatsoever, to stop following the man and his music. Do people remember 1991 when it came out? Jesus- it was painful. We shuddered when it was mentioned, and kept are love of his earlier stuff quiet to avoid embarrassment. it took me ten years before i ventured out to see him play again. At the Albert Hall he played nothing from Kill Uncle. Thankyou god. Over time I have come to reassert my love of the great mans music.
But now I see people raking over the shameful past. This revisionism must stop. Kill Uncle was very very VERY poor

Are you fucking serious?Whats wrong with Ambitious Outsiders and Sorrow Will Come In The End?I agree about He Cried and i will add Papa Jack and Wide To Recieve-worst songs ever-.Kill Uncle is really weak production and thats the problem of that album.Still Maladjusted is far better and some of the most amzing b-sides are from Maladjusted era.Shame He Cried, Papa Jack and Wide To Recieve should have been replaced by the following songs:The Edges Are No Longer Parallel,Now I Am A Was and I Can Have Both.Those b-sides are the best ever no doubt(I dare you!)

I truly believe that anyone who has to wait more than a year for a new studio album by your favorite artist [or band] should be rewarded with at least three, four or maybe even five good tracks out of every ten recorded. But when Southpaw came out, I had a hard time finding two. I thought it was a big confusing mess that had no apparent direction except the one that went right to my CD rack instead of my player. How can anyone say that Kill Uncle was a bad album? I vote to Kill Grammer instead of Uncle!!!

I think that one of awesome things about Morrissey's body of work is the true lack of mediocre moments. So many of the above comments are trashing "Kill Uncle" and "Southpaw Grammer" -- and they honestly sound as if they haven't given these albums a full evaluation. I know, because I initially did this to Kill Uncle, years ago. My first album was Kill Uncle (I bought it in the 9th grade, 1994, amid my obsession with the Cure) and I was so not into it. Because of this I didn't really get back into Morrissey until I fell for The Smiths during my senior year. Anyway, years passed, I listened to Morrissey everyday and after wearing all of my CDs out, I dusted off my cassette version of "Kill Uncle" and was quite pleasently suprised. I think my musical taste has evolved to include music that is more challenging and perhaps in the end, more rewarding. "Kill Uncle" is definately a fan's album. It's textures are more subtle; it's production isn't glammed up like "Your Arsenal" or Smithian like "Vauxhall" but rather simple, I think to place alot of the focus on the words as opposed to the overall sonicality. I discussed the merits of "Southpaw" on a previous posting (when it was listed as a "PR disaster" )and still stand by my analysis: "Southpaw" is loaded with gorgeous moments as well as moments deeply revealing of where Morrissey was in 1995. It is another work where the music is not handed to the listener on a platter, ready for consumption, but rather like poetry: offered for tasting, pondering, hating, loving, and eventually understanding. The mark of a complete artist is one who creates for the art not for the audience. If the art is meaningful, the audience will appreciate it. And Morrissey's fans who have completly delved into his oeuvre, recognize that it is an expression of his self -- whether designed for mass consumption or not. I mean, we're talking about the Godfather of alternative rock here. He's a genius, therefore it is far to difficult to rate albums "best to worst" rather "most catchy" "most intellectual" "most sexual" "most depressing" "most uplifting" would do. There is little mediocrity in his work, for those willing to truly delve.

how could anyone hate kill uncle? i think kill uncle is one the better albums. king leer? sing your life? wonderful songs.

I think this is a good LP, with some great songs and a few not so great ones. However, I can't forsee it being many peoples' favourite Moz CD. Even those who really like it will probably plump rather for Vauxhall, or Southpaw.

Anyhow, I think we all know how this poll is going to end...If only it were possible to do a Favourite Moz / Smiths Single poll. It would take a fuck of a lot of space on the main page, but I for one would be interested to see what came tops (though, to be honest, we all know There is A light, This Charming Man, How Soon Is Now, Suedehead and Everyday Is Like Sunday would be up there...)

Ah well, as m y grand mother always used to say: "Fuck eet!"

Gringo Sally

"Sing Your Life" is one of the few redeeming qualities of Kill Uncle. I remember when it came out I pretended to like the rest of the CD. What pulled Morrissey through that mediocre at best release was that on that tour he had Bona Drag material to play in concert that he hadn't previously done (Picadilly Palare, November Spawned A Monster, Interesting Drug).

so let me say my piece in defence of it now.

even moreso than 'Southpaw Grammar', this is the most misunderstood, and thus underrated, album of Morrissey's career. surely, it is one of the most unique, and this is likely why it is so chastised by fans and critics alike- yet this uniqueness should be seen as one of its many strengths.

the album begins with its first single, "Our Frank"- a perfcet choice for the lead single as it is likely the most similiar to his previous solo singles on the album. this song also perfectly sets up the tone and progression of the album: an emphatically expressed desire to shake off the weighty thoughts of deep conversation and introspection that eventually gives way to an uncontrolable compulsion to think about "everything" "deeply" and "bleakly". all delivered by means of a racing and poppy musical backing and clever, humourous and undeniably charming lyrics and vocals, this is a fantastic way to open.

"Asian Rut" is easily one of the strangest songs in the Morrissey cannon, but this only adds to it interest. an eerie musical accompaniment, complete with the beautifully harmonius yet unsettling violin of Nawazish Ali Khan, a chilling depiction of racism and violence ending with one of the most transcending stanzas of Morrissey's career, "I'm just passing through here/On my way to somewhere civilised/And maybe I'll even arrive/Maybe I'll even arrive...." by that line alone this song is made spectacular.

one of the more accepted songs off 'Kill Uncle' is second and final single taken from the album, "Sing Your Life". really, not much needs to said here: a joyously bouncy musical backing for perhaps Morrissey's most inspirational and encouraging lyrics ever. complete with the Morrissey charm and humour- which has never been displayed more or better than on this album- this is one of Morrissey's finest.

"Mute Witness" serves as a wonderful mirror to the classic "November Spawned A Monster" in its view of a disabled girl from the opposite and seemingly unsympathetic perspective. now, many will criticise Morrissey for having bad taste in attempting to extract humour from such a situation before abruptly sending the poor girl off in her taxi, but the very fact that Morrissey does write about things like this, where most would never attempt, shows his true empathy for the disabled. an ambiguous lyric and a glammed up musical performance, this is another great song.

people juste dont get "King Leer" ithink. ithink theyre juste being too serious or stuck up or something, but when people refer to one of Morrissey's greatest lyrics as his "lyrical nadir" it really makes me wonder what is wrong with them. simply a perfect piece of fey pop boasting an absurdly hilarious lyric with its series of cringeworthy, but completely intentional, puns and cliches including the title's labeling of the boyfriend as "King Leer"- brilliant. imean, if you think hes being serious, he completely gives himself away when he begins to laugh at himself in the middle of the song. this is the most playful moment of Morrissey's career and it is classic all the way.

"Found Found Found" begins the fall back into that uncontrolable compulsion of introspection suggested in opener, "Our Frank". the hardest music on the album works as a signal call for the shift in mood and perspective. another brilliantly transcending line, even though it was pipped from Noel Coward, comes at the end with "I do believe that the more you give your love, and I do believe that the more you give your trust, the more you're bound to lose." great track.

its been spoken of before how "Driving Your Gilfriend Home" can be seen as the otherside of The Smiths' classic "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" and itotally buy into that. its easy to see how this song may tell from the driver's perspective the return from the night out of seeing "people" and "life" to finally drop the girlfriend off at what he calls "her home" but what she wou

Read the rest of this comment...

In 1991 Kill Uncle was basically my starting point with Moz. A delightfully odd place to begin I must say. I loved it and I soon tracked down the cassettes of Viva, Bona and then all of the Smiths albums.

When you look at Morrissey's combined back catalogue at that point, it was nothing short of stellar, and Kill Uncle - being a bit self involved and distant at the same time - probably disappointed a lot of fans. Namely because it was nothing like he had ever recorded.

It saddens me that this album so quickly dismissed by fans. Look at the entire second side: Found, Driving, The Harsh Truth, Family Line and There's a Place are quite possibly Morrissey's strongest lyrical works ever. And the sophisticated and haunting arrangements match the words perfectly.

Give it another chance. It goes down lovely with a nice bottle of vino.

I'll promise not to ballot stuff if you'll promise as well...not that I'm admiting anything about past behavior!

I'm convinced of my oddness now! Kill Uncle is really quite good, chock full of great songs, go listen to it again! As for Maladjusted, well, I honestly can't see why everyone condemns it so. It has brilliant songs that I very much identify with. Oh, well I guess the mainstream will rule as usual!

I have always believed that Morrissey's devotees are intelligent, free-thinking people. Looking at the results so far, it is obvious to me that the vast majority of the big man's followers allow the music critics to do their thinking for them. How predictable is this poll going to be? Very fucking is the depressing answer. DON'T VOTE.

So, I voted for Southpaw. I think it's the weakest. Though oddly, I really like a lot of songs on the album, escpecially when I hear them out of the context of the album, e.g. on comps or my iPod. Yet, when all the songs are together, they start to sound alike and start to wear me out. They all build into this overwhelming sameness that gives me this odd feeling of claustrophobia or something.

Here's how I feel about the whole thing...
1. Vauxhall & I
2. Viva Hate
3. Your Arsenal
4. Kill Uncle, really people, this album is not that bad. In fact, sometimes I feel like it's better than Your Arsenal. And even though I really hate Langer and Winstanley (those horrible producers who also ruined Punch the Clock and Goodbye Cruel World by Elvis Costello), the album has a really nice light and airy feel to it.
5. Your Are the Quarry, I find some of the production on this album repulsive, especially the drums, ugh! But there are some wonderful highlights.
6. Maladjusted
7. Southpaw

To be perfectly honest, I think Kill Uncle, Your Arsenal and Your Are the Quarry are probably all tied, but I had to rank them somehow.

I wish the comps were on this list. I think Bona Drag and My Early Burglary Years are fantastic.

Bradley

Kill Uncle appears to be the fans' least favorite album, which is a real shame. I voted for Southpaw Grammar, which I've always found to be almost unlistenable.

It will be hard if the final vote comes down to Viva Hate and Your Arsenal. I think Your Arsenal is the most solid overall, but I'd have to go with Viva Hate for sentiment alone. It's one of my "Desert Island Discs."

A good topic, though. I'm enjoying everyone's comments.

Jim

One thing that's clear in the opinion expressed so far, is that the three studio albums released since '95 are held to be inferior to the '88-'94 material.
The average vote-out % for the four albums released from '88-'94 currently stands at 10%, while the following three albums' average vote-out% is nearly double that. Definitely a sentimental slant to the voting pattern...

People, please don't forget that Nevin co-wrote You're gonna need someone on your side, and I know it's gonna happen some day. There are also some very good songs on kill uncle. i can listen to sing your life any day, kill uncle or kroq version.

southpaw gets my vote, too thick for my personal taste, though there are some good songs. (i prefer the version of boy racer without the intro though, as found on oye esteban and my early burglary years)

and maladjusted is wayyy underrated, i hate that it has such a bad reputation. roy's keen a personal favorite, love the la las.

i predict vauxhall will take it all though, deservedly so, with your arsenal a close second.

if i could only own one disc though, it would be bona drag, hands down.

First of all very refreshing to read well thought out Morrissey banter. Obviously we don't agree and that is why it is called an OPINION. That said here is mine. Kill Uncle should be the first to go. At this time he'd already scrapped and album there are a few songs from that era kicking around on the net (Born To Hand, Striptease etc.) and they are to say the least uninspired. As someone mentioned Moz himself said is was a down point in his career and not his best work. There are some great songs for sure. Our Frank, Sing Your Life and Mute Witness stand out for me. To truly judge this stuff suss out a bootleg or two from '91. The Lads took these songs up to a new level live. If you can get footage from the Johnny Carson appearance around this time you'd be amazed! The following album Your Arsenal was for me his apex. The first time I played it I was shocked at the power. Mick Ronson was an ace choice. I think it's his best "start to finish" album. No real clunkers to be had. Contrary to popular opinion Quarry might be my next favorite. The production is a bit "much" at times and real strings would be nice instead of so much "synth. That said the man has never sang better. The wait finally being over might have pushed it up some. Vauxall next, lush, great enough has been said about this (Now My Heart Is Full, maybe my fave song he's ever done.) I guess Viva and Southpaw could wrestle for the last spot. Viva Hate has more meaning to me as it was the first (I skipped school to get it on cassette, I feel old...) but I think Southpaw has some stellar moments, the title track being one. Oh, I forgot Malajusted, maybe because it's pretty forgetable. I think a final important point is tracklisting. I think Moz could have a legitimate perfect record with his albums with a little track juggling. Slip a couple b-sides onto the albums and slide a few duds off and he'd be batting 1000. That's just my opinion...

Then Kill Uncle would be Morrissey's independently-released-on-the-internet album. There's just something...thin about it. Definitely some great lyrics, and most of the songs had decent foundations which the lads then proceeded to electrocute into a rockabilly frenzy.

Great cover shot, though! That image and the whole Kill Uncle era still seem to be the template for the SoCal hispanic (and non) following.

Just remembering the great Morrissey at KROQ record... How about a "where are they now?" documentary about the fans featured on there...especially the girl who bursts into tears.

...none of his solo albums stand up to any of The Smiths work. I like his solo stuff a lot but I definitely think that Vauxhall And I is incredibly overrated. Just don't see it as a 'Classic', I'm afraid. Here's my list...

1. Your Arsenal
2. Viva Hate
3. Vauxhall And I
4. You Are The Quarry
5. Maladjusted
6. Kill Uncle
7. Southpaw Fucking Grammar

Kill Uncle is majorly underrated. 'Driving your girlfriend home', 'Asian Rut' and 'Found Found Found' are some of his best tracks, and while the album could have been a lot better, there is no way that it is worse than Southpaw or Maladjusted.

Both of those are underrated in their own way, but Kill Uncle stands head and shoulders above them.

what's the point? We all know how it's gonna go

Kill Uncle goes first, then Southpaw Grammar, Maladjusted after that then You are the Quarry, followed by Viva hate, before coming down to Your Arsenal and Vauxal, in which Arsenal takes a dive and Vauxal and I wins .. not that thats how I'll be voting but it's how it's gonna go.

I think YATQ should have been first to be voted off. It will take a long time before this album becomes a true classic.

I know you people cant be serious. How can you vote off Kill Uncle before Malajusted, just doesnt make sense. And I'm sorry but Kill Uncle is even better than the over polished Your Arsenal and Quarry. Why would you want all the Moz albums to sound the same, Kill Uncle has one of the most Original sounding songs (King Leer) and Deep (Our Frank). I know Bona Drag and Early Burglary years are compilations, but they're one of the bestes'es ever. Let me tell you the way it should go.
1. Bona Drag
2. Vaxhaul and I
3. My Early Burglary years
4. Viva Hate
5. Kill Uncle (Tough one with SouthPaw)
6. SouthPaw
7. World of Morrissey
8. You are the Quarry
9. Your Arsenal
10. Maladjusted
Come on people, who's with me?..Crap! I think I might be by myself on this one..Oh well, wont be the first time or last.

Viva Hate:
Breathtaking moments, works well as an album, but let down by a few weak songs on the b-side.

Kill Uncle:
Quirky, but deserves to go quite soon. 4 very good songs, 6 fillers.

Your Arsenal:
Works well as an album, even if the middle section is weak.

Vauxhall and I:
Works beautifully as an album, and there are only 2 or 3 weak songs.

Southpaw Grammar:
half genius, and half turgid retro rubbish. Will outstay the other weaker albums.

Maladjusted:
the first 4 are great, the rest are missable. Will go second.

You Are the Quarry:
Very good album, very few weak moments, and more big songs than on his other solo albums. Will surprise you all by finishing 3rd!

broken

1 V&I
2 Viva Hate
3 YATQ
4 Your Arsenal
5 Southpaw Grammar
6 Maladjusted
7 Kill Uncle

broken

I am a fucking mong

broken

My least favourite has got to be Southpaw. Horrible dirge! I have a vague fondness for the first half of Kill Uncle at least, but don't think I've actually listened to it in years. Although I once met Clive Langer and rather drunkenly suggested that he hadn't done a very good job. He actually offered to take me home (in the purest sense I'm sure!) and explain to me track by track why he produced the songs the way he did. I declined. How on earth would he have explained himself away??

Nooooo... You can't get rid of Southpaw so quickly! It's a fantastic album, so underrated. I don't think many people actually get it. Morrissey himself has said that it's one of his favourites - I know he says that about every new album he brings out but he's always maintained that Southpaw is still a fave. Who else could get away with "I love Karen, I love Sharon on the window screen..."? Don't get rid of it QUITE yet...

1 YATQ
2 Viva Hate
3 Vauxhall and I
4 Southpaw Grammar
5 Your Arsenal
6 Kill Uncle
7 Maladjusted

broken

**rolls eyes**

Who are you talking to, Mr.Nobody?

I'm giving you my favorite finger right now!

-TTL