Viva has some good songs but is dated production-wise
Quarry was a MAJOR disappointment. 'Gang' is his best single in years, and I also liked 'Succession', 'Candle' and 'Public Image' on the b-sides. But the rest is decidedly mediocre.

'Vauxhall' is still the best, closely followed by 'Arsenal'.

not liking the fact that arsenal seems to be slipping ahead of vauxhall.

we might as well just fast forward to the final round since this round will just be dominated by people arguing over viva hate and quarry and jaded moz fans attacking those who think crashing bores is a great song.

YATQ will stand the test of time. It has many exceptional songs and is probably the best produced album of all his solo work. This relaunched our man to his rightful place, on our radio's, tv's and most importantly back on a stage near you. Go back listen again and it just gets better and better.

The B-sides from these sessions are worth the entrance fee alone.

My feeling on Viva were posted on the last round and speak for themself. You know what to do.

I love this album but not as much as V&I.

check it

http://www.morrissey-solo.com/pollBooth.pl?qid=233 &aid=-1

Your Arsenal, although a good album is by far the weakest. I still contend that had Bona Drag been in the poll it would be a clear winner. There simply isn't a bad song on the entire CD.

It has to be done. Vote off YATQ.

I voted Viva Hate out again. Sorry!

The issue for me (as I think "Vauxhall" is clearly the best album) is which is better between "Your Arsenal" and "You Are The Quarry." Close, close call. The more I think about it, though, the stronger "Quarry" seems. Especially since it contains "I Have Forgiven Jesus," one of the most fantastic singles of his entire career. However, it was Morrissey's rockabilly-influenced stuff that really made me become obsessed with him as a budding new fan way back when. It's a damn near tie, for me and I shall listen to "Your Arsenal" and "You Are The Quarry" back to back today.

Someone up above seems to be using the "Platinum" edition with bonus tracks for this poll, which you can't do!

From this point on I can't even vote. All four of these are great and I have called all of them my favorite Moz album at one time or another. I love "Viva Hate" because it was an important cd, Moz's first #1 solo album, is full of great songs and I love it. It's the most "Smiths" sounding of all Moz's solo work. I can't vote for "YA" because I went to see the tour, it was a change in direction and brought in new fans. I can't vote for "V&I" because it was Moz's second #1 solo-album, it showed what great song writers Whyte and Boorer are, and lets face it, "The More You Ignore Me..." is a kick ass song. Finally, I can't vote for "YATQ" because we can all agree the cd was much better than anyone thought it would be, it does not have a bad song on it and that cover art just kills me. It also proved Morrissey isn't going anywhere and he still has it in him. I can't vote for any of these albums. I can't vote and I won't vote. Enjoy the rest of the contest. "Good-night and Thank You"
Thetexasbloke

but 'Viva Hate' and 'You Are The Quarry' are arguably the most important of Morrissey's solo career.

in the wake of all the insecurity after the fall of The Smiths, Morrissey needed a strong effort with his solo debut to legitimize himself as a top artist without the help of Johnny Marr. 'Viva Hate' more than did the job with many of his greatest songs and surely two of his top10 singles ever in "Suedehead" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday". this album put to rest all doubts about whether or not Morrissey would survive beyond The Smiths and launched him to a level of success far greater than any he had enjoyed with his former band.

the pressure was perhaps even greater this past year in the anticipation of Morrissey's first album in nearly seven years. skepticism was at an all-time high for the Man who had been dormant without a record deal for the better part of a decade. his two most recent albums prior to his departure were two of his most criticised and least well-recieved albums of his career. many had all but forgotten Our Moz and even those who stood by him still harboured serious doubts that he would ever return to greatness. then in May of last year Morrissey released 'You Are The Quarry' to overwhelming acclaim. the album produced four straight top10 singles and has gone on to become the most successful album of his career. even for those who can not see it as a true return to form, it was indeed a return to prominence and it is wonderful to hav him back and to bask in the glory that was 2004. now there is new found hope and expectancy and a brand new future for Moz.

would've made a fantastic album.
unfortunately Morrissey included some of the worst ones (e.g. how can anybody, irish blood, I like you) and left some fantastic songs out (never played symphony, daddy's voice, walk tall, friday morning, et cetera).
so YRTQ is easily the worst of the remaining albums.
oh well, he'll never learn...
Maurice

It has to be Viva Hate, though it is the first album I heard by Morrissey as a solo artist (back in 98 I think).

Many, many gems. But then YATQ is equally good.

What decided it for me was 'Let me kiss you'.

Cant believe Southpaw has gone, what a great album

Vauxhall is very over rated in my opinion open your ears people this is the album what contains Lifeguard,Sunbathers and IAHFL. Sure its got great songs on it like NMHIF,SHJ,Speedway.
P.S Kill Uncle shouldnt have gone first simply because of Mute Witness.

Well this isn't going exactly how I predicted it or anything :P

I just don't understand. I'm going to be honest and say that I am a new generation Morrissey fan (about a year of constant loyal support now) which means that I should be a "half songs lover/half songs hater" like a lot of people here... But I love almost every song he has ever produced. There was even a time when I loved Ouija Board, which means that I could never dislike it. A couple of people have said bad things about a few Vauxhall tracks whilst praising Now My Heart, Speedway and such... I mean, what the hell? Am I really so different? When I listen to most albums, I listen to them throughout and get to love each one... It's actually the more subtle tracks like Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself which I love, that song I credit as having the greatest 3 and a half minutes of lyrics ever created by a living being. Just my two sences

- Bryan, who has spent parts of the day shocking Morrissey hating friends with Southpaw and getting surprised looks when I tell them it is Morrissey. Their tunes were so easily changed of his opinion :).

I love about half of Quarry, and I truly dislike around 3 or so songs. I think "How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel" is one of the worst songs Morrissey has ever done (seriously how could anyone like THAT but NOT like Southpaw Grammar?)

I listened to Southpaw twice today and once again was blown away by how consistently strong and confident and melodic it is.

And Your Arsenal : WOW. This is an amazing album. Has anyone noticed this album has absolutely NO filler? Every song is like a perfect hit song. A great pop song, (or a great ballad) one after the other. When I listen to this album I'm always really impressed how strong it is.. again, NO FILLER at ALL.

Vauxhall is absolutely beautiful and probably the most like Morrissey Morrissey has ever sounded and should sound. I think it's his best. The arrangements are intricate, soulful, sensual, complex, dark, melodic... everything.

I was actually annoyed when album reviews of "Quarry" said how this is one of the first Morrissey solo albums with Smiths-like guitar lines and arpeggios... Vauxhall is 1000 times more intricate (and "Smiths like"), and hell so is Southpaw (some amazing rock guitar riffs on Southpaw).

Maladjusted is just very very flawed...some good songs but so flawed.

-Jordan
www.jordancooperLaLaLa.com

hey has anyone noticed that the albums that are going are the ones with songs about LAWYERS, TAXMEN, ACCOUNTANTS, moans about how it SUX to be a RICH FAMOUS POP STAR with best friends on the payroll etc?

he JUMPED THE SHARK when he began to lose touch and think that that subject matter would connect in anyway with an audience. if you're going to use misery in songs it has to be about things others can relate to. otherwise youre just talking to yourself. which is what hes done on these albums going one by one.

people have that connection to viva hate, your arsnel and vauxhall because the subject matter stays personal and believable and says something.

...and I am keenly encouraged by the results of the poll so far. The latest album features Morrisseys voice at his absolute best and about 3.5 ripping good songs. THAT'S IT! Otherwise the thing is an utter turd. I read people on this site effusively praising some of the dreck on that disc and I wonder sometimes if the record company pulled the old switcheroo on me. Maybe I have a cd of tracks Morrissey never intended to release....if only he hadn't.
We should be down to the three real masterworks by La Moz.Those of you who love to whine....Go back and listen to Southpaw....go back and listen to Maladjusted....Quarry keeps getting better.

Viva, Arsenal and Vauxhall are what Morrissey is or was capable of. There shouldn't be any need to "go back" to these classics. They should be seared on your brain and permanantly burned on ipod. Like any true masterpiece they hit you right away like a tidal wave and sweep you away. They shouldn't have to grow on you as it seems Quarry has had to grow on most of you. That's like trying to encourage a tidal wave out of your faucet....it's never going to happen.

-The Treading Lemming

"where's my chicken you bastard?"

yes, it seems to me that the albums seem to be voted away in order of which are the easiest, or aren't the easiest, to listen to. it is a real shame that just because an album is complex it is so easily dismissed, and that it isn't considered quality. many of you so-called morrissey fans are really missing out on some really good music, but i suppose it takes some of us some time to really embrace morrissey's 'difficult' material.

hopefully, one day you'll have played vauxhall & i dry. hopefully one day you'll be hungry for more and then you'll really sink your teeth in to an album like southpaw and feel really satisfied.

why do most of the people on this site seem to post totally negative/bitter comments?
"Quarry was a MAJOR dissapointment"... "Quarry should go now"... "Maladjusted was much better tha YATQ"...
please try to remember the day that you listened to YATQ for the first time... the excitement of going to the record store and finally -after 7 years- having a new Morrissey album in your hands...the first time you listened to "irish blood english heart" (one of his best and more powerful singles ever)... the excitement of looking at the new artwork, photos, the cover of the album....
morrisey's comeback was in top form. we certainly were skeptical about what the new record would be... produced by the same guy who did the blink 182 record?... released through Attack records?...
we were hoping for the best, but still we couldn't know what to expect... it could have been a disaster.
when the album finally came out, it was a perfectly enjoyable experience for me. i could go through it over and over again.
YATQ is a solid, consistent, balanced and very well produced record... the 4 singles that came out from the album were perfect... and it's got at least other 5 amazing tracks: come back to camden, i like you, crashing bores, you know i couldn't last, etc.
YATQ is a great record, not his best, but certailnly one of his 3 best albums.
Each one of us has got his/her favourite and one's got to respect that, but lets just try to be fair and give YATQ the place it deserves... we must be objective. Quarry will stand the test of time.

I must have different taste to most Morrissey fans because I listen to Quarry all the time. I just think it's a wonderful sounding album and listening to it is like eating a whole box of chocolates at one sitting.

There are a couple of songs I don't care too much for "How could anyone know" and "I like you" but I still don't feel I have skip them when they come on. Can't say the same for all the Smiths albums, I skip at least song on each one of them.

I think You Are The Quarry should have gone before Maladjusted. People just don't understand that album. "Satan Rejected My Soul," "Alma Matters," "Roy's Keen," and even "Ammunition" are some of the best latter-day Morrissey songs ever. But then again, this website is filled with people who want to relive the glory days of the height of MorrisseyMania.

This is becoming a bit like ‘Sophie’s Choice’ – I don’t want any of them to go!

After a long deliberation, I’ve finally gone for YATQ if only because (‘I have Forgiven Jesus’ and ‘Come Back to Camden’ aside) I don’t think this will be top of my Morrissey CD pile 10 years down the line.

Now, if we were voting on the platinum edition that would be a different story. ‘Friday Mourning’,’ Never Played Symphonies’ and ‘My Life is an Endless Succession…’ are absolutely beautiful songs. Why they aren’t on Quarry is a mystery.

I can't believe that you guys think Viva Hate should be voted off after You Are The Quarry. Viva Hate is the best solo album

When Jonathan Ross suggested that Quarry was his best solo album, Moz disagreed. "It's my best album, solo or Smith".
And here we are, the fans, (not the music journalists, not Mike Joyce, not Radio 1) suggesting that, one year on, it's merely his 4th best album i.e. out of 11 studio albums as a Smith and a Moz, this ranks around number 7!

Let's hope he takes heed, stops banging on about the bloody court case, music journalists, flag waving, ex-bandmates etc and writes an album full of brilliant, life-affirming pop songs once more.
Come on Moz, you know you can do it!
Maurice

'Vauxhall is very over rated in my opinion open your ears people this is the album what contains Lifeguard,Sunbathers and IAHFL.'
ROFL
What in then name of Yamamoto is wrong with that songs?
Especialy with Lifeguard and IAHFL(they are far better from I'd Love To ), they are G R E A T.Some fans seems to be negative about the b-side of Vauxhall & I.Vauxhall & I is the album that i cant live without it(together with Scary Monsters-and yes im only 22!)

I'm sorry, I'm just going to come out and say it: Quarry is a piece of shit. It should have been voted off first...

Quarry is no masterpiece, but it does not merit the venom that is being spewed forth in this forum.

I still find myself playing many of these songs (including the B-sides) just about every day. What I find most compelling are the vocals. They are stunning, and that is no small thing. In the past he has sometimes sounded like he was recording while half-asleep. Not so here. He is wide-awake and hitting hard on every track. I simply cannot get enough of that voice, it is glorious.

If only the lyrics were not as occasionally insipid (or downright myopic) as the vocals are strong. He is capable of such brilliance. Still, the great tracks on this album are solid, classic Moz - twisted, sad, funny - and for that I am grateful.

Oh, and that is a great cover...

                                 

always try to toss up whats his best solo song? everyday is like sunday on viva hate or now my heart is full on vauxhal?

but those are the two best albums... what viva hate has going for it over any other is - the best title, lingering reminders of the smiths which are so close, stephen street (the best smiths and morrissey producer..and 2nd best morrissey collaborator after marr- the big production sound he created on simple tunes like suedehead, sunday and playboys is genious).. its a reminder of a time when hed done nothing bad... and vini reiley... so probably remains my fav album for those reasons.

i remember hearing 'break up the family for the first time and the line 'im in love for the first time' made me think wow - hes found someone - hes really changed and progressed.. then i realized he was singing about someone been and gone :(

Your Arsenal, the first album fully written by Boz and Alain is the one that needs to go on my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it and I frankly admire Mick Ronson's work but the rockabilly crap, the poses, Linder's book, songs like "you gonna need someone on your side", "glamorous glue", "You're the one for me fatty", the sparse lyrics all over the album... The whole thing, while having its poignant momentums with songs like "I know it's gonna happen someday" or "We'll let you know", was a disappointment to me. It simply lacked the touch of class Morrissey has always had in his career save for Southpaw and Maladjusted.

Morrissey got himself lost everytime he tried to play the brawny powerful stud, the bad guy, the "i'm evil, boo !" character. Look at the video of Dagenham Dave where he "scares" a couple playing pool or the mag cover on which he posed with brass knuckles... Even the weakest nerd comes to think "you wish, Moz"...

Your Arsenal is good but vulgar. Too vulgar for Morrissey who deserves a better musical treatment. Anyway, it's just my opinion.

I do love 'Viva' but lets be truly honest, was it as good as Arsenal, or Vauxhall? No. Did it catapult Moz's career like Quarry did? No.

So let's drop Viva next and move on.