Thats bull.... Arsenal is much better than Viva

But it is so highly overrated...

You Are The Quarry runs laps around Your Arsenal...not even close...and you damn novices went and voted You Are The Quarry off first? I don't think so...

Viva Hate and Vauxhall are the best of these three...no debate...

I think Arsenal and Viva rank very closely after Vauxhall. But since I had to choose one of the two to come in second place, I chose Viva Hate because it has Suedehead and Everyday is like Sunday. Also, Viva Hate has two personal favourites - Alsatian Cousin and Bengali in Platforms. Simple as that.

Its so obvious from here.

Lets not vote.

The the post-Smiths and pre-"Your Arsenal" period is most noteworthy for the singles and individual tracks, not the albums. The best "album" from that period was the singles and b-sides compilation, "Bona Drag." The two proper albums, "Viva Hate" and "Kill Uncle," are both missing elements and an overall vision I find hard to explain but that's present with both the Smiths and the later solo years. The albums are not as well produced, not as well thought out, not as inspired, and not as pleasing when played from first track to last. That's the bext I can do to explain it. He hadn't yet "put it all together." You either know what I mean or you don't.

People over-rate this in-between phase because we're all very fond of so many of the individual songs. Some of them are fantastic and amongst his best-ever. Yet something is lacking when you look at the whole picture. He was still trying to figure out his solo career. It's no surprise it was only after albums such as "Your Arsenal" and "Vauxhall & I" that he felt he could play Smiths songs again. That's when he felt he'd proven himself as a solo artist and could finally stand side-by-side with the Smiths.

And that's true. It was not until after Moz assembled his new band and ventured out on the "Kill Uncle" tour, and then hired Mick Ronson to produce the glam-rockabilly "Your Arsenal" that his solo career could finally begin to be considered up there with the Smiths. In fact, there are many (myself amongst them) who now enjoy his solo career even more than the Smiths.

"Your Arsenal" and "Vauxhall & I" are far superior to "Viva Hate." They are more than the sums of their parts. They are more fittingly compared with "The Queen is Dead" and "Meat is Murder." They are masterpieces.

This round is a no-brainer.

Viva Hate does have the hateful Bengali in Platforms and a few duff tracks: but it also has Suedehead, Everyday is like Sunday, Late Night Maudlin Street, Break Up the Family, The Ordinary Boys and Dial A Cliche. It has to stay.

Your Arsenal has National Front Disco and Tomorrow: all the rest of the songs are lovely too.

Vauxhall has Billy Budd and Now My Heart is Full, both of which I love. The rest ain't bad.

On a toss up between Arsenal and Vauxhall, Vauxhall has to go. I'm a north london lad, not a southerner.

I don't think it's possible to choose which is better out of these three albums. They are all so different, and they all have their charms.

I would vote for Vauxhall, because apart from the singles, it has the very wonderful I Am Hated For Loving, with Alain's swooping vocal additions, and also Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself, which, to me at least, is a beautiful tune. I was disappointed when Southpaw Grammar was voted off, because it contains some utter gems - Best Friend On The Payroll, Southpaw, Reader Meet Author. Still, the pollsters call the shots. I think the songs are best when hauntingly semi-acoustic (Vauxhall) or full-on angst (Southpaw). I love them, as Hyman Kaplan would say equally as mine brudder.

Arsenal is a great album, but Viva Hate is much better (a better debut album than the Smiths had, I may add). Must vote Arsenal out now.

But oh Vauxhall. . . when they've all said their piece, it's still you I love. . .

It's a landmark album, Morrissey's stand of independence from the Smiths.

Remember the first time you heard the ferocious "Alsatian Cousin"? Very in-your-face and un-Smiths, it was from this point it became VERY clear that Morrissey's solo career wasn't going to just be a continuation of the Smiths.

Vini Reilly's guitar playing on this record is absolutely exquisite, and also distinctive from the sound of Johnny Marr and the Smiths. Lyrically I suggest for the most part Morrissey is in top form - "Little Man, What Now" could be interpreted as him tackling his fears of how the public would receive him post-Smiths, while on the surface playing into the album's themes of nostalgia and the past. "Break Up The Family" contains the hauntingly beautiful line, "I'm so glad to grow older, to move away from those awful times". Not to mention the unforgettable epic "Late Night, Maudlin Street", undoubtedly one of Morrissey's most personal songs. Then there's "Suedehead", an exquisite pop number demonstrating that when it came to making great singles, Morrissey was in good hands with Stephen Street. Finally, "Everyday Is Like Sunday" needs no comment - we all know it's wonderful.

I'm not denying that "Viva Hate" has some less spectacular tracks (although none of them are completely awful or throwaway) but the strength of the better ones, and what the album symbolises makes it a far more important and moving listen than "Your Arsenal".

"Vauxhall and I" is an entirely different story though...

It's curious that of all the comments I've read so far, no one has stated a word about the videos as part of the equations. Curious.

VIVA HATE: For me, an outstanding album handed to the Solo Pop Star by Mr. Producer. What Viva Hate lacks is artist direction over production. The musical performances are studio slick and even today, there are only a hand few that are performable live.

YOUR ARSENAL: Truly artist/songwriter directed with production enhancing the performance of the songs. For the first time, there is a specific direction, a return to form and development that was so lacking from the producer oriented songwriting.

VAUXHALL: A remarkable blend of artistry/songwriting/delivery and production. The songs are strong, the delivery is strong, the production is first class...BUT, the production has made a huge leap into ELO/Echo Bunnyman land for my tastes at time. The production sounds muddy and laboured at intervals. It's the most Un-Marr-ish of all Morrissey solo albums in its approach. Perhaps that is why so many fans love it or dispise it so much?

As for which I voted off this time? Well, never mind.

my vote just upped "viva hate" to 134, now just a single vote behind "arsenal."

Vauxhall and I, one of my favorite albums.

Viva Hate has to get the prize for the best title. At the time when pop culture was giving itself over to the second 'Summer of Love' and 'Madchester Rave On', Moz gave us Viva Hate. I was still at school at the time and it summed up how I felt towards the world around me. When it went straight to no.1, I almost cried. The eighties were such a horrible decade to grow up in - terrible music (with a few exceptions), Thatcher, Reagan, the Falklands War, the Hunger Strikes, Clause 28, AIDS - Viva Hate seemed to sum up the only sane response to it all. Vauxhall is a better album, but only Viva captured the spririt of a time...

WHY does everyone like Vauxhall so much? It's good, yes, but it's not the greatest.

When I started collecting Moz albums (recent fan), I bought Vauxhall and Bona Drag first. Didn't like Bona Drag much, preferred Vauxhall. But then I listened to it more and more, and I realised that it was definitely a grower. It overtook Vauxhall quite quickly, and is my second favourite Moz album now.

Later, I bought Your Arsenal, which I loved immediately (unusually for me- albums tend to grow on me). It’s wonderful, but I think that it lacks depth.

The last Moz album I bought (I think) was Viva Hate. I listened to it once, put it on the shelf, forgot about it and carried on listening to BD. Then I picked it up off the shelf and listened again. I was mad at myself for not realising how good it was. Viva Hate is now (probably) my favourite Moz album.

I voted off Vauxhall, even though I knew it was pointless. Worth a try, am waiting for a last minute surge in the favour of Viva Hate (please!)…

Hello, Knock Knock, Is there anybody in there? I know that Viva is now about 16 yesrs old but, before you vote it out, LISTEN TO IT! "Suedehead", "Everyday Is Like Sunday", "Hairdresser On Fire" just to name a few.

"Viva Hate' completely blows "Your Arsenal" off the map!

The two Heavyweights of the Moz Universe

Your Arsenal vs. Vauxhall and I.

May the best album win.

but it is far too over romanticized. yes, there are some songs here that are amongst the shortlist of greatest Morrissey songs ever, but there is a significant portion of the album that is quite slight which brings down the overall quality of the album. that it carries all the nostalgia of being his solo debut makes up for much of that, but, 17 years on, that cannot wash over it all.

"Alsatian Cousin"- a tremendous opener with one of the most ferocious and most recognizable riffs in either Morrissey's or The Smiths' cannon. oddly, ifind this song rarely gets mentioned-significantly at least- in discussion or reviews of 'Viva Hate' (as proven once again in this poll discussion), but it is undoubtedly one of the strongest tracks on the album. a muscular musical backing for a brilliantly devilish lyric and ominous vocal from Morrissey, this song begins Moz's solo career with power.

"Little Man, What Now?"- many cite this as being one of the weaker tracks on 'Viva Hate', and im sure many might assume that iwould agree- but idont. ithink the song is brilliant. an entrancing and nostalgic lyric is accompanied by an equally entrancing (almost hypnotic) musical arrangement. a nostalgic lament for a fallen idol beautifully executed.

"Everyday Is Like Sunday"- there isnt much to say about this song that hasnt already been said a million times over. this is simply one of the greatest singles ever. a phenomenally poetic lyric placed over Street's gorgeous, string-soaked arrangement. shimmering; spectacular.

"Bengali In Platforms"- this song is often harshly criticized, mostly due to its lyric which is endlessly and unbelievably misconstrued as being racist. anything but racist, the narrator is clearly very empathetic to the plight of the poor Bengali immigrant who is all too eagerly trying to find his niche with the western culture. two important things to keep in mind; 1) the narrator is not speaking to any and all immigrants, but rather juste to this one in particular, and 2) the narrator is not necessarily Morrissey himself. along with its understated, but still quite melodic and bouncy arrangement complete with a wonderfully ironic eastern influenced instrumental break, this is a perfectly enjoyable song.

"Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together"- the first real misstep of the album comes with this overly melodramatic one and a half minutes. it is saved somewhat by its brevity and by its placement in the track ordering before the epic "Late Night, Maudlin Street". this song is supposedly about Johnny Marr, and while im certain he mustve blushed when he first heard it im sure it wasnt for the reasons intended. if im in that drama queen mood ican sometime manage to enjoy this one, but more often than not it falls flat.

"Late Night, Maudlin Street"- a true epic, not to be matched until "Southpaw" more than seven years later. the sparse arrangement, regularly punctuated by the echoed drum effected, allows Morrissey to stretch out and fully explore a vast, deep and dark emotional landscape. lyrics like those describing "that picture of you framed beside my bed" or "you... [and] me without clothes" are some of the most touching and endearing words ever sung or written. another masterpiece.

"Suedehead"- the most sentimental Morrissey track for me personally as it came to me first at a time when it spoke to my life with amazing accuracy, this song is another of Morrissey's greatest singles. perfectly sequenced in the tracklisting to rise out of the somber sobriety of the previous track, the Smithsian/Marresque jangle to Street's guitar creates an ironically uplifting piece of music for a song about tortured emotion. the lyric is one of those from Morrissey that seems lifted right out of the diaries of so many of the once heartbroken. brilliant.

"Break Up The Family"- the clearest references to the break up of The Smiths are found here, but, unlike the sentiment of other tracks like "Angel, Angel, Down We Go Tog

Read the rest of this comment...

Viva is home to some of moz's best lyrics and most sublime evocations ever:

lyrics: my most favorite come from "I don't mind. . .." Think about another pop musical mind that could spin out:
". . . now you send me your heart in regards, when once you'd send me love/ Sincerely I must tell you, your "my best wishes," they make me suspicious!"

of evocations, nothing compares to "Everyday is like Sunday." Before I ever saw the video, the song played in my preadolescent mind to a background of a dreary, run-down coastal amusement park. I can't begin to say what nerve that song has hit within me and so many others who shared the same image. Just wonderful.

Well what happens?

There's gonna be some trouble....

Hmmm... Your Arsenal or Viva Hate...

YOur Arsenal only has 10 tracks whilst Viva Hate has 12.

Your Arsenal plusses Glamorous Glue/ We'll Let You Know/ NAtional Front Disco/ Seasick Yet Still Docked/ I Know Its Gonna Happen Someday/ Tomorrow.

Viva Hate plusses Alsatian Cousin/ Little Man/
Everyday/ Angel Angel/ Late NIght Maudlin Street/ Suedehead/ Break Up The Family/ I Don't Mind If You Forget Me.

Your Arsenal minuses Certain People I Know/ We Hate It When Morrissey releases a single where the chorus features him laughing (although it does contain the immortal line AND IF THEY'RE NORTHERN THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE) You're The One For Me Fatty... all released as singles (!)

Viva Hate has Bengali in Platforms aka Lets all have a National Front Picnic/ Ordinary Boys cac tune cac band/ Margaret On The Guillotine... None released as singles.

Your Arsenal is a better LP cover and the inlay of Charlie Richardson is inspired
Viva Hate is ok looking.

Viva Hate is a better title. And the B-sides are superior

So sorry to Your Arsenal but you've got to get back to Woolwich.

And when will Vauxhall win? All my friends....
I don't have too many.

In fact when I go home I'm going to play it.

Bluebirds

The poll is being streched out for all the Viva Hate fans to rally more votes. A very lame tactic. Listen, the Smiths are over. Viva Hate is not all that great.

Your Arsenal was a stroke of innovation. It had more going for it than Viva did any day.

Stop being unfair and just hand it over to your arsenal

Even though it's a compilation CD, hands down, Bona Drag is the ultimate Morrissey CD. "Playboys", "November", "Picadilly", "Interesting", do I need to go on. Can you imagine sitting through a Morrissey concert where he played Vauxhall & I only and all the way through? The theme to that show would be "Sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep, I'm tired and I want to go to bed". If Vauxhall & I was that great, why did he only do "The More You Ignore Me" on his 2004 tour from that overrated cd. Morrissey probably even wonders what's the big deal about that CD. He also chose not to tour the "Vauxhall & I" release. Good idea.