it has to be ringleader, so many great songs. all in all they are all very good albums

The best Morrissey song of the 21st century, "The Never-Played Symphonies", was recorded during the Quarry sessions. Nonetheless, Quarry gets my vote...

Aside from Papa Jack (the worst Morrissey song, but only because of that tuneless key change), Maladjusted is brilliant (it has to be the version with Sorrow Will Come In The End though.) It has gorgeous ballads, wonderfully bitter and twisted rock and witty pop; what more could you ask? Granted, Quarry has the commercial hits and ROTT the production, but whereas both Quarry and ROTT have a weak ending, Maladjusted has Satan Rejected My Soul; a glorious final track. I like Southpaw, but it's definitely an album you have to be in the mood for.
The answer to this poll is tricky though, because once you get past your number one Moz and Smiths albums (Your Arsenal and Strangeways in my case) I find the order of the rest is apt to change.

I found myself torn between Maladjusted and Southpaw. I was surprised too! Maladjusted has the title track (which is excellent), Ambitious Outsiders, Satan rejected my soul, Trouble loves me etc... I think If Quarry and Maladjusted were released in eachothers place, we'd still be where we are now. It's funny how little progression they made in 7 years. His voice has grown considerably, but the songwriting & music picked up exactly where they left off.

Southpaw is an album I play quite a bit and think it is a very ballsy album for them. I respect the experimentalism of it and actually enjoy it alot. Only lyrically does it let me down in places. The music is raw and real and still part of the original passion of this group who are now long past the experimental ambitions of youth.

I chose Southpaw Grammer, although I may not sleep tonight.

Ohhhhhh Maldjusted....

-Man of Vision

this was tough; a neck-and-neck race between maladjusted and quarry. i like that last comment about those two albums being released in each other's place. i think if maladjusted was the big comeback album in '04, many more people would give it its proper respect. still, i had to vote for quarry. 'wish the man would still play "how can anybody possibly know how i feel" from time to time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Southpaw Grammar is an absolute stunner.

All the four abums seem exceptional to me.

Southpaw Grammar is the strangest one. Maladjusted, the most solid. Quarry, the most sophisticated. Ringleader, the catchiest.

I'd say Southpaw is the one I'd least take to a desert island, though. Yes, the far too long opening and closing songs seem to drag a bit to me. And that absolutely awful drum solo in...well, never mind.

Had Maladjusted's b-sides, especially either two amongst lost, edges, both and heir apparent replaced outsider and sorrow, it would have been an instant classic.

I just love Papa Jack, Ammunition, He cried, Wide, Roy, Trouble, alma, satan...gosh what an album!!!!!!!

On the other hand, the very Morrissey so much deservedly liked comeback contains three of the worst songs Morrissey has ever committed.

they are: I´m not sorry ( IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sade), I Like You and Let Me Kiss You.
The production tries to ruin a few tracks with its ridiculous little noises, lightyears away from the samples used prior to that release).

ROTT has a very bad Morrissey track too, it´s TO ME YOU ARE... that was a real misunderstanding placing it there. I knew I was next would have been a much more benefic choice.

to me:
MALADUSTED 1
Rott 2
Quarry 3
Southpaw 4

Maladjusted is an underrated album. It's the album Moz made at a low point (after the court rulings) and so reflects that sort of defeated exasperation at parts ("the glorious occassion, of the spendid defeat," trouble loves me, sorrow will come at the end). Wide to Receive is a track that really grew on me, and Roy's Keen, which follows it, is a great song about star-worship and celebrity-following ("Roy is a star, and I am a satellite...but that's alright").

Southpaw Grammar is, in my opinion, Moz's worst album (or the least good, if you will). I can, however, understand and respect why some people would rate it so highly. I guess it's just a matter of what aspect of Moz you prefer.

You Are the Quarry is, to me, the best of the four, and it's the one I voted for. I don't understand at all how people aren't really appreciative of this album. it's got a song for every mood. Are you annoyed with the contemporary political scene in your respective country? Put on "Irish Blood, English Heart." In sort of an irreverent mood, dismissing the claims of your friends that you wronged them in some way? Play "I'm Not Sorry." In love, happy, taking a day off work for yourself? "First of the Gang to Die," "I Like You," "Let Me Kiss You." Annoyed that you have to go to the DMV or bothered by the antics of your boss? "The World is Full of Crashing Bores" and "How Could Anybody..." And I even like "All the Lazy Dykes." It's one of Moz's feminist-rooted songs, telling a poor unhappily married woman to give in to her real desires.

ROTT is good. I like it a lot more now that I've heard some of its songs played live. But of the four, it's Quarry for me.

Southpaw is a solid rock record - a close relation to Arsenal in spirit... Maladjusted earns its reputation as his low point - mind you, a low for Mozzer is still more compelling than a lot of other things... Quarry has the songs but lacks the rich production of ROTT... ROTT sums up the man in so many ways and the sheer sound of it is difficult to improve upon... Quarry could win if we counted the deluxe version...

Quarry will be remembered as one of his best solo..... if not his best solo work.
thetexasbloke

I really did not like Southpaw when it first came out. Then a few years later I pulled it out and gave it another chance. Since then, it has really grown on me, and now I rate it as one of my favorite Morrissey albums.

On this poll, it's a tough choice between Quarry and Southpaw, but I've got to go with Southpaw on this one.

it comes as close as his best 2 albums ,viva hate and vauxhall&I
[with the mention that recording technics werent as good in 1987/88 as for 2004/nowadays, also producing]

To me it's quite simple why YATQ is the best of this bunch - he had several years to hone and cherry pick the best material for it - compared to the follow-up, for instance, which was done relatively quickly

Maladjusted is not bad... To me, the problem is the producer or the sound engineer. It sounds like a demo in some musics!! Compare Papa Jack and Satan Rejected my Soul (both sound dull) with He Cried and Ammunition (Moz voice has more brightness). Who agree or disagree?? Why??

All the people voting for YATQ are a bunch of johnny-come-latelys who got into Moz through that terrible album. They enjoy the awful Finn production, those annoying Deano drum rolls etc etc. You may well be Moz fans, but you're not fans of the same Moz as me, that's for sure.

Any longstanding fan has obviously voted for ROTT. Although there are a few weak songs on ROTT, the layered sound and strong production is something of a return to the good old days.

You illiterate FUCK. Don't pose a question if you don't know how to combine lexicon!

Creo que cada album tiene su encanto, aunque siendo sincero, la fuerza que tiene "Southpaw Grammar" en superior, un toque de rudeza que podia asegurar ningun otro disco de Morrissey tiene, eso tambien implica el aporte de Spencer James Cobrin en la bateria que para mi gusto es el mejor baterista que ha pasado por la banda, tiene un sello unico dificil de alcanzar.

Come on! Quarrry for sure. It has the rockabily of your arsenal, and the feel of the old days during sing your life with the baet of today pop.

Anyone who voted for Maladjusted has no taste in music whatsoever. Period.

Alma, Satan and Roy were more than horrible singles, they were abominations. Abominations I say!

Anyway, ROTT is the best album. It's an actual album, on which all the songs work together. YATQ is nothing more than a collection of (poorly written) songs.

southpaw
ringleader
yatq
malajustdontgetit

I'm addicted to Southpaw recently. So it wins...as of now.

DXS

Maldjusted stunk up the joint, Southpaw was so-so, and Ringleader has its moments but is ultimately hit-and-miss.

YATQ was his first consistently good album since Vauxhall, and easily his most successful. Like I said, no contest.

I can't believe ROTT is even getting as many votes as it is. I love Moz, but that album is a steaming pile of crap. The production is HORRIBLE. There are exactly 3 good songs on it - Pigsty, The Father who must be Killed, and I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now...

Quarry was not perfect, but it sounded great and the B-Sides were exceptional. Maladjusted is a good album, particularly the title track, Alma Matters, and Wide to Receive. Southpaw is great and highly underrated.

If prefer R.O.T.T live, but 'Southpaw' wins this one for me. Like most Moz albums it's different. When i first bought i was skeptical due to it's song times. But it is a diamond in the rough. Very catchy aswell.

A Bona Drag type compilation and singles should be released. That would be my pick for best record. Ganglord is brilliant and I can't understand why it is a freaking B side. Also, Teenage Dad on His Estate is another brilliant song that should have been a hit single.

Quarry Mustb1
Grammer, Maladjusted, Rotten last

 

Although Ill never understand how he squandered 2 classics (Never played symphonies and daddy's voice should be A sides for heaven's sakes!) but even the album as is, is still the best thing Morrissey has put out since Vauxhall. The others have their classic moments as in any Mozzer album but Quarry is still consistently better (even with its sometimes odd production)than the others in my humble opinion!)
Cheers

Okay, I voted for YATQ - but of the four choices Southpaw is probably his most accomplished piece of work. ROTT is kind of like the sophmore flop of his rebirth. It's good, but I find myself scrolling to YATQ on my iPOD more often.

...they all have a few moments of brilliance. Yes, even the monumental turd that is "Maladjusted" - (see Trouble Loves Me).

Anyone who is passionate, in a positive way, about ANY of these losers is a felt eared fool!

Thanks for posting this poll - it should be a reminder to us all that "Southpaw" was the exact moment Morrissey "Jumped the shark"

'Vauxhall' is a real masterpiece, 'Arsenal' is excellent and the early solo career is littered with gems - there are also gems from this period ('Lost', 'Gang', 'Succession', 'Nobody Loves Us', 'Swallow On My Neck', 'Trouble Loves Me' - but overall Morrissey has yet to escape the mediocrity of the post-1995 period. The best of the bunch is Ringleader, which, while not perfect by any means ('Father' is AWFUL), is at least a step in the right direction ('Dear God', 'Pigsty' and a few others are very good songs). Quarry remains hamstrung by the fact that many of its songs are just not very good - 'America' is abominable and 'Crashing Bores' a plodder. I still believe Morrissey will release superb "autumnal" work though.

why wasnt there an option for all of them are a piece of shit?

All songs in this albums are great specially the sessions of you are the quarry. Mexico, Never played, no one can hold a handle to you and a whole lot more for me this is the best.....I hope morrissey release more albums like this one

the sessions have included a sprinkling of few great songs (Lost, Never-Played, Nobody Loves Us, Friday Mourning, First of the Gang, Reader Meet Author) but the albums have all been patch as hell worth about just 5 or 6 out of 10...

All of his albums have moments of just genius, but "you are the Quarry" had alot.

all the other albums sucked. only good album since 95' was YATQ.

. . . That YATQ is my choice. Each of the albums in the poll certainly have wonderful moments. However, due to the strength of "Come Back To Camden," YATQ rises just above the rest for me. Camden is one of the greatest Moz songs of all time. The lyrics fit the music perfectly. It reminds me of the superiority of the tracks on "Vauxhall" and "Your Arsenal." In my opinion, Camden is incredible and the ending is one of the highlights in the history of all recorded music!

   

istill dont know how anyone thinks YATQ is better than ROTT- ireally dont.

the production on YATQ renders too many of the songs limp and awkward. its easily the worst Moz album from this standpoint. there are many good songs here, but too many are ruined by Jerry Finn.

Maladjusted is still likely the worst of four due soley to the inclusion of "He Cried", "Papa Jack" and "Sorrow Will Come In The End" (had it been "Now I Am A Was", "Lost" and "The Edges Are No Longer Parallel" instead, then it would be a whole different story).

Southpaw is excellent, but strange and short (in the number of songs anyway) and ends up not quite feeling like an album- more a (relatively) experimental EP. again, surrounding period singles and b-sides couldve changed this.

ROTT is a great album. its not perfect- "The Father Who Must Be Killed" wouldve probably served better asa b-side to TYWTML- but it works well as an album and their are some excellent standouts. idont know why it gets sucha roughride around here.

Morrissey songs.
Just look at the top 100 Houdini thread.
Dykes and America are right at the bottom and 'how can anybody' (the worst song in the history of music) hasn't even been voted for yet.
How the heck can you guys give Quarry such a good rating in this poll?
Mystified of Merton...

The Album sounds "muddled" and not very clear. OK, Visconti is a Legendary producer but...
The production sounds old and tired. Lillywhite was a much better producer for Morrissey - the "sound-scapes" on Vauxhall were astonishing.
I listen to ROTT on a really good hi-fi and it sounds shit! The songs are good but the mixing/production is muddled. It sounds cheap.

Now that it's over a millenium since this poll was posted, which poll should we see now?

Update

please