Morrissey's Great Failing As an Artist

[Sparacus]

Morrissey's great failing as an artist is to fail to innovate and to change his style. Don't get me wrong, the Smiths meant everything to me as a teenager. However Morrissey's solo career has been an exercise in self-destruction. The old boy kept churning out diminishing records of the same style and then stopped - due to asking ridiculous amounts to secure a recording deal.
Great artists have to innovate - musically & lyrically. How cme David Bowie & Bob Dylan are both listened to by young people today and Morrissey isn't?
Answer : because Moz sticks to the same old formula and does nothing to raise his media profile.
Why the hell can't he ditch that band and work with Fatboy slim on a 'drum & bass' album, like Bowie's stunning 'Earthling'?

[Notastitchtowear]

> Morrissey's great failing as an artist is to fail to innovate and to
> change his style. Don't get me wrong, the Smiths meant everything to me as
> a teenager. However Morrissey's solo career has been an exercise in
> self-destruction. The old boy kept churning out diminishing records of the
> same style and then stopped - due to asking ridiculous amounts to secure a
> recording deal.
> Great artists have to innovate - musically & lyrically. How cme David
> Bowie & Bob Dylan are both listened to by young people today and
> Morrissey isn't?
> Answer : because Moz sticks to the same old formula and does nothing to
> raise his media profile.
> Why the hell can't he ditch that band and work with Fatboy slim on a 'drum
> & bass' album, like Bowie's stunning 'Earthling'?

Are you serious? Hooking up with a one hit wonder no talent is the way Morrissey should go? Why doesn't he just partner up with Puff Daddy (P Diddy, whatever) in a rap song while sampling his songs, oh that's been done already. It's pathetic to see rock classics try to revive their career by hanging on to the coat tails of an up to the minute pop star. Take your sell out ideas elsewhere!

[Aaron]

Well, by that logic the Ramones should have dwindled off into obscurity by now. Instead, they are highly respected musicians, already inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and an influence to everyone who is anyone. I don't recall a Ramones drum & bass album.

I would say that it takes more integrity as an artist to avoid jumping on every musical trend. Imagine if the Smiths decided to throw an 80's style sax solo into "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out."

And of course, there is the irony of your request. You want Morrissey to "innovate" by making an album similar to what other artists are doing. It reminds me of a brilliant T-shirt that I saw in the early 90's. It said: "I want to be different, just like everybody else." You can't have it both ways. The nature of innovation is to make an album that nobody is making. Instead of Morrissey making "the same old Morrissey album" you would have him make "the same old drum & bass album." No thanks!

> Morrissey's great failing as an artist is to fail to innovate and to
> change his style. Don't get me wrong, the Smiths meant everything to me as
> a teenager. However Morrissey's solo career has been an exercise in
> self-destruction. The old boy kept churning out diminishing records of the
> same style and then stopped - due to asking ridiculous amounts to secure a
> recording deal.
> Great artists have to innovate - musically & lyrically. How cme David
> Bowie & Bob Dylan are both listened to by young people today and
> Morrissey isn't?
> Answer : because Moz sticks to the same old formula and does nothing to
> raise his media profile.
> Why the hell can't he ditch that band and work with Fatboy slim on a 'drum
> & bass' album, like Bowie's stunning 'Earthling'?

[MUM]

> Morrissey's great failing as an artist is to fail to innovate and to
> change his style

His style is what made him a "star." We love him for that. Who wants him to "sell out" just to sell albums? I'd rather he be true to his own type of music and delivery.

[Sparacus]

> Are you serious? Hooking up with a one hit wonder no talent is the way
> Morrissey should go? Why doesn't he just partner up with Puff Daddy (P
> Diddy, whatever) in a rap song while sampling his songs, oh that's been
> done already. It's pathetic to see rock classics try to revive their
> career by hanging on to the coat tails of an up to the minute pop star.
> Take your sell out ideas elsewhere!

Working with cutting edge artists is not 'selling out' its innovating. Its also keeping your art relevent - like Bowie.

[Sparacus]

> Well, by that logic the Ramones should have dwindled off into obscurity by
> now. Instead, they are highly respected musicians, already inducted into
> the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and an influence to everyone who is
> anyone. I don't recall a Ramones drum & bass album.

> I would say that it takes more integrity as an artist to avoid jumping on
> every musical trend. Imagine if the Smiths decided to throw an 80's style
> sax solo into "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out."

> And of course, there is the irony of your request. You want Morrissey to
> "innovate" by making an album similar to what other artists are
> doing. It reminds me of a brilliant T-shirt that I saw in the early 90's.
> It said: "I want to be different, just like everybody else." You
> can't have it both ways. The nature of innovation is to make an album that
> nobody is making. Instead of Morrissey making "the same old Morrissey
> album" you would have him make "the same old drum & bass
> album." No thanks!

I don't want Morrissey to just copy someone else. What I am saying is that Moz has failed to remain cutting edge. He does nothing that is experimental or avant garde. Bob Dylan has recorded music in a vast range of styles - blues, folk, gospel, acid rock, country . David Bowie has had more changes of musical style than you could care to mention. They have a thirst to experiment.

[Sparacus]

> His style is what made him a "star." We love him for that. Who
> wants him to "sell out" just to sell albums? I'd rather he be
> true to his own type of music and delivery.

In which case he will end up as just an old-farts nostalgia act like Jethro Tull.

[MUM]

> In which case he will end up as just an old-farts nostalgia act like
> Jethro Tull.

What is inappropriate about memories of what was and is still left to enjoy? Do you really want to see Morrissey demeaning his professional reputation by performing with the Backstreet Boys or singing backup for Britney Spears? I'd rather he stretch out by the pool and smile at the disposable music littering the air today. HE won't be forgotten.

[Sense]

[La la duh]

[La la duh]

[Earl Graphite]

I wouldn't say Morrissey has failed at all. I'd bet he's quite content the way things are in his career. It is his career afterall and he's obviously not struggling for money. If he was desperate for cash he'd take any record deal he could get. He's certainly already made enough to die on, look at his home/cars/lifestyle/etc. Anything he does now is for fun, extra cash, and most importantly, to please his loyal fans.

As for asking outrageous amounts of cash for his next deal, well, that's what LA will do to you and I don't blame him one bit!

HE'S WORTH IT!!

His solo career has been an exercise in self-expression, not self-destruction. He doesn't owe anybody anything. It pisses me off every time I read someone slagging off Morrissey, criticizing his efforts. It's his work, he puts it out because he wants to, not because he owes it to you. He's the artist, his style is his own, let him develop as he sees fit.

Telling Morrissey he needs to change his style to mimmic the times goes against everything Morrissey stands for. You obviously aren't a serious fan, otherwise you'd know better. Morrissey stands outside the mainstream, always has. Getting him to innovate and become more mainstream would be like finding out we actually enjoyed NSYNC...fucking scary! But seriously, Morrissey will never "sell out" and I wouldn't ever want to see that happen. I'd rather see him never have a record deal ever again over headlining a tour with Eminem and POD anyday. That would be the biggest disappointment in my lifetime.

I say let Morrissey make whatever music his heart desires. To quote the master, "it's my life to ruin my own way"!! Try to show some appreciation for what you've already gotten from him, cherish it, and consider anything forthcoming a gift.

[Notastitchtowear]

[Notastitchtowear]

> In which case he will end up as just an old-farts nostalgia act like
> Jethro Tull.

Ya know, it's your way of thinking that makes me so sad and bitter toward todays music industry. Your generation (assuming you're young because you are so naive) thinks everything has to "the latest" and "cutting edge". But the truth is your a victim of marketing. You listen to what you are told is 'hot' because like the rest of the sheep your age, you have the attention span of a gnat. Maybe one day you will learn that the world's best music isn't found on MTV or Top Forty music charts. Really good (and lasting) music goes way beyond that. If I were you, I'd shy away from parading around my ignorance of youth.

[Punchdrunk1975]

Fatboy slim and drum and base YOU FUCKING PRICK!!!!!!!!!!

There what Ash are to punk you bell end.

> Morrissey's great failing as an artist is to fail to innovate and to
> change his style. Don't get me wrong, the Smiths meant everything to me as
> a teenager. However Morrissey's solo career has been an exercise in
> self-destruction. The old boy kept churning out diminishing records of the
> same style and then stopped - due to asking ridiculous amounts to secure a
> recording deal.
> Great artists have to innovate - musically & lyrically. How cme David
> Bowie & Bob Dylan are both listened to by young people today and
> Morrissey isn't?
> Answer : because Moz sticks to the same old formula and does nothing to
> raise his media profile.
> Why the hell can't he ditch that band and work with Fatboy slim on a 'drum
> & bass' album, like Bowie's stunning 'Earthling'?

[Sparacus]

> What is inappropriate about memories of what was and is still left to
> enjoy? Do you really want to see Morrissey demeaning his professional
> reputation by performing with the Backstreet Boys or singing backup for
> Britney Spears? I'd rather he stretch out by the pool and smile at the
> disposable music littering the air today. HE won't be forgotten.

Oh please! So you really want Morrissey to end up as some old farts' nostalgia act? You really want him to end up like Steve Harley - playing the likes of 'Colchester Arts centre' to an audience of grey haired old bores?
Great artists are those who remain innovative & vital - like Bowie. Morrissey is the same age as Michael Stipe - but wheras Stipe has massive youth appeal, Moz is seen as a has-been.

[Sparacus]

Absolute rubbish. He has just released 'Heathen' - his best album in years & a work of genius. Bowie remains cutting edge.

[Sparacus]

> Fatboy slim and drum and base YOU FUCKING PRICK!!!!!!!!!!

> There what Ash are to punk you bell end.

I don't actually like Fatboy Slim. I was using him to illustrate a point - ie that Morrissey needs to connect to the current music scene. In 1997, Bowie released 'Earthling ' and did just this.

[Jamie]