Great poll.
I don't think it is number 5. I don't feel that the vast vast (yes I used that twice) majority would go against the grain just because. Critics and fans have expressed the sentiments of 1, 2, 3, and 4 below. I don't agree with those that hold the "crap" argument (#1 below) because I feel the album has enough strong tracks to stay clear of crap territory.
I don't agree with the "familiar" argument (#2) below, as a general notion, because I feel the last four albums (Quarry, ROTT, YOR, and World Peace) have all been quite different. To build on this, when I go to Morrissey shows, I see as many young, new, fans as I do longtime fans. It's not like U2 - where the majority of fans are the same age as Bono. At Morrissey shows, I see the children of people my age and these young people are not stuck on The Smiths, Viva Hate, Vauxhall, etc. This is to say they don't have a familiarity complex if you will. So, while "some" fans hold this view, there are enough new fans who don't, enough old fans whose tastes have evolved to liking Morrissey's newer material, and enough old fans that have left for this very reason, that the "some" who hold this view make up a small fractional portion of those that post here. Why would someone come here, and why would they hang around, when Morrissey broke from the past with Quarry and never looked back?
I do believe "longing for the past" (#3 below) is a valid reason to be let down, and despite the wide and diverse demographics of this site, The Queen Is Dead, Vauxhall & I, and Viva Hate, and older material top the polls. Given that there are people on this site ranging from say 18 to 50 something, even those young people, people who have been turned on and tuned into Moz from Quarry forward still hold the older albums in very high regard. So, while I agree with the first half of your statement "long for the past" I disagree with "remember it better than it was" because it was great. This is not a knock on the new material.
To address the "too ethnic" argument (#4 below), I don't think anyone will admit to even the most subtle hint of racism on this site even if they are racist. I do think that the "too ethnic" argument is valid insofar as it is jarring to hear Moz and the music of "Earth is The Loneliest Planet." I was dancing in the aisle at a concert to this song...and so in a good way I was jolted. Others, find that sound (not because they are racist for the vast vast majority) jolting in a bad way. I cannot blame them. While new sounds, notably keyboards, flute, etc. found way onto Quarry, and a children's chorus, orchestra, etc. were employed on ROTT, it is not far fetched to say that this Spanish-y sound is a radical departure, because other than "When I Last Spoke To Carol" from YOR, this sound has never been as strong even on songs with Mexican / Mexican-American themes ("First of the Gang to Die" - "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice" - "Mexico").
In conclusion, I reject the notion noted in #5 below that fans are cutting against the majority just "because." I believe those that think it is "crap" noted in #1 below should give the album some time and/or consider if their disappointment stems from cancellations and things unrelated to the quality of the album. I reject the notion of "familiarity" - as a general idea - as stated in #2 below because the fan-base is comprised of enough young fans whose familiarity may have begun at Hollywood High in 2013, the subtraction of older fans who left, and enough older fans who stayed and whose tastes have evolved such that it is only from the touchy march of time, and not personal listening experience, that they would take umbrage based on "familiarity."
I accept #3 "longing for the past" and see nothing wrong in holding this view. We are discussing an artist who, if he played, an entire concert of never performed b-sides, from the 20th century, so more than 14 year old songs, could have thousands in near pandemonium.
As for me, I liked this album at first listen (on Tuesday) AND I find it is a grower. Are these things opposed? No. Can they be happening at the same time? Yes. And so while I am not suggesting your poll is in any way oversimplified, people are not the same everywhere, people are complex, most Morrissey fans are highly astute and schooled and well-versed in the Great Man's back catalog. The same person who thinks it's crap today may feel differently as time passes. I apologize if I failed to answer your question or contradicted myself. I'm sure my post can be picked apart and that's OK. People contradict themselves often. It is further proof that we are complex beings. Enjoy the album, ignore the haters, don't read reviews or opinions if they kill your joy. I have submitted, and David T. has kindly published, between 40 and 50 reviews of this album alone and hundreds in the past of other albums. Admission: I have not even read one review. I never do. I just give the name of the author, publication, grade/number of stars, and link to the review and leave it there, because, for the most part, the reviews of critics kill my joy, detract, and distract from my listening experience. Thanks for posting this poll. It's very good.
- Ghoul
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Dabb hands wrote:
1) Because it's bad, convoluted, crappy and lazy
2) Because they prefer things they are familiar with and have gotten used to
3) Because they long for the past and always remember it better than it was
4) Because it's too ethnic
5) Because they can only side w/ things that the majority are against
