So I'll pause and look back at the Quarry.
It was great to see him revitalised and shiny and new and popular but it wasn't one for the time capsule really.
English Heart and First of the Gang were truly great singles and the whole thing sounded as if he was interested but he'll need a new collaborator to really scorch the heights again.
The concerts were absolutely marvellous though! (especially Paisley!)
Here's looking forward to the autobiography and to him really going out on a limb on the next record.
The race is not over!

Looking back, I feel First of the Gang, IBEH, Come Back to Camden, You Know I Couldn't Last and Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice are the outstanding "Quarry" songs.

Of these, First of the Gang gets my nod - it was beautiful in 2002 and it remains beautiful today.

The live version from Earls Court adds something extra to the LP version, proving what a wonderful song it really is.

Irish Blood is one of his greatest singles and I think YKICL is a masterpiece, but FOTGTD pips them both.

broken

Wow. I never realized how little I listen to the actual album. I've been listening to the B-Sides so often i forgot how mediocre the Quarry tracklist is... So little to really grab onto lyrically or to relate to at all. I was trying to find it's "Now my heart is Full" or even "Southpaw" ... a song which appears to have REAL emothions attached, you know ? For some reason I don't Beleive the Morrissey on this album. Maybe he sings too well. The B-Sides I think this time were the Songs for true Fans, the album is an easy going mainstream effort. I would actually choose

01. Never Played Symphonies
02. Daddy's Voice
03. Hard to Walk Tall
04. Public Image
05. Mexico

Hell almost all of them over the album. I just consider this the "Alternate Album" and listen to it constantly. Anyone else know what I'm sayin' ?

-Micropenis

What's with slating the album???????
i love it (and no i'm not one of those fans who jumped on the post-quarry bandwagon)
I voted for "come back 2 camden" you know it's a classic. I think the album's a classic.

We waited and waited and were not disappointed. The more I listen the more I enjoy this album and its b sides. Seeing the songs live just adds to the experience and the tracks left in the studio suffer as a consequence.

I voted for 'You Know I Couldn't Last" glorious loud mellow drama!!

When I first heard Quarry, I was pretty disappointed with it, but I thought 'First Of The' was fantastic. Looking back a year on, I still feel as though it is by some distance the best, most satisfying song on the album. I now like some bits of the album better than I did at first - 'Let Me Kiss You', 'Crashing Bores', 'Lazy Dykes' - but every time I listen to 'Irish Blood' I'm never quite sure whether it's great or not. It IS thrilling because it's loud, fast and angry - but then I'm not sure the actual TUNE is very interesting. 'Jesus' for me is one of the worst - the synths are aneamic, the chorus change is nice, but there's something very mediocre about the music. 'You Know I Couldn't Last' I still can't take to - it's structurally reminiscent of a Queen song in that it goes from ballad to balls out riffage and lasts a fair while, and I don't get much from it at all, especially the 'gold discs' references. 'I'm Not Sorry' just drifts a bit. 'America Is Not The World' still sounds bad to me over a year on, both lyrically and musically. 'Come Back To Camden' would be beautiful if it was stripped down to just piano IMO - the lyrics are fabulous, and the opening few seconds ("It's so funny you'll kill yourself laughing") are just sublime. Could've been as brilliant as 'Trouble Loves Me' if it weren't for the synths and overproduction.

As to b-sides - well, I've enjoyed 'It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small', 'Succession', 'Candle' and 'Public Image' the most. I think the rest are decidedly iffy. 'Never Played' blossoms into something lovely though I must say.

Artwork for Quarry was just terrible IMO. I would really like to see a change of concept for the next record!

So, while I like Quarry better now than I did when I first heard it, I still think it's just about an average album. I hope I like his next one better.

Fave track? 'Gang'. Superb single, great tune, it WILL stand the test of time. I took to it from the first and still love it now.

I bought YATQ right away, listened to it about 20 times, thought it was good, but not as good as I'd hoped. I gave it to my sister and she's had it ever since. Last year I was lucky enough to attend four shows, I got a couple of the singles and just 3 weeks ago, I bit the bullet and bought the complete YATQ with all of the B-sides.
I have to say, the B-Sides added to the original track listing have made this album really really good...it feels complete and really fleshy. It now has a nice wave of fast and slow, deep and funny...
I'm not sure if it really grew on me, or I'm reliving the concerts or the addition of the b-sides, but my opinion of it has grown greatly since last year.
Best track? DMFODV is one I keep replaying as well as I'm Not Sorry. FOTGTD and LMKY are definitely up there though... I have never been able to choose just one song from any album though.

I think "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice," "Munich Air Disaster" "It's Hard to Walk Tall..." are better songs then "America Is Not The World" and "I'm Not Sorry" (not that I don't like them). DMFODV and IHTWTWYS both rock and would've given the album more of a rough edge and MAD is just a delirously lovely song. Then again, Morrissey always releases such sterling B-Sides that it wouldn't surprise me if he specifically saved some of the best for the singles. And one more thing, it always shocks me when the following songs are hated upon: "All The Lazy Dykes" "The Slum Mums" and "The Public Image." " 'Dykes" has such a gorgeous melody (it's so fun to sing along to!!), the lyrics are brilliant ("Indigo burns on their arms"!!) -- I love how even though Moz is not gay per se, it's like an olive branch to lesbians and at the same time imploring "straight" women stuck in loveless marriages to confront their true passion and "come and join the girls." And the part where he sings "I've never felt so alive..." -- it just feels so freeing, like someone finally discovering themself. I'm shocked that only 6 of us voted it the best song. And as for "Slum Mums" and "Public Image" -- yes they are B-Sides (as they should be) but as they are Morrissey B-Sides should not be written off. The music is glorious and his lyrics, though not his best are still laced with irony, honesty, and ambiguity as all great Moz lyrics are. Yeah!

that's really my fave...
i love the way he swoops the vocal on 'he's happy so leave him alone, with his baby and his modest home...'

it's such classic moz phrasing. makes me smile everytime i hear it.

but as far as proper album tracks i'm up with 'i'm not sorry'.

There's plenty of good songs on Quarry; but, cliche as it is, I must vote for "First Of The Gang." That`s because its not just the best song on the album but definitely one of his best songs ever; it still leaves me awe-struck EVERY time I hear it.

Vauxhall and I is a better album than You Are The Quarry I think, but is any one song better than "FOTGTD"?I don`t think any come close.

Please disagree with me violently pals!

-Ben G

(why've you logged me out again Dave? Oh; its the new site thingie is it?)

i didn't like this album at first but it grew on me and now i love it. i do think america is not the world is a crap opener though.

Unlike some others *cough*, I was quite fond of this album from day 1. But then again, what would one expect from a man of Morrissey's standards and character. After all that time he was gone, he wouldn't return with a dud. He's in his own class and it's a high one. I had difficulty choosing which song to chose. I knew most people would choose FOTG because of it's popularity. Don't get me wrong, that too is one of my favorites but I had to choose my other favorite. Yes, I chose "The World is full of Crashing Boars". I'm in love with the song's chorus and the ending. I also feel it's a song that we should keep in mind these days. It's so easy to laugh, it's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be gentle and kind. Just remember one thing, we are the quarry for a reason.

well, today iwent with "You Know I Couldnt Last", but tomorrow will be something else. mytop5 off 'You Are The Quarry' (in alphabetical order only):

First Of The Gang To Die
Irish Blood, English Heart
Let Me Kiss You
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
You Know I Couldn't Last

ido lov all the songs though and will stand up tall for "America Is Not The World", "How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?" and "All The Lazy Dykes" [and any others] should they begin to take too many bruises over the course of this poll.

It's so interesting that certain Morrissey fans are so keen to jump on some of his songs as being reflective of his private life.

But not this song. I wonder why? Doesn't fit, does it?

to hav "I Have Forgiven Jesus" taking 15% so far?

I keep coming back to camden...can't wait to hear the live version a the i of w fest

I became a Smiths fan in the late 1980's, loved Viva Hate when Morrissey went solo, went the see him three times on the Kill Uncle tour and once on the Your Arsenal tour. I was pissed when he didn't tour for another three albums and thought he was past his prime after 1997. Why do I mention all this? Because through it all, his new CD is by far my favorite and his best work in my opinion. By the way, I voted for 'I like You' the single that should have been and would have been a huge hit world wide! I love all the songs, though.

I really like the album and even think it´s as good as his greater past efforts throughout his solo career.BUT, come on people, we really ahve to be honest about this. TFOTGTD is absofuckinglutely gorgeous. I can´t tire of it even if you´ll play that a zillion times in a row... it´s just so beautiful and the lyrics are perfect.and then when you think it can´t get any better Morrissey comes in with the stole from the rcih and the poor and the not very rich part. It´s so goddamn catchy... and the voise is so happy, it akes oyu wantnna bounce agaisnt the floors of your room. It´s like hairdresser on fire enhanced . it pips suedehead as well.

I should say its guitar resembles the guitar on a track on bowie´s alladin sane lp. i guess it´s the second on on the b-side of the album. 7th on the cd, i guess. check that out and you´ll be awe--struck.

weel,,, CHECK THAT!

tfotgtd is brilliant, i love it more than i love the boy with the thorn in his side.

 

For the first few listens, the album's glossy production and sometimes underachieving lyrics rankled. Now, I focus more on the highlights and they're great. EBIH, Last of the Gang, Camden, Dykes even. Still don't like the "modern" drum sound, though.

Good timing concerning this poll, as I've played YATQ after a long time just recently, and was wondering what it would sound like in my ears now, all the anticipation, release enthusiasm etc. aside. What can I tell you, I was actually stunned how good it actually is! I won't (can't) go into details, whether it is his best (solo!) effort or not, as it is a matter of taste anyway, but to me "Quarry" is surely his most coherent album to date. Far from being perfect, the album has a wide quantity of soon-to-be classics, my favourite being probably "Come Back To Camden", a true "tear jerker" (for a lack of better word) the one who got my vote, despite the corny arrangement. Talking about that, the dodgy production still isn't ace, to say the least. A little too polished and "nice" for me personally. Also some (or more precisely few) of the lyrics aren't on par with the rest, "America..." being a prime example, as his smartass lyrics somehow spoil a beautiful song. BUT all those small flaws aside, "You Are The Quarry" is a GREAT album, probably containing his best singing ever, and a whole bunch of killer songs. So all you socalled fans out there, slagging the album for hilarious reasons, or Mozzer/Boorer/White not newly inventing the wheel, just take a break and weep over your Japanese "Viva Hate" pressings...

oooh live at first fright.

Has it really been a year?!

In the end, I went for 'How can anybody...', such passion! It's lovely to sing along to (in a very angry way). I was quite torn, though- I love IBEH and 'Crashing bores' too.

I have to say that although 'First of the gang' is good, I can't understand why everyone loves it so much. I often skip it (GASP!).

Is by far my favorite song of the last year. It's truly beautiful.

I first heard a Smiths song about 3 years ago while watching a skateboarding video. Fast forward 2 years. I'm working in an office and hear someone humming a VERY familiar tune. The song turns out to be Panic by the Smiths.. the one that was in the video! I get introduced to the Smiths and Morrissey and am instantly hooked. I started listening to them and nothing else everyday, and a year later I still am... and most likely will forever.

Now, during that initial month, I also discovered Morrissey's solo stuff and soon came to realize he had just released a new album! How exciting! I buy it, play it, and although I hear some jewels (FOTGTD) it just isn't the same as his earlier solo songs. Don't get me wrong, I like the album! But, from my viewpoint where I was able to listen to the span of his career at one time, I can say I feel this album should have gotten less acclaim than some of his others.

That being said, texasbloke is correct, "I Like You" is my favorite song on the album :)

it could've been a Smiths song from 1986.
I'm afraid you can't honestly say that about any other song from the entire YRTQ sessions with the possible exception of the never-layed (that's the never-played) symphonies.
J

Been a member here even before Maladjusted was relesed. It's still hard to believe Quarry is the only album to come out since!

It's not a perfect album, but I love You Are the Quarry and all of its attendant B-sides. Some of those b-sides are already classics in the Morrissey catalogue (I'll let you decide which). Yes, DMFODV or IHTWTWYS could've added some cajones to the proceedings, and The Never Played Symphonies would've given the album a second heartbreaking ballad, but I can still appreciate the album proper's tracklisting as it is.

Whether its your favourite or least favourite solo album, I still stay it's a record of the finest singing Morrissey has ever done.

2004 was a banner year. We only have a bit of perspective now, but in years to come it'll be regarded as perhaps the greatest phase of Morrissey's solo career.

xo

I find it really, really hard (see above) to pick a favourite. Hard to imagine its now been out almost a year. I don't think there'a dud track on there.

Quintin (Not that one)

As of right now, only 61% of the respondents have picked one of the top 5 songs as their favourite.

Just how many albums are there that have such depth? It's hard to think of any album to inspire such disagreement as to its best track - maybe one of the classics like T-Rex's Electric Warrior could be looked at the same way. TFOTGTG is an awesome song, but 82% of us think that there's a better one somewhere else on the CD.

39% of all the fans on this website picked a favourite song that was not one of the 5 most popular! And only 47% voted for one of the singles, which indicates that the strength of this album runs very deep indeed.

 

Fave on the album: "I Have Forgiven Jesus"

Least fave on the album: "I'm Not Sorry"

Most underrated song on the album: "All the Lazy Dykes"

Fave B-side: "It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small," edging out "No One Can Hold A Candle To You"

Least Fave B-side: "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice"

Please find the humor in the submarine call... I laughed for hours. The song is beautiful but I do admit that Gary needed turn the bass down a tad after the intro.

it was wonderful to have a new album and the amazing live shows, but the album doesn't hold up as one of his best. I agree with those that say some of the B-sides were stronger (Friday mourning, I am Two People...) but then hairdresser on fire is a b side so we know Moz is cheeky with them.
All i can hope now is for another album!

When it was first released I wanted so badly to love You Are The Quarry. Though, it is far from a classic record, I do think it represents an important contribution to Morrissey's catalouge. I think the first half of the record is great. For me the first five songs are amazing. The second half does certainly lag in parts (How Can Anyone Possibly Know How I Feel, All The Lazy Dykes. For the most part, the music and production to often resort to broad strokes, which means that repeated listens do not reval hidden depths. All in all though, I would put it down as his 4th best solo release (after 1) Vauxhall and I 2) Your Arsenal 3) Viva Hate).

America Is Not The World 2% 58 / 2%(3% last time)
Irish Blood, English Heart 6% 170 / 6%(7% lt)
I Have Forgiven Jesus 12% 345 / 12%^^(10% lt)
Come Back To Camden 13% 354 / 13%^^(8% lt)
I'm Not Sorry 8% 216 / 8%(11% lt)
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores 7% 206 / 7%( 7% lt)
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? 4% 127 / 4%(6% lt)
First Of The Gang To Die 19% 510 / 19%(23% lt)
Let Me Kiss You 11% 302 / 11%^^(6% lt)
All The Lazy Dykes 2% 65 / 2%(2% lt)
I Like You 6% 172 / 6%(6% lt)
You Know I Couldn't Last 5% 152 / 5%(5% lt)

least fave is America Is not the World...but I still really love it! I'm torn for faves...Come Back To Camden is OUTSTANDING. Mozzer's voice is beautiful and heart wrenching, sends shivers down my spine. I Like You and First of The Gang to Die are just the BEST for jumping around to...fond memories of leaping around like a mentalist with Glegs at many a gig! And then there's The World Is Full of Crashing Bores...quality! SEE? it's just TOO hard to choose!!!
From the B sides, it has to be The Never Played Symphonies.It's pure class, gorgeous sweeping arrangement, Moz on top form. That one was easy to pick! ( hey, I know the poll asked for ONE fave, but what the hell!)

Mine is I'm Not Sorry.
I still don't understand how FOTG...erm not my fave by a long shot.
Oo and this was also the very first track I heard from Quarry, some live version from that online radio show 'scott' did, y'all remember that? Christ that was exciting..jaysus, a whole fucking year, where did all the time go?

So very very sad now.
How I LOVE you Morrissey.

have bitten the bullet and chose TWIFOCB - beautiful melody, hilarious yet angry lyrics, vintage moz. absolutely love it, but was very torn between it and several others. and stop dissing "all the lazy dykes"! it's a fab song, very underrated, very well-constructed lyrics and his voice sounds exquisite

i hope people are voting for the album versions of some of the singles, coz some better/some worse u know what i mean

Beautiful album - Fantastic b-sides!
THANK YOU - From Sao Paulo/Brazil

Musically I think "America is Not the World" is excellent. Reminds me a bit of that old Lennon song "Sun King". Morrissey's lyrics are blunt and somewhat naive, yes, but there's still great truth in them and they're sung beautifully. Do a large number of people who aren't American hate this song, I wonder?

"All the Lazy Dykes" is underrated, I agree. It's not my favourite track but it definitely has its charm. The combination of sensitivity, yearning, and tough imagery (it's as if Morrissey's skinheads of yesteryear have been resurrected as butch lesbians on the Sunset strip) make for a song that would not have been out of place on Vauxhall -- maybe more than any other track on the album.

No matter how many people say they hate these songs musically and lyrically, it's obviously a lot of listeners have issues about anti-Americanism and homosexuality that they can't get over. The songs are pushing the wrong buttons, maybe subconsciously.

i just wanna say to all the people the reason for this song it have a great meaning for me...

a year ago i just met a beautiful girl, we go out several times and we get a closer friends but time that we have together i found love on her. i told her about my feelings but she says that she want me just as a friend, that was awful and i take the decision to not sees her anymore. well it appears that she don't want me because my look, i always think it was that but she is not for me anymore.

well... i just want to tell the all people my story and say the reason of my particulary version on the song 'let me kiss you'.

this is confirmed by the poll, currently in 8th position.
it's a third rate song. musically it's ok-ish but lyrically Moz is on poor form banging on about the flag and his confused student politics (he hates tories, hates labour, cheers!). ridiculous nonsense about not being bought or sold by regimes; the man was without a record deal for 7 years!

Well too many songs on it do, at least. I simply don't enjoy listening to most of it.
However, the b-side disc of the platinum edition is a really nice stand-alone album. There are some lovely melodies, poetic lyrics, interesting arrangements; everything you'd hope for from a great Moz album. Furthermore, there isn't a single song about court cases, judges, drummers, flag waving and music journalists. What a shame he got the tracklisting so wrong on the album proper...
John

My fave song changes all the time, sometimes I'm in a melancholy mood but I Like You always puts a smile on my face so I voted for that. I too love All The Lazy Dykes, the arrangement and Moz's voice sound great. Have we already had a fave B-side poll?

is by far the best track on this album,it is such an amazing song from start to finish,I thought that there was no way it would sound as good live but boy was I ever so wrong..hearing it live just blew me away,it was the highlight of the show.It is definitley in my top 10 favorite songs by Morrissey.As far as b-sides go there are quite a few that I really like but I have to pick "My life is a succession of people saying goodbye" it is just simply a beautiful song.

....My G-d, you people are dumber than kitty litter!

When Morrissey wrote this very cruel words, I don't believe he thought that one day this could also apply to him: "I still love you ... but only slightly less than I used to" is probably a good way to summarize all the comments of this poll.

I liked it when i heard it in the barra's in 2002..i liked it when it was on The importance of being Morrissey(wasn't that a great show) and i love it even more when i heard it on the album...one of his best ever...great stuff.
Oh today at work i am wearing a pink shirt just like Moz.............SHATNER RULES.......!

I can. But perhaps you really needed to be there to appreciate it.

Strawberry.

More amazing? Someone voted for "How Can Anybody..." which, IMHO, is a top 5 worst ever Moz/Smiths song...

There's nothing catchy or tuneful about it...it's simply a cry-baby spewing of his feeling picked on all the time...blah...

Lazy Dykes is actually a quite pretty song...America is okay, but Come Back to Camden remains the best on this disc...amazing he didn't perform it once on tour...I wonder why?