"In this post-"World Peace is All of Our Business" climate ..."
I dispute your premise and the consensus you imply. Many, many people love the new album and think it's one of his best. People who don't like the new album need to stop acting as if they represent everyone. You are not the world. The climate of disappointment you refer to exists in your head.
THERE IS NO CONSENSUS THAT THIS ALBUM IS POOR OR DISAPPOINTING. The reviews have been mixed, but mixed is not the same as middling. Mixed reviews, especially when they are as polarized as the reviews of this album has been, indicate not a poor work but a challenging one. Many of the great works of art in any genre or medium were critically divisive when released.
Many reviews have praised that as one of Morrissey's best, most vital, most creative albums. Many have called it his best in 20 years. Many have praised the lyrics, the songwriting, the musicianship.
Many other reviews have criticized it not for just being ok but for being remarkably bad. Many reviews have been vitriolic and seemingly imbued with a visceral dislike for Morrissey himself. And some of the reviews have been merely OK.
For me, the current climate is one of elation rather than disappointment. I am convinced, with every listen, that the new album is a masterpiece.
