Love this song. It's a perfect mixture of bravado and self-pity - that switch from "I understand, bye bye..." to "I really don't understand this time" and the way his voice changes from breezy to angry - really encapsulates all the different emotions when someone leaves or lets you down. The whole song is saying "See if I care!" and then showing, quite obviously, that he does.
I think this is one of the most wonderful posts ever in the history of Solo. I couldn't agree more. Thank you.
Yeah, I think that sums it up.
We have already reviewed 7 tracks from Viva Hate + 2 of its B-sides, and there were many warm sentiments expressed for nearly all of them. And we still have to discuss Suedehead and Maudlin Street. So VH is definitely up there with the very best he's ever done. It strikes me that many of the themes - leaving behind one's youthful years, the struggle to be yourself, parting with dear ones (like Johnny Marr) still resonate with me after all those years. It's lyrically very strong. And let me also praise Vini Reilly for his frantic guitar sound on this one (as well as on Alsation Cousin and Hairdresser On Fire).
It's hard to imagine a better start to Morrissey's solo career than Viva Hate. To me, it's just a shame that the Morrissey/Street relationship didn't last longer. I really believe there was at least one more gem of an album between them.
Interestingly, I just read in Mozipedia that Stephen Street himself played the guitar on this track: the Buzzcocks-like solo was “too simple” for Vini, so he refused to play it!
Ops, truly disappointed now.
Both Goddard and Rogan only mention Street playing the simple guitar break himself. Rogan specifies that Vini Reilly plays the rest of the guitar parts himself.
Not having read either, but just from listening I presume Street played the lead guitar line that accompanies 'Rejection is one thing,but rejection from a fool is cruel'. The rest of it, including the actual solo,sounds like Vini.
This doesn't sound anything like Motown. It bears no resemblance whatsoever. I liked it a lot, but I never listen to it now.
