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Morrissey track by track
by John Earls
Sexual ambiguity. America's role as a superpower. A hymn to Camden. Fatally flawed gangsters called Hector. A song called All The Lazy Dykes.
Morrissey's back, then... After falling out of fashion in the Britpop years, the return of Morrissey for his first album since 1997 couldn't be better timed. But is You Are The Quarry a new Meat Is Murder? Or another Maladjusted?
Here's our guide to an album that should cement a triumphant comeback...
America Is Not The World An odd choice of opener as it's one of the weaker songs, both lyrically and musically. George Bush has been lambasted with more verve, and its one merit is immediately showing AFI cohort Jerry Finn's belligerent production.
Irish Blood English Heart A punchy, contentious defence of his love of the flag. Despite relative old age, nobody is better on the attack than Moz. A great comeback single, but not the best song on the album.
I Have Forgiven Jesus A miserablist answer to The Cure's Friday I'm In Love ("Thursday is pathetic/By Friday life has killed me") and an explanation of sorts for why Moz has never loved anyone, ever. The flat-vowelled singing of "You" in verse one has more pathos than many careers.
Come Back To Camden A gorgeous showtune, the piano shows he might not be joking about his admiration of Elton John. Extravagant, smart and the highlight of the album to this points.
I'm Not Sorry Despite a cute flute solo in the coda, the album's worst song along with Not The World. A mid-paced nothing of a ballad, with lyrics like an artless ITV satire of Morrissey. More at home on Southpaw Grammar than a great comeback.
The World Is Full of Crashing Bores Beefed up from its live version, a definite single with vocals as if Moz has been pickled in aspic since 1987. As great as its title, and he takes 10 minutes to pronounce "How". Hurrah!
How Can Anybody Know How I Possibly Feel? By this point of the album, Jerry Finn's swaggering production is letting the band give the finest backing of any solo Morrissey album. Moz's most menacing song since More You Ignore Me.
The First Of The Gang To Die A ravishing ode to a Mexican gangster with lyrics worthy of Hemingway, the singing style of — yes! — Buddy Holly and a damnably infectious chorus. The best song of 2002 when he played it live, now it's the best song of 2004.
Let Me Kiss You A warm and naturalistic vocal and typical of an album where — by his ascetic standards — Morrissey is loved up. A bit of a filler, though most singers would kill for filler this ace.
All The Lazy Dykes To the nursery rhyme feel of Ask, Morrissey invites a housewife to "come and join the girls". Curiously reminiscent of Fat Bottomed Girls, it's as fine a throwaway bit of filth as will be heard all year.
I Like You Hello, Morrissey's discovered synths! With a backing borrowed from Finetime by New Order, the ambiguous old poppet declares undying love. Could have been a Pervy Maiden Aunt moment, instead it's a wild, celebratory triumph.
You Know I Couldn't Last An attack on the record industry, Paint A Vulgar Picture II is half taut ballad and half rampant rock music. Both sum up a superb album. "Oh, but the squalor of the mind" is SUCH an apt final line.
With fans like Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines putting Morrissey back in fashion, he could have got away with a much lazier album than You Are The Quarry and been declared a genius anew.
Nothing is worth such a visionary being kept in exile for seven years — but You Are The Quarry settles old scores, reminds old fans why they fell in love with him and serves notice to newcomers that here is a man in full.
Quarry? Consider us the willing prey.
You Are The Quarry is out on May 17
http://www.teletext.co.uk/entertainment/generic.asp?slot=547&page=1&ref=540
by John Earls
Sexual ambiguity. America's role as a superpower. A hymn to Camden. Fatally flawed gangsters called Hector. A song called All The Lazy Dykes.
Morrissey's back, then... After falling out of fashion in the Britpop years, the return of Morrissey for his first album since 1997 couldn't be better timed. But is You Are The Quarry a new Meat Is Murder? Or another Maladjusted?
Here's our guide to an album that should cement a triumphant comeback...
America Is Not The World An odd choice of opener as it's one of the weaker songs, both lyrically and musically. George Bush has been lambasted with more verve, and its one merit is immediately showing AFI cohort Jerry Finn's belligerent production.
Irish Blood English Heart A punchy, contentious defence of his love of the flag. Despite relative old age, nobody is better on the attack than Moz. A great comeback single, but not the best song on the album.
I Have Forgiven Jesus A miserablist answer to The Cure's Friday I'm In Love ("Thursday is pathetic/By Friday life has killed me") and an explanation of sorts for why Moz has never loved anyone, ever. The flat-vowelled singing of "You" in verse one has more pathos than many careers.
Come Back To Camden A gorgeous showtune, the piano shows he might not be joking about his admiration of Elton John. Extravagant, smart and the highlight of the album to this points.
I'm Not Sorry Despite a cute flute solo in the coda, the album's worst song along with Not The World. A mid-paced nothing of a ballad, with lyrics like an artless ITV satire of Morrissey. More at home on Southpaw Grammar than a great comeback.
The World Is Full of Crashing Bores Beefed up from its live version, a definite single with vocals as if Moz has been pickled in aspic since 1987. As great as its title, and he takes 10 minutes to pronounce "How". Hurrah!
How Can Anybody Know How I Possibly Feel? By this point of the album, Jerry Finn's swaggering production is letting the band give the finest backing of any solo Morrissey album. Moz's most menacing song since More You Ignore Me.
The First Of The Gang To Die A ravishing ode to a Mexican gangster with lyrics worthy of Hemingway, the singing style of — yes! — Buddy Holly and a damnably infectious chorus. The best song of 2002 when he played it live, now it's the best song of 2004.
Let Me Kiss You A warm and naturalistic vocal and typical of an album where — by his ascetic standards — Morrissey is loved up. A bit of a filler, though most singers would kill for filler this ace.
All The Lazy Dykes To the nursery rhyme feel of Ask, Morrissey invites a housewife to "come and join the girls". Curiously reminiscent of Fat Bottomed Girls, it's as fine a throwaway bit of filth as will be heard all year.
I Like You Hello, Morrissey's discovered synths! With a backing borrowed from Finetime by New Order, the ambiguous old poppet declares undying love. Could have been a Pervy Maiden Aunt moment, instead it's a wild, celebratory triumph.
You Know I Couldn't Last An attack on the record industry, Paint A Vulgar Picture II is half taut ballad and half rampant rock music. Both sum up a superb album. "Oh, but the squalor of the mind" is SUCH an apt final line.
With fans like Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines putting Morrissey back in fashion, he could have got away with a much lazier album than You Are The Quarry and been declared a genius anew.
Nothing is worth such a visionary being kept in exile for seven years — but You Are The Quarry settles old scores, reminds old fans why they fell in love with him and serves notice to newcomers that here is a man in full.
Quarry? Consider us the willing prey.
You Are The Quarry is out on May 17
http://www.teletext.co.uk/entertainment/generic.asp?slot=547&page=1&ref=540
