Had it a few days now. As a "seasoned" Morrissey fan, I'm afraid it's a case of seen/heard it all before. There's literally NOTHING new on this album. There's a handful of good songs, a few fillers, and that's it. Which, with the exception of Your Arsenal, has been pretty much standard fare for his entire solo career. It certainly isn't the great comeback album that some hysterical "critics" would have you believe - in fact, I don't think it's that much better than Southpaw Grammar.

Still, I spose it's at least nice to have the curmudgeonly old crooner back with us.

I'm very interested to hear what the rest of you think - be as cruel as you want!

yeah, i've been playing it hoping it was a 'grower', but it's not a classic
2 or 3 good'uns and some dull ones. as you say though, it's good to have him back

(i actually like Southpaw Grammar quite a lot)

Let's all go put on "The Queen Is Dead" and remember better times.

Hugo - I've always rated Southpaw too, I think it got a bad press cos of Dagenham Dave (rightly so) but I still think Reader Meet Author and The Teachers... are classics.

stoke_fields spouted:
Let's all go put on "The Queen Is Dead" and remember better times.

I have pressed play this very second..

I think alot of the people praising the new album are just thinking wishfully rather than being convinced its a great comeback,some of the lyrics seem very lazy,especially the opening track and a couple of others,and Crashing Bores has been ruined by reducing it to a snails pace,still I'd say its a decent album but not 'great'.'The Queen is Dead' will never be touched,by Moz or anyone for that matter in my opinion,he gave it a good go with 'Vauxhall and I' though.

I think it starts really well.. but becomes a bit err.. dull towards second half..

/me puts Meat is Murder on

Alex the Large spouted:
Which, with the exception of Your Arsenal, has been pretty much standard fare for his entire solo career.

I personally prefer Vauxhall and I.

pishmaster spouted:
'The Queen is Dead' will never be touched,by Moz or anyone for that matter in my opinion,he gave it a good go with 'Vauxhall and I' though.

Actually I personally prefer the eponymously titled, The Smiths.

pishmaster spouted:
Crashing Bores has been ruined by reducing it to a snails pace




You're not wrong - an object lesson into how to make a great live song sound shit on CD.

Vauxhall better than Your Arsenal? But it's got that Lazy Sunbathers shit on it!!!!

stoke_fields spouted:


Actually I personally prefer the eponymously titled, The Smiths.

I prefer Meat Is Murder.

For me The Smiths never beat 'Well I Wonder' - mozza's finest moment....

Even their B-Sides/John Peel sessions compilations were master pieces,especially 'Hat Full of Hollow',with the beautiful acoustic version of 'Back to the Old House'.

Alex the Large spouted:
Had it a few days now. As a "seasoned" Morrissey fan, I'm afraid it's a case of seen/heard it all before. There's literally NOTHING new on this album. There's a handful of good songs, a few fillers, and that's it.

I think that's a pretty accurate assessment. It's OK, but nothing better than that - and it's not particularly different to anything he's done before.

I've just been listening to the session/interview he did for Radio 1 via their website. When asked what his own favourite solo album was he said "Southpaw Grammar" (which is one I don't have). Asked for his favourite Smiths album he said "Rank".

"Rank"???!!?!?!?!?!

I play Rank probably more than any other Smiths albums but that's cos I prefer hearing bands live. It's certainly not their best album.

I wouldn't put much store by Moz's assessment of his own work. Last week he told Jon Ross that YATQ was his "best ever album". I think he changes from day to day.

Superpimp Morrissey enjoying a meal with his 'beeyatch'...

My new favourite Smiths album is Strangeways, Here We Come.

Oooh, you rebel.

I think it's awesome. Much darker, and I like that. My favourite Smiths song has always been "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me".

I haven't listened to Strangeways in years. I remember at the time thinking it was a real diaappointment. The first side (when we used to talk of such things) is Ok. "Last Night..." is good, the next three tracks are dreadful and the last track is quite good.

Strangeways is my fave Smiths album, too. It's a bit depressing `Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me' and `I won't share you' are two of their best.

You are The Quarry is not very good at all.

I dunno actually. You Are The Quarry is really really growing on me. I've listened to it A LOT lately, and I kinda like it.

i was just gonna say the same thing :D

Well, it's not as bad as I first thought, but there's still two maybe three songs that are worse than b-sides. And Crashing Bores is too slow. And the lyrics to America... are abysmal.


unordinarychild spouted:
My favourite Smiths song has always been "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me".


Always? What about in 1986?

Well... in 1986 i was 6 years old.... Wasn't the biggest smiths fan back then!!!

I have forgiven Jesus is awesome!!

Indeed it is. But not, I feel, as awesome as its spiritual big brother, Ambitious Outsiders. And neither is Come back to Camden (another goodie) as good as its own predecessor Trouble Loves Me. But these are mere trivialities.

Incidentally, am I alone in thinking You Know I Couldn't Last is the best song on the album? Another Now My Heart is Full, shoulda been the opener.

unordinarychild spouted:
Well... in 1986 i was 6 years old.... Wasn't the biggest smiths fan back then!!!

Fair enough. Sometimes I forget how old and gnarly I've become.

Its a grower,I quite like it now,well it beats 'Kill Uncle' anyway.

Got it a few days ago. Not as good as a lot of people make it out to be, a few okay tracks, like 'Irish Blood, English Heart' and 'Come Back To Camden'. Not as bad as 'Viva Hate' was however. Think I'll put on of The Smiths albums, to stem the feeling of disappointment

Markela_F12 spouted:


Not as bad as 'Viva Hate' was however.



*splutters* Is that the same Viva Hate that not only contains Suedehead, Everyday is like Sunday, and Angel, Angel Down We Go Together, but also Morrissey's greatest EVER solo song, Late Night Maudlin Street??? A song that brings tears to my eyes even now.

You, sir, are clearly mad.