Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Bit cringey at times but fine.
Who knew that the quarry he was talking about would turn out to be foreign people
I had never heard it, but as with most Morrissey albums, I enjoyed it while knowing that there are probably lots of people who just hate it! Hahha!
interesting
Not really my style, but not horrible. I feel like it seems a bit Frank Sinatra + 90s alt. Does that make sense? I hear influences from both here.
Not a huge fan but it's not bad either
Listened to all of it. None stood out.
One of the better albums from Morrissey that I have listened to, not the usual monotonous " slash my wrist "music but Morrissey is so famous for
I was not expecting vocal flips from Morrissey. I kinda like it
A lot of this album is the musical equivalent of: "These days, mate, if you say you're English, right, these days, you'll get arrested and you'll be thrown in jail." Whilst I don't agree with the gammony world view it expresses, I do quite like this record. Alt rock with good pace and melody. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: The First Of The Gang To Die Date listened: 29/02/24
Not terrible, nothing special.
Morrissey being a pretentious dickhead definitely hurts a record that could have actually been really enjoyable. The music itself is quite strong, but the lyrics and concepts lack any nuance making it bland and downright annoying at times. All that being said I still enjoyed it more than I expected to.
I go back and forth with Morrissey. Sometimes I like him more than other time. Not a bad listen, but I'm not a fan (today). 3.5
Jesus Christ that first song made me want to rip off any part of my body that has senses
It's OK - but prefer the Smiths - can't see myself going back to it
Album Nr. 50 Im Vergleich zu den beiden vorherigen Alben, welche mir hier vorgeschlagen wurden, schon fast eine Wohltat. Aber leider noch immer Mittelmaß.
It's not bad. Not the Smiths mind but Moz would probably not want us to be compairing.
Some great lyrics but tunes really same
I like the sound. Wouldn't buy it but wouldn't mind listening again.
I liked this musically but lyrically it was hard to get around
Most of post-Smiths Morrissey is bad to mediocre, but this album is actually quite solid. It sounds pretty similar to britpop that was already waning at this point (Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Keane) but still sounded good.
Based on the lyrics of the opening song, America can talk to Morrissey now
A bit monotonous but perfect for an overcast California day.
Its not bad. But personally i just liked one song which made it through my filters :)
Morrissey is a strange beast. On one hand, I can recognize just how *pretentious* this guy is, so convinced of his own intelligence. On the other, he does get some solid jabs put with his standard sad-boy affect on here. That being said, I think this record suffers from too much: one thing I loved about The Smiths and previous Morrissey records is they didn't feel so... full? This one just has so many various instruments, it screams "late-period comeback" for any musician, a good point of this being "I Like You", which has the kitchen sink thrown in there. That all being said, it's... good. He just sucks. But we knew that. Favorite tracks: "First Of the Gang To Die", "I'm Not Sorry"
Morrissey is definitely not my cup of tea. Some decent lyrics, but the music kills me.
my second experience with solo morrissey, after listening to 'vauxhall and i' - and i can't say i am any more impressed with it than the first time. here, i find his lyrics are a bit more cringey, maybe not less biting than i've heard him write before, but certainly a lot more bold-faced. once again, even with how i feel about his lyrics, they are better than the music, which is down quite a few pegs from his smiths days (more of a glowing review of johnny marr than anything). so yeah, not very impressed with this. it was fine, but i can't say i would ever seek it out again.
Nice melodies and Morrisey's vocals are great, but I'm tired of his whinging. His personal views no longer accord with mine and the subject matter no longer chimes with me.
I really liked the music but even for Morrisey lyrically this is overwrought bullshit. It’s so over the top, even for one of the biggest cunts on earth, that it might actually for a parody of himself. I wanted to hate this album, but I didn’t. Goddamn Morrisey. It’s so lush and beautiful melodic. Lyrically ridiculous but so unique. 7.1/10
Better than I thought, as I find Morrissey to be very uneven. His usual sins (a nearly complete lack of lyricism) and virtues (a great melodic and attitudinal sense) are on display here, but show a little more depth and sophistication than some of his earlier work.
3.75
I wasn’t digging this album at first and thought it was going to be a struggle To get through, but it slowly won me over. I relistenned a second time and dug it more. The start was slow, but got much better at the end. I still prefer his work with the Smiths
As long as Albums by The Smiths are easily available, Morrissey’s solo work will be a footnote to me at best. First Otf The Gang To Die and How Can Anybody… are brilliant, but there’s too many slow songs and self indulgent lyrics to consider this a classic in my book.
Not bad, typical Morrissey. Could take it or leave it, to be honest.
Morrissey ohne Marr ist Mittelmaß
3,5. fín lög inn á milli. ekki hans besta en ekki slæmt.
Wel gezellig
I find this album to be a pretty mixed bag, as often it feel as though it thinks its doing something fantastical and breathtaking, and it really isn't, while other times it really is something special. That isn't even only the hits that get that reaction either, as some of the deeper cuts here are great, as well as the big tracks. However, truly puzzling is parts that Morrissey seems to think he can get away with, such as lesbian slurs, and poor "critiques" of the U.S. that make this album hard to care for at points. I think this album has a decent amount of potential, but at the end of the day, unlike many Morrissey releases, this doesn't feel special enough to listen to despite the singer's more than idiotic beliefs. If this is your only encounter with solo Morrissey so far, I would understand sticking with The Smiths, even if tracks like First of the Gang to Die are fantastic.
Kind of funny in a surreal way to hear Morrissey’s venomous lyrics set to more “contemporary” accompaniment. No way you have to listen to this before you die but there’s nice sounds here and there
I wasn't really in the mood for Morrissey today but I also think this is significantly weaker than most of his other albums I've heard. 5/10
I'm surprised at how palatable this was. Quite a few songs that I liked, although still would never put on the album by itself.
No thoughts. An album I listened to
Paar toffe tracks maar over het geheel niet zijn beste werk. Al kan ik zijn stem en muziek altijd prima hebben.
Beetje een zeuralbum.
Rating: 5.5/10 Decent album overall. Some songs were great, very catchy instrumentally with some clever lyrics by Morrissey. Some songs were very boring, however, the middle sections was not good. When it works though, this album works quite well. Favorite songs: America Is Not the World, How Can Anybody Know How I Possibly Feel?, First of the Gang To Die. Worst song: I Have Forgiven Jesus.
I preferred Viva Hate to this one. Irish Body, English Heart is really good. Album also ends well.
Again I'm tempted to slag this with a one star review just for the egregious over-representation of Morrisey on this list. But really to me it's just a solid 3: the music is pedestrian, he certainly has chops as a singer but lyrically I find it a little plodding and artless, and the songs with a "message" are typically self-important and preachy.
Top 5 worst album covers
It’s Morrissey being loquacious and a crooner. Some guitar work is interesting. I like the single Irish Blood English Heart, but it’s very short at two and half minutes! An alright album. Forever lacking Johnny Marr.
the smiths were very political so naturally this is too, doesnt always entertain but the first of the gang song is a banger
I will have to give Morrissey credit, he goes off on America on that first track, but it's not just "America sucks." I think he encapsulates how a lot of people feel about America in "America Is Not The World." So this is the FOURTH Morrissey album on the list? And it's no longer on the list, even. Saying that, this is significantly better than "Viva Hate," the last Morrissey album I reviewed. The instrumentation is "harder," the singing is not as whiny all of the time (there ARE moments, though (looking at you "Let Me Kiss You")). So I'd say it's the best Smiths / Morrissey album I've heard. But that is not saying a heck of a lot.
3 times in a few weeks is a lot but again decent songs albeit with a massive slice of gammon on. Irish Blood, English Heart has a lot of answering to do.
Cet album dresse le bilan émotif de ce qui a formé Morrissey. Les textes sont parfois un peu premier degré. Belles textures musicales
I love the Smiths and enjoy some of Morrissey’s solo work and this album is no different. It is overtly political (though his racist statements more recently casts much of what he says into doubt) taking on the Iraq war, the American military industrial complex, and his own Englishness and the legacy of colonialism that it holds. It is also dizzying self-pitying and self-aggrandizing at the same time in a way that completely separates him from the working class he champions in his lyrics. Musically, the album retreads familiar Morrissey melodic turns of phrase and incorporates elements of alternative rock and even some pop punk. It’s a strong album but is not necessarily doing anything new, especially in 2004.
I dig it for the passionate political lyrics, I’m not a huge fan of Morrisey’s voice.
Mostly kept my interest, there were some powerful parts and enjoyable for the most part. Nothing amazing but decent
Listened Before? N Oh Morrisey, you conceited piece of shit. It's such a shame that you're a giant asshole, because your voice and writing are great. Just FYI: your little tirade about America aged like milk. I hope someone adjusts your face soon, but I doubt they will since they haven't yet. Much like your America thing, I'm going to say "I love you" out the side of my mouth though. I will never spend a cent on your music or concerts, but he clearly has talents. Eat your heart out, you douchey edgelord. Four stars for content, Two stars for being a douche. Average - 3. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Irish Blood, English Heart
I can't believe I *liked* a Morrissey album. I had to shower afterwards. Disgusting human, laughably awful and indulgent lyrics, very good melodies and music.
Not bad, I liked it more than The Smiths albums I've listened to.
Eh
Morrissey! He's a pillock, but I love him. At the time I thought he'd given up making music, then this appears, or so it felt like at the time. Loved 'first of the gang to die', but don't remember the other singles apart from 'Irish Blood English Heart'. After listening to this in full, it's not up to The Smiths standard at all, and never will be. I agree with his sentiments on track 1, but not his execution. The rest of the album is ok, pleasant enough. Not his best by a long way, but good enough for a solid 3.
Good but I still don’t fully get why he has 7 records on this list (aside from The Queen is Dead, admittedly a gem). Maybe it’s because I was exposed to the Smiths/Morrissey relatively late in my life I do like Morrissey’s vocal performance throughout, however. Sounds more assured of the musical direction than in Your Arsenal, but also less musically diverse as a result. Ya win some you lose some HL: “Irish Blood English Heart”, “You Know I Couldn’t Last”, “…Crashing Bores” November 19th, 2023
It's a bit boring at moments but it has other which are highs in his career. Additional star for that fun and moving song "the first of the gang to die"
nothing memorable but i do like the vibe of it overall
The stupidest shit, but hey the music is fine
Not my favourite of Morrissey's albums, not by a long shot, but this was fine.
Ihan siistiä aika modernin kuullosta rockia. Levy ei kyllä olekkaan mikään kauheen vanha. The Smithsin laulajan soolohommaa. Ei mitään erityistä huippukohtaa, ihan tasahyvää kokoajan.
Surprisingly jaunty album with acerbic lyrics. Morrissey is too clever for his own good, too often, like Jeremy Corbyn who, if he were Morrissey, might produce something more folksy and less accessible than this.
Rock
Nice album, liked Morrissey's voice a lot, It's very emblematic, I have never paid much attention to the Smiths.
Nice tunes but the apex of "cheer up Morrissey" 3.2
He really just says the exact thing he thinks every time.
A Morrissey album. Bleh
It was alright. Wouldn't listen again.
Estilo característico del cantautor inglés. Escuchable, pero sin nada más. No me ha parecido muy destacable, aunque se puede escuchar sin problemas
Hyvä levy, monta kivaa biisiä. Toki oishan sitä nollarilta kiinnostavampaakin voinut löytää kuin taas vanhoja tuttuja rock-tähtiä.
At first, I was all "Oh great, it's Morrissey". The first couple of songs beat you over the head with proto-emo political tomfoolery, and the theme infuses the entire album, but once it evens out around halfway through, it's not terrible.
Oui correct encore comme album de Morissey. ca tourne toujours autour un peu du meme style son paroles. Donc on aime ou on aime pas mais moi en somme je trouve ca sonne bien. 3.5
I knew Morrisey had controversies surrounding him but didn't know details. Listened to the album first and liked it good enough. Then I read about the musician behind the art and just yiked constantly. such a shame.
At first I was like ugh Morrissey again? But then I actually didn’t hate it
Ekki besta platan hans, en ágæt þó.
A perfectly fine record made by the master cry-baby.
Not in my edition of the book. 2004. 3 stars. I was quite prepared to dislike this - I don't care for Morrissey's singing or his views - but its actually quite good. Decent tunes and some sharp lyrics, offset by the usual self pitying/self-loathing you expect from the miserable Mancunian racist.
Goes along nicely. Bit pretentious, but not unlistenably so.
I was only vaguely aware that Morrisey was still making music post Smiths and was surprised to find that he's actually been pumping out so much material. This album was very well produced and Morrisey's voice sounded great. The material itself was okay, not as musically interesting as earlier songs, but there were some good tracks and it was all nicely put together. I didn't hate on the lyrics as much as I thought I would; they were basic but nothing I wasn't expecting. I doubt I'll listen to this again, so I'm going to give it 3 stars, even though it felt like a strong 3, maybe a 3.4, not quite enough to push it up to a 4. I'm probably letting myself be swayed a little by the fact that Morrisey is a bit of a dick?
Not too bad: When I saw the album cover I just thought it was the most middle-aged, cheap 00s photoshop in the world. The level you see on 'best of' CDs. The album itself was nothing to write home about. Just Morrissey being him and singing with a guitar to back him. Nothing special or to come back to.
This man seems insufferable. The music was ok.
This is my 7th Morrissey album, and I feel like the rating I give always depends on what mood I'm in. But then again, right after this album, Spotify threw me a Smiths deep cut and I thought, "yeah they were much better then." As always, he has a nice emotional melancholic voice with widely personal lyrics, but I feel he gets even more and more egotistical. Like what the hell is with "The World is Full of Crashing Bores"? Get off your high horse, fucking hell. Based on how he behaves in real life, I genuinely think he truly believes he's better than every other songwriter. It's nice production. Very modern, atmospheric with cool electronic synths and a bare semblance to his 80s jangly upbringings. The harder riffs amplify his more emotional lines, but more often than not I find it's counterproductive to his style. The outro "You Know I Couldn't Last" is too over-produced, with the hard riffs clashing with the soft genuine vocals I think he's trying to go for. But at the same time, his vocals feel unnecessarily harsher to keep up with those riffs. The first few 3 tracks essentially show the extent of what he's capable of, with the most experimental sounds, but the rest of the album feels like it's trying to match that. And sometimes he does. But for the most part, it's not worth it. There are some really good tracks, and a lot of it is at least decent. But most of it is boring and repetitive. It's not very innovative or genuine, feeling rather commercial. For most of the deep cuts, I could hear a one-minute snippet and feel like I get the basic gist. For example, "Come Back to Camden" is just a complete bore except for his lovely falsetto near the end. Not worth the rest of it. I should emphasize by no means is this a bad album. None of the tracks scream cringe (beyond the lines where he's too full-of-himself). In fact, this is probably his best album post-1994. It's certainly consistent, produced well, and not overtly bloated. He's still got impressive vocals, and his lyrics are genuine and poetic. And as mentioned, some of his songs here are super good and match the hard style. For what he was trying to evolve into, this was his best shot. But I much prefer his earlier discography, and it's harder to find things I like that isn't just comparing to what he used to do. Favorites: Irish Blood English Heart, This World is Full of Crashing Bores, First of the Gang to Die, Let Me Kiss You
I don't know that I would have put You Are the Quarry on this list, but I also don't know that I would have expected Morrissey to put out an album this good 20 years into his career. Lyrically, Morrissey is scathing and acidic as ever when he wants to be, turning on a dime to reveal great vulnerability and pathos. He sounds excellent here, with anguished, self-loathing and torchy vocals that recall his best solo work from the late 80s/early 90s. The quality of individual songs might vary, but it's never not interesting. Fave Songs: Let Me Kiss You; Come Back to Camden; America Is Not the World; I Have Forgiven Jesus; Irish Blood, English Heart; The World Is Full of Crashing Bores
Nice, although most songs sound the same.
-i thought it was pretty good -think my favorite song is I Have Forgiven Jesus
I love the Smiths so much, and have a weird fascination toward Morrissey. I love some of his solo work, and this album is just okay to me. Having a decade now between me and my high school years where I was obsessed with everything the Smiths, I now see that Johnny Marr really made that band what it was. That being said, I love Morrissey’s voice and I love him as a lyricist. He never fails to make me laugh. “The World is Full of Crashing Bores” had me laughing pretty hard: “ Lamenting policewomen, policemen Silly women, taxmen, uniformed whores They who wish to hurt you Work within the law This world is full, So full of crashing bores And I must be one 'Cause no one ever turns to me to say ‘Take me in your arms Take me in your arms And love me’” God I love him. But also totally understand why he is such a polarizing person. You are the Quarry was a fun listen, but at times felt like divorced dad rock. I also love the album cover. Likes: Irish Blood, English Heart Come Back to Camden I’m Not Sorry The World is Full of Crashing Bores First of the Gang to Die
Hmmmmm…I like The Smiths and I like Morrisey but this album just passed me by….one great tune does not an album maketh! Poor compared to what I was expecting. But as with all music, one mans milk is another mans poison. Don’t start on this if you’re like “hmmmmm Smiths and Morrisey” 3 stars.
Schönes Britpop Album. Gleichwohl auch ein paar Lieder, die ich erstmal als "Füller" bezeichnen würde. Andererseits, zwei echt geile Lieder. *He was the first of the gang...*
frustratingly not that bad to listen to. if only he wasn't such a bell end. like a huge bell end. I've got some decent memories of this album due to being about the time i went to all the festivals and he was also at a lot of them probably crying about burgers.
Probably the last of his great albums before he outed himself as the rock n' roll Nigel Farage. These days big mouth strikes again and again and again and heaven knows I'm miserable now.
same morrissey vibe as ever: the great songs are *great* and the non-great songs are....not great.
oh Morrissey
Nice
Kind of done with Morrissey at this point. But it's okay.
Decent. Not his best work but decent
2.8
I didn't know any of the songs on this album. I though the first two songs were kinda interesting. I do like the sound of Morrisey's voice.
Good album but not something I would come back to regularly. Sounds feel very iconoc though. I feel it would fit great into nostalgic movies or series.
Not bad but nowhere near his early stuff. Interesting first song.
Pretty OK.
Musically interesting, but lyrically too hamfisted.
Fine music, I like his voice, cadence, etc fine enough. Just not my style lyrically. Too eccentric yet...blunt?
I dunno what to expect from a Morrissey solo album. Kinda keen? First song name is funny but I'm already bored of the entry level America criticism stuff. See how the rest goes. Second song is really cool. Lyrics are annoying when I listen to them, music and vocal melodies are good if I don't hear the words. Album cover is pure arrogance. Got old towards the end - every song sounded the same and had the same "ooh look at me I'm an edgelord" attitude. Still, 3/5.
Very on the nose but wouldn’t expect anything less from Morrissey.
These lyrics are hot garbage. But God help me the music is solid and I like Morriseys voice (though I despise him as a person).
Didn’t know this guy had a solo career. The sophistication of the smiths is in stark contrast to these songs. Lyrics are bad, composition is mediocre, vocals are basic and flat and whiney. Also, cringe album art.
This kinda sucks? The lyrics feel written by a 14 year old who just discovered politics. It's bad, overtly obviously with no nuance. It's crazy how I gave an album by The Smiths 5/5 and this one is absolutely bothering me. I don't know if the music from The Smiths was drowning out the lyrics enough that it made it better.
I approach all these reviews separating the music from the artist, but this album is so pretentious and self-focused, its difficult to listen without it being Morrisey the person, which is not a pleasant experience. The First of the Gang to Die is a decent tune, the rest is not.
Annoying lyrics. How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel stood out as him being a dick. I don't get how this is anyone's favorite artist. 2/5
You can take only so much of his whiney, woeful coco.
Jojo, det va fint og greit og alt det der (æ hørte ikke på tekstan), men det e nokka med å vite ka slags menneske Morrissey e som gjør at alt forsvinn litt i lyttinga. (Æ va usikker på om æ kanskje bare ikke skulle høre på den her, men så blei det nu likevel.)
I set the bar really low for Morrissey and he still stumbled to get over it here....
Morrissey annoys me in general. I've never understood the appeal of The Smiths or the man himself. This album is O.K. but it's also the longest 47 minutes of my life and I still have 2 tracks to go. Save Me. 2.5 rounded down for a generous 2 stars, mostly because I know when I have to suffer through some of the other albums by him on this list it's going to get a lot worse
хз ну морисей и морисей песни не цепляют переслушивать не стану 2.7
“He said he wants to befriend me, which means he can’t possibly know me” At least he was self aware
uuuuuuuugh i just need to get through one more album from this prick, thankfully America Is Not the World - 1/5 Irish Blood, English Heart - 3/5 I Have Forgiven Jesus - 3/5 Come Back to Camden - 2/5 I'm Not Sorry - 3/5 The World Is Full of Crashing Bores - 2/5 How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? - 4/5 First of the Gang to Die - 2/5 Let Me Kiss You - 2/5 All the Lazy Dykes - 3/5 I Like You - 3/5 You Know I Couldn't Last - 4/5 Average score: 2.6/5 ⭐️⭐️ my least fav of his solo work i've heard so far. very little redeeming tracks in comparison to Your Arsenal I Cannot Fucking Wait Til Morrissey Dies
Preachy lyrics damn
we didn't need this yawning mississey album. the songs behind it aren't even good
I'M FINALLY DONE WITH MORRISSEY ALBUMS (not the Smiths), I CAN BLOCK HIM ON SPOTIFY. This album is a pretentious mess with, honestly, not great lyrics. I'm sick of his voice, and it gives me the serious ick. I'm hoping that one particular JPEGMafia song title happens sooner than later...
America Is Not The World - 3/5 Irish Blood, English Heart - 3/5 I Have Forgiven Jesus - 3.5/5 Come Back To Camden - 2.5/5 I'm Not Sorry - 2.5/5 The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores - 2/5 How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel - 2.5/5 The First Of The Gang To Die - 3/5 Let Me Kiss You - 3/5 All The Lazy - 1/5 I Like You - 2/5 You Know I Couldn't Last - 2/5
I thought America Is Not The World was fine, and then after that this just became super whiny as all hell. Somewhere around How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? I looked at the album and tried to figure out what I was listening to. I feel like Morrissey thinks he's really deep, but this is super surface level at best. First of the Gang to Die was maybe the only song I enjoyed.
I was on the fence about Americans, but the hamburger lines really changed my perspective
The music is alright but I have never liked the Morrissey delivery.
I'm trying to be more positive in life. I am positive Morrissey is in the top 10 cunts of history. If I close my eyes and tune out the vocals, the album isn't terrible.
I struggled to give this my full time and energy, knowing it would require a true exercise in separating the art from the artist, especially with this being Morrissey’s first solo work I’ve heard. I just couldn’t get into this. It’s not poorly executed lyrically or musically at all. Morrissey is his poetic self on here, without a doubt. I just had a lack of personal interest, today, in what he had to say, which were mostly fair and sharp criticisms from a man worthy of just as much himself. Time to move on from this one. 1 listen
There was no subtlety at all with these lyrics, they just felt really try hard to me. The music was okay but the "america is stupid" over and over was jarring, and I'm usually not one to pay much attention to lyrics.
Old man yodeling "get off my lawn!"
It sounded a little more upbeat, but it is still hard to get past his voice, the lyrics and how he delivers them. I'll just have to accept that I'm never going to be a fan of his music. 2.5/5 Won't listen again
Morrissey sucks, and this self-important album where he bitches about all the things that annoy him from his high horse would've been all right, maybe a 3.3 if it wasn't Morrissey singing and wasn't so pretentious. 2 for the melodies and the sound of the vocals if not the content.
I didn't care for the Smiths album I listened to, so what are the chances that I'm going to like a solo Morrissey album? Okay, just finished it. Musically I enjoyed this a bit more than the Smiths album. Lyrically I'm still not impressed. There are a few decent songs when Morrissey quits whining about how nobody understands him. But about half of his lyrics are just insufferable. I honestly don't understand all the fuss over this guy. The general consensus seems to be that he's some kind of musical and lyrical genius, but people get tripped up by his problematic political views. Did you have to hear him in the eighties to feel this way? Because coming at him for the first time in 2026 I find his music to be pretty uninteresting and his lyrics not particularly clever. I guess the plus of it is that I don't have to struggle over whether or not it's "okay" to listen to him.
Imagine picking this over The Smiths first album. That's the real quarry
over hyped average singer who built his reputation on a great guitar player. change the first word of the first song to Morrissey and you get where I'm sitting on this one. I loved the smiths but think yer man has a bit of a Bono complex
Desperately mediocre. I have no idea why anybody thinks it belongs on this list, unless it's to serve as a bad example. The music tries its best but it mostly not very inspiring. Only The First Of The Gang To Die is any good.
That flute solo in I'm Not Sorry was good! Other than that this album is mostly boring and pretentious. Definitely a 2 star album and I'm pretty over Morrissey by now. Paraphrasing a track from this album here for my review: I've had my ears dragged in 12 tracks of shit, and I do not, and I do not, and I do not like it.
The whine and mope morrissey can produce is truly a great accompaniment to his horrendous song writing, they go hand in hand. Truly, I find the lyrics unlistenable and the musical backing has not a fighting chance to reclaim any sort of dignity
Just not a fan of his voice or style.
Kind of boring, but not quite as terrible as I expected. Merely falls into the "whatever" category. As a matter of fact, it's so bland and uninteresting that I don't have much to say about it. Lyrics were either childish or cringey. A couple of almost good musical moments... but most of the songs just faded into oblivion the minute I finished the album. 3/10
Thet texts are nice, and sometimes obsolete ;-p "America(...) where the President is never black, female or gay", but who would bother to listen?
Argh… again. A few pretty solid melodies and almost actual riffs here and there, surprisingly leaning more into rock for a comeback album. The voice is less instantly recognizable too, Morrissey sounds a bit less The Smiths this time. “Irish Blood…”, “The World Is Full Of…”, “How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?” (the most dramatic and emotionally effective one), or “You Know I Couldn’t Last” are genuinely inspired moments, but not enough to make the album really stick. Very average and generic one for me, still …better than most Brit pop.
I was so ready to just absolutely dread this album. I'd heard about Morrissey and I thought he was some crazed alt-right nutjob. And I was kiiinda right. But to be honest, I did some reading before listening to this album, and a lot of the quotes I read were very tame. Sometimes he's deliberately obtuse or contrarian, but the vibe I got from him wasn't "crazy Trumpie uncle." It was more "that one kid in my class in high school that said really stupid shit but it made sense to him and he was genuinely confused as to why everyone was laughing at him." Looking at you, Max. So that's not why I disliked You Are The Quarry. It was mostly because, well, the songs just aren't good. They should've been! All of the instrumentals here are well-produced, they're pretty, they're rockin' and they just sound good. I liked them. I did not like Morrissey's lyrics at all. His voice is fine, but for every single song, it sounds like he wrote the lyrics without ever hearing the accompaniment, and then forced himself to apply his lyrics to the song unchanged. They just don't mesh whatsoever. It sounds very awkward, especially when Morrissey is singing the least subtle lyrics known to man. And oh my god, why won't be shut up about how single he is? Every other song, he's complaining about how unloved or unloveable he is. Maybe if he stops bitching about it, he'll find someone. He even blames Jesus for it in track 3. He seems to blame everyone except himself. What a loser. I really didn't like it, but at least the instrumentals were serviceable. I'm giving it 2 stars because I know it can get worse.
It's ok. It's Morrisey and it's the 4th solo album I've had by him on here? Massive over representation. So marks down for that and it's not his strongest era.
As an American, I’m all for shitting on America, but you have to do it better than rhyming hamburger with hamburger. And really, another Morrissey album?
I don't want to listen to Morrissey anymore. I'm not quick to label music pretentious but the irony of a Brit telling another country to stay where they belong was quite the kick-off. Morrissey continues to whine over uninteresting backing tracks through the entirety of the album. There are a couple of decent tracks here but even the less pretentious songs aren't special in any way.
It was alright but definitely below a 3 nothing really grabbed me.
Separate the art from the artist. C’mon, you can do this! Separate the art from the artist. Ok I think I’m in the zone…. I remember hearing Irish Blood, English Heart on the radio and thinking it kicked ass. I managed to quickly get over that feeling and return to our prior arrangement. You see, for a long time now, Morrissey and I have not got along. Wait… separate goddammit! I was a little concerned that if the full album was as good as that single, I may have found myself drawn back in despite the unpleasantness…you see, some things were said and…. Stop it! Art only! Just pretend it’s a different artist maybe? OK? OK. Fortunately the rest of the album was well below par. Like so much of what he has done solo, there was blandness where there should be vitality. Back when we got on, there was no blandness it was all unpredictable and funny and….I really am going to have to stop now. There is one Morrissey solo album I will struggle not to score poorly, but this is not it. There was 2 or 3 other songs on this album that had that a little of the vibrancy of its lead single, but the rest sounded like b-sides. And so much whinging! Wait, he used to have excellent b-sides. So, not those ones but the other shit ones, or the shit a-sides from the late 90s. Summary, the album is poor and I am relieved about that.
Best Song: Irish Blood, English Heart. There's a discernible rock energy here, and the play around this dual-national identity is at least somewhat compelling, if not characteristically childishly handled by Morrissey. Worst Song: America Is Not The World. If there was ever an indication that Morrissey thinks far too strongly of himself, starting the album with this dopey little letter directed at the concept of America itself might be it (and if it doesn't, maybe its when he elects to "forgive Jesus" only two songs later). It's also maddening some of the criticisms he levies at this odd vision of America, especially when many of the criticisms applied (in 2004) nearly as much to England as they did to America. He was upset that America had never had a black, female, or gay president? I'm not even American and I found this obnoxious. Oh and in the next lyric he rhymes the lyric "hamburger" with "hamburger". Goddamnit this guy sucks. Overall: Maybe Morrissey had totally lost the plot by this point in his career but Christ these lyrics are awful. Half the time they sound like the comment section of a Daily Mail article read aloud, but they're delivered with this smug, finger-snapping manner as though he thinks he's really just done something. There's no hint of subtlety or grace, it's just ordinary things bluntly said. "He stole from the rich and the poor and the not very rich and the very poor". Shakespeare.
Fine a few songs test not memorable in the least 2.5
Quintessential whining Moz. Everything I dislike about him summed up in one album!
It's definitely not my favorite from Morrissey.
im gonna kms if i get another album from his (joking ofc) i just dont understand what it is abt this guy that ppl love his music so much. to me its just so nasally and annoying. I hate his songwriting, its either super on the nose and preachy or just uninteresting. i cant stand it
Morrissey has all the tools to be a very good artist. The music, the vocals, the vibes they’re all there. I think what falls flat is the lyricism and writing. It’s just so meh.
Ich mag sein Gesang nicht. Ich mag die Lyrics überhaupt nicht. An sich sind manche songs eigentlich ganz gut produziert aber es ist nichts besonderes, und es fühlt sich einfach Bedeutungslos an.
This is where music gets tricky. Sometimes it is impossible to separate the music from the musician and as a consequence you can no longer listen to the music. There are a variety of reasons where things happening in a musician’s personal life can turn you off of there music. They don’t all have to be pedophiles, groomers, sexual abusers or all of them combined. As you read that last sentence I’m pretty sure you can name an example in each category. I’ll help you with the last category: Ian Watkins of Lostprophets. So what about Morrissey who has been a douche bag from the very beginning? Is it possible to separate his politics and behavior from the music? I could during Morrissey’s run with the Smiths. I knew he was an ass but it was tempered by Johnny Marr and the quality of the songs. On his own, the songs are just arrogance e.g I Habe Forgiven Jesus, combines with self-importance e.g. Irish Blood, English Heart. This is not to say that Morrissey can’t turn a phrase or that his singing has diminished. Neither of these skills has diminished. His singing is still interesting and engaging and the odd lyric is still catchy and poignant. The problem with most of these songs is that the arrogance and self-importance present in each of these songs diminish their quality and in short it comes off as a full length album of whining. So back to my first thought. I really cannot separate the music from the musician. And while I recognize my bias, I’m pretty sure at this point that a number of people think Morrissey is an ass, and feel the same about his music. It’s not the Smiths and it’s obvious. 2/5
Really? Another Morrissey album? Less than a month after the last one. Ugh.
ridiculous album by a ridiculous man
Once again, Morrissey makes an ok album. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t listen again. Also, some of the songs on here are edgelord-y. Jesus I forgive you? Just comes off as try-hard, like look how shocking I can be. And the America song, while not baseless, was as subtle as a brick to the back.
I've always wanted to dislike Morrissey; and now I've finally gotten the chance!
Sounds nice in the background, but bizarre lyrics
wtf is this?
not nearly nonchalant enough
Removed Album #29 (List: https://pastebin.com/cSThNiK9) Nice! Morrissey. It's been about 360 albums since I listened to Meat Is Murder, after which I've been left cold waiting for my second album in the Smithsiverse. I've seen this album cover while flicking through my scan of the book. I quite like it. I'm a big fan of the Morrissey physiognomy. His foolhardy look complements this style of music pretty well. I'm hoping that I'll like this album, but the late-career picks on this list have generally been pretty weak. Here goes. I did not like this album. Bummmeeeerrrrrrr. I'm vaguely familiar with this style of music, though I'm not sure what I'd pin it as. Alt./indie/pop rock apparently, though a lot of early-2000s UK pop rock has this distinctively kitschy, tacky, sentimental sound. It sounds pretty shit. There's no bite to the guitars, and the same can be said about the feckless backing instrumentation. I'm not normally a stickler for lyrics, but the ones in here are really shit. Vain, self-aggrandising and full of empty moral posturing. All things I could excuse if the songwriting was good, but there isn't a single gripping vocal hook on this album. I did say I liked Morrissey's appearance, but not enough to watch him wank himself off in the corner for 47 minutes. Thirty minutes is plenty enough for me, thank you. Time to figure out why this album was removed. Let's see. Included in the original 1001 lineup and pulled from either the 2013 or 2016 editions of the book (I don't have a scan of 2013). Wow - it lasted a lot longer than I was expecting. The entry for this album says the music is critical of shallow people. "...the pompadour sprouts from a receding hairline, but this collection of guitar anthems and ballads proves that Morrissey has not lost any of his trademark pathos and sardonic humor." Recorded after Morrissey moved to America, which I guess explains that title track, huh? "You Are The Quarry" was hailed by critics and earned Morrissey a legion of new fans. Don't call it a comeback. Just call it his best album in years." Wikipedia verifies that this album was a commercial resurgence, reaching number two on the UK charts and having all four of its singles breach the top ten singles chart. The critical response is a little shaky, but generally affable. Why was this album removed? I think it's pretty obvious. Morrissey is grossly over-represented on the list. I get that he's influential within British indie music, but come on. Huge emphasis on "British" and "indie" here. His seven list albums put him in line with The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Brian Eno, which he just doesn't measure up to. On my ideal list, Morrissey's inclusions would come down to three Smiths albums and one solo album. Fortunately, this isn't my list and I'm content to listen to seven Morrissey albums, so I guess I cosign this inclusion.
First time listen Morrissey's stuck-up-his-own-assedness is on full display here. Songs like "America Is Note The World" and "I Have Forgiven Jesus" are so pretentiously written that they wrap around to being comical. They have the subtlety of a baseball bat to the face. I can usually handle his smarmy sarcastic lyricism except for the fact that instrumentally a lot of this album is totally boring and lacking the catchy jangle pop sound that complimented his lyricism with The Smiths. I think it picks up more in the back half, but even most of that stuff isn't particularly evocative. Favorite Tracks: The First Of The Gang To Die, All The Lazy Dykes, How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? Least favorite: America Is Not The World, I Have Forgiven Jesus 2.5/5
What a wanker! A sad decline from the genius of The Smiths output.
Obama was president. Checkmate morrissey
I said "shut up Morrissey" so many times during this listen that I'm sure he's been hearing it from his friends his entire life. America is not the World is pretty funny but everything else is just word salad that sounds deep. The most musically insufferable guy in your friend group makes fun of you for not "getting it" but its just Fart Huffing: The Album.
There are a handful of good songs on here but more misses. This clearly shows how vital the rest of the band was The Smiths. The instrumentals weren’t super interesting and the lyrics were hit and miss. 4/10
Lame. Uninventive songs with at times some pretty awkward and weak lyrics arranged essentially the same, over and over production. Kind of liked First of the Gang to Die, but otherwise why suffer the insufferable (unless the deep artistic point)?
The angst that sounded plaintive and edgy in the younger Morrissey does not wear well here. Or maybe it’s just the songs that aren’t as good.
I like a lot of different music but Morrissey is exhausting. He’s got “Guy from show choir” vibes. Every song has the same amount of lackluster vocals.
It's not great really. I used to like this record around it's release time. I don't think I can help but be influenced by what we've come to learn about Morrisey's character (I try to separate art from artist but it gets tricky when the lyrics are so self indulgent). The production choices are kind of of-their-time and it feels slightly dated now. First of the gang to die and come back to Camden are brilliant but there's much too much beige self indulgence here for me now
This list overvalues “insightful” lyrics. There is a lot more to music! I think this album is a little trite from Morrissey in 2004 but is fine I guess. Point deducted for too much from him
Don't like him very much
Angsty af. The backing music was pretty interesting but the performances felt more smash poetry rather than real music.
Ok
You don’t have to listen to this before you die anymore because it’s the same old sad, lonely dirge that Morrissey always dredges up.
Some of these lyrics are a bit rich now as Morrissey morphs into everything he was stood against. What a loathsome prick. That aside, this is a adequate album. At times it slaps, at other times it sounds like a parody of better Smiths albums.
It’s really hard to be a smiths fan and have to contend with Morrissey’s solo work let alone his abhorrent personality! This was a tough one. Even the singles, which I’m vaguely familiar with, aren’t great. Like I bet ‘Irish blood, English Heart’ pops off in a stadium or festival setting but why is it so short?? I wasn’t mad at ‘You know I couldn’t last’ but in general this was not my cup of tea and I don’t see how this is something anyone needs to hear.
This is so painfully on the nose I can't handle it.
Really nothing that I enjoyed.
Well, pretty much the same review as the last album. He does have a nice voice.
The crooning delivery here doesn't carry the themes as well as the harder sounds of the Smiths. And some of the songs are whinging about British experiences that don't provide as much to a non-Brit lacking the context. Appreciated his America song though.
I don’t get his whole deal, it’s kind of cringe and off-putting.
Utterly ridiculous how many mediocre Morrissey albums are on this list with all of the other great artists and albums missing. This is whiney pap that is just more of the same no matter how it is dressed musically.
It's funny that I love anything Peter Murphy does but generally turn my nose up to anything Morrissey puts out (solo-wise). This wasn't any different. A couple of catchy tunes but his lyrics and drippy arrogant voice just doesn't do it for me
So it’s not the worst thing ever. But this really just feels like a sadder and less interesting album of The Smiths. I personally don’t mind Morrissey’s vocals, though I know many despise them. A few tracks were alright and a bit catchy but really a lot of this was so plain and unmemorable. There isn’t anything new or interesting going on.
The Album Is Full of Crashing Bores
4/10 not my vibe
1.833
You are the Quarry I know English Blood, Irish Heart and that it is an excellent track, but I was expecting to feel similarly about this album as I did Vauxhall and I, in that I can’t shake the feeling of disconnect between Morrissey and his words with the rather generic music. While I still feel that way about this and the propensity for relatively staid mid tempo guitar rock, I didn’t feel it quite as strongly on this album, America is not the World has a great slinking bassline, Irish Blood, English Heart is great, I’m Not Sorry has a lovely feel to it and First of the Gang to Die has a great brightness to it, and there are some nice glam touches here and there. But it still has a tang of plodding mundanity to it musically. Irish Blood, English Heart and First of the Gang to Die are probably the best songs lyrically, with humour and a sense of drama, and while some other lyrics feel a little out of date (I imagine the anti-American sentiment of the opening track is no longer applicable to his current worldview), there seems to be A LOT more moaning than Vauxhall and I. You can’t help thinking the reason that he’s got no one to love him in I Have Forgiven Jesus is that he’s not actually that likeable, and things like The World is Full of Crashing Bores and How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel re-enforce that tiresomeness lack of self awareness. Although he has always had that strain running through his lyrics, in the Smiths he was a little more oblique and imaginative, using humour and irony, whereas on here it feels more like straightforward and lumpen whining. I probably liked it more than Vauxhall and I, but equally I’m not really enthused by it. It’s been an interesting listen, but really I can’t imagine that I’ll listen again, so I’ll go 2. 🪨🪨 Playlist submission: First of the Gang to Die
I know Morrissey can be extremely insufferable and unlikable as his brand, but now we’re on a third album from him within a month and I just can’t. This project must want me to slit my wrists. I won’t do that out of sheer spite to the person who put this often times ridiculous list together. The inclusion of this album is COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. It’s fine for his fans but I don’t need any more over the top, mopey bullshit from him. Two album limit for ALL artists!! 2/5
Boring lazy sloppy
God I fucking hate this dick
For a rock album, Morrissey is pretty boring.
I disliked the 1st half very much . 2nd had was better . 2.5
It isn't God awful. But as talented a vocalist as Morrisey might be his pompous and cunty attitude surrounding himself and his music definitely can sour an individual's take. Anyway. Musically at times this album sounds fresh and unique. Lyrically at times it sounds brilliant. But then a song like "All the Lazy Dykes" comes on and I can't take him seriously. Virtually no relistenability. But a few songs stuck out that I might come back to for sure.
I like a lot of the music but the voice sends me into the bad side. Nothing you can do about it when that happens.
Morrissey pays tribute to the generation he inspired by ripping off their music in a one man broadway show where he complains about politics. Turns out listening to Morrisey mope around when the songwriting isn’t fantastic gets pretty grating especially when it’s TWELVE SONGS. Makes me want to listen to the smiths instead.
I had never listened to a Morrissey album before today, but pretentious hipsters seem to talk about the Smiths as if they're somehow even more influential than the Beatles, so I was interested to finally dip my toes into that world with You Are the Quarry. Unfortunately, this may have been the worst possible entry point for me – not only is it his lowest-rated Book Album, but it's also his newest. Not to say that having the context of the other six Smiths/Morrissey albums would have made this one sound like a masterpiece, but it probably wouldn't have hurt either! Musically, YATQ is fine. Morrissey doesn't have a completely unpleasant voice and his backing band is pretty consistent. The only problem on that front is that all the songs sound like 10-20 years older than they actually are – I completely forgot that I wasn't listening to an '80s album until "I'm Not Sorry" came on and prompted me to check the year. The bigger issue I had with this LP was that the lyrics are pretty insufferable. I know Morrissey is something of a controversial figure, but it's crazy how self-absorbed he comes across, even while he seems to have about as much poetic prowess as a preteen's diary. From the album's opening moments, you just know there's going to be no room for subtlety or interpretation on most of these tracks. Morrissey rhyming "hamburger" with "hamburger" on the very first track is kind of an omen for the entire project – it's shallow, straightforward poetry dressed up as high art. Lyrics aside, there are enough decent cuts on You Are the Quarry for Morrissey to avoid the one star club for now. Probably never gonna listen to this one again (including the ones I actually liked) though, if I'm being honest. Here's hoping that things only get better from here! Highlights: Irish Blood English Heart, First of the Gang to Die, All the Lazy Dykes
Well that was bland and self-indulgent. I tolerated it. I've begun reserving one-star ratings for albums that actively offend me and this isn't quite that bad.
Just did not like this. Something about its vibe annoyed me and I couldn't wait for the album to be over.
his lyrics tell a story in no uncertain terms and his voice is unique, but it is just not enough to make an album stand out
Morrissey 2004? yeah ok 2
There aren’t too many performers like Morrissey. And for that, I am grateful!
This is an exhausting album. The lyrics feel lazy, his voice wears you down, and somehow it came out in 2004 while sounding like it wandered straight out of 1988. Why?
I remember when this came out and everyone said that “Morrissey is Back Baby!” I don’t know if I agree with that assessment - pretty sure he peaked around The Queen is Dead. Anywho - this is really a relic of circa 2004 with politics that I’m pretty sure present day Morrissey would object to. What a prat.
Why this Moz album? Did it make waves other than being one of his solo albums? I'd like to know why this album is in the list, it feels very much like middle aged jagged british with irish ancestry angry album, with the world and himself. It's not one I will be returning to. Irish Blood, English Heart was in Fifa 2005 and was the first track I heard by Moz solo, not the track I think of when you ask me about that soundtrack. I prefer his work with the Smiths. 2/5
Pretty boring IMO.
Not my favorite- I always find Morrissey to be a little whiney for my tastes, and this album lacked the raw emotion from some of his earlier works. Overall- okay, but not for me
Less good than the others. Still good. The First of the Gang to Die was the best. 2.5/5
It's hard to not give this one star because of Morrissey cause you know Morrissey. As an American I do take umbrage with the first song. I do realize that this album came out in 2004 and so it was mostly about Bush, but as this European asshole lists off all the terrible things that America has done I can only think of that Drugs Are Bad commercial from the 80's where the dad is mad at the kid for doing drugs, and the kid is all "I learned it from watching you". Where does he think America learned all it's imperialist shit from, the OG imperialists and genociders (The United Kingdom). So sit the fuck down for a bit Mr. Morrissey. Also sit the fuck down about not having a female, gay, or minority president. The first prime minister of England was Cunt in Chief Margaret Thatcher and who could forget Liz Truss. We have our issues but at least we don't live in a fucking monarchy (as of 01/07/2026). The rest of the album is your typical Morrissey bullshit of navel gazing and just being bad and whining about how much people don't like him or cannot love him or blah blah blah blah blah. If I had as much money as Morrissey I would spend a good portion on therapy and also you're a fucking millionaire so life cannot be that bad that you need to write "How can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?" I don't know Mr. Morrissey how can anyone possibly know what it is like to be a fucking asshole millionaire who needs therapy. In 1984 he called Robert Smith a "Whingebag" this entire album is nothing but a 60 year old racist hate filled man whingeing about. Please you sad fuck do the honorable thing and take a knife to those wrists. 2 Stars.
Pretentious, preachy lyrics. Try-hard edginess. Boring, repetitive music.
You just have to roll your eyes.
God I hate this man. Love the Smiths but this was something else. A solo career did not suit him despite his vocals being arguably one of his most iconic elements. The album opens terribly and the lyrics read like a 2020 discord conversation, yet somehow worse. Frankly, the lyrics are an empty shell of a message reinforced by his own track record of racist and anti-immigration views. Obnoxiously English is how I would put it. He picks up the ball a little towards the latter half of the album, not my favourite project he's been involved with, but notably I genuinely enjoyed 'I Like You'. I'd give it a solid 1.5, ultimately the majority of the songs were skippable or unenjoyable due to the lyricism. It's fine. Top Picks: How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? First of the Gang to Die I Like You
Despite his faults as a being, I do enjoy his voice. However, as a solo artists, the lyrics are too direct and the backing is boring. Sometimes nice harmony, but lacking in rhythm and instrumentation.
what JPEGMAFIA said but also i did like a few songs. fml
Bit meh TBH.
Boy, Morrissey sure sounds like Morrissey, doesn't he? All of his songs seem to fall into one (or more) of five categories: * I Hate Myself and Everyone Else * I Hate England and Everywhere Else * I Hate Religion and Politics and Celebrities * You Can't Possibly Understand How Difficult My Life Is * Why Doesn't Anyone Like Me? "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores" sounds like P.G. Wodehouse wrote a pop song. And who else would have the ego to write a song called "I Have Forgiven Jesus"? Morrissey writes good lyrics and performs them well, with a solid band and excellent production behind him, and "America Is Not the World" is still depressingly relevant 20 years after its recording. But he's a massively self-indulgent tortured poet of a man, and apparently rather a racist too, so I don't feel bad for missing out on this for as long as I have.
Depressing, even by that cunt Morrissey’s standards. 2.5⭐️
Morissey, You Are The Hack that Should Have Given Up in the 80s
A lot of pretentious twaddle.
Didn't expect a forgettable Morrissey album....
An impression of Morrissey on November 4, 2008: “Shit!” Why is this album on the list?
Despite my feelings about the guy, I usually do enjoy the music that Morrissey puts out. That being said I was pretty surprised (and a bit happy) to find I didn’t like this one. Not a fan of the production or the songs. There’s some decent stuff here and there, but compared to his other works, it doesn’t hold up as well.
Most pretentious album ive ever heard
So I feel very strongly that what made The Smiths as good as they were was the music, not the vocals, and this record reinforces that opinion. Plus he's turned out to be kind of politically terrible, which I can't help but be influenced by. So yeah, obviously not a big fan here. However, despite all the negativity in the previous paragraph, this really wasn't as irritating as I feared it might be. So, 2/5.
Vi har allerede hatt to Smiths-album og en Morrissey-skive, og det jeg har skrevet så langt, må få meg til å se ut som verdens største Morrissey apologist. Nå kan det se ut som om begeret er nådd. Every man has his breaking point. Det er en litt merkelig skive. Allerede fra første note, kan man høre at Morrissey ønsker å gjøre noe nytt -- i hvert fall noe som er nytt for ham. Men trommemaskinen og synthen som åpner America Is Not the World blir veldig cringe, skaper litt sånn "hello, fellow kids" vibe -- og det kler ham ikke i det hele tatt. Så det er vel nesten litt ironisk at de eneste delene av låta som egentlig funker, er de partiene som høres mest ut som the Smiths. Og hva gjelder sangtexten, blir den plassert rett i center, slik at det er vanskelig å ignorere det som er en ganske traust tirade av uorignale observasjoner. Det jeg skrev om første låta, passer for de fleste låtene på skiva, bare at på Irish Blood, English Heart låner han fra amerikansk pop punk; på Come Back to Camden låner fra 80s ballader; og på I'm Not Sorry (nei, du er vel ikke det!) dypper han pluselig tærne i trip hop. Sistnevnte funker neste litt for meg. First of the Gang to Die er en god singel da, men den kom vel ti år for sent til å høres fresh ut...? Jeg synes skiva funker noe bedre i andre halvdel, men den lider av å være dårlig produsert og ha svake låter. Morrissey bruker sjeldent stemmen sin på en interessant måte, og sammen med de mer politisk ladde & direkte textene, viser han ikke akkurat sin beste side her. TL;DR: skiva er bra når den høres ut som the Smiths, og ikke så bra når den høres ut som alt mulig annet. Den høres for det meste ut som alt mulig annet. At Morrissey har flere album på lista enn the Smiths (for ikke å snakke om band og artister som er underrepresentert!) virker rimelig suspekt.
Jeg har prøvd å skjønne hvorfor denne plata er med i lista, og det er nok fordi det var regnet som et comebackalbum for Morrissey. Ja, også tror jeg gjengen bak boka overvurderer viktigheten av Morrisseys solokarriere, siden han har flere album med i lista enn The Smiths. Albumet har noen ålreite låter, men syns ikke det har tålt tidens tann. Det er litt nostalgirunk, særlig rundt Beatles, som jeg jo også kritiserte Elliott Smith for også. Men Morrissey har prøvd å ta det inn i en litt mer moderne kontekst, men på en negativ måte. På "I Have Forgiven Jesus" feks høres det ut som det er trommemaskin, men jeg tror det er ekte trommer. "I Like You" er jeg mer usikker, blir flau av å høre på den i alle fall. Albumet surrer og går i nesten 50 min, og det låter så flatt. Tror den eneste låta jeg liker er "First of the Gang to Die" fordi den er litt catchy.
Dette albumet gjorde meg litt irritert, men aller mest skuffa. Og jeg hadde ikke store forhåpninger til å begynne med. Jeg liker faktisk veldig mye her veldig godt. Jeg syns låtene stort sett er gode, og jeg elsker tekstene. Man hører også at han har et knallgodt band bak seg som vet hvordan man spiller. Som sagt, så digger jeg tekstene. Jada, han oppleves som en sytende kukk, men det oppleves også ekte! Jeg heier alltid på folk som prøver å gjøre noe uten at formålet er å være kul. Og dette er absolutt ikke kult. Hvorfor i all verden bestemmer hans seg for at dette skal være et hardrock album. Han har ikke skrevet hardrock låter, det er kun arrangementet. Det låter så døvt og platt som man kan få det. Alt med dette albumet er egentlig ganske bra, men her har du skolebokeksempelet på hvordan et dårlig arrangement ødelegger en skive.
I can handle a little of that Smiths singing voice, but not an entire album unfortunately.
all the obnoxious whining of Morrissey, none of the great instrumentation from The Smiths. The song titles are insane, what are we doing here
1. uuorld - 1 2. heart -1.5 3. jezuz - 1 4. camden - 1 5. zorry -1.5 6. borez - 1.5 7. Feel - 1 8. Die - 1.5 9. Kiss -1.5 10. Lazy - 1.5 11. Like - 1.5 12. You - 1.5
Didn't click with me much though it's cool that Morrisey went with a much grittier sound. Lots of lyrics complaining about people rightfully calling him out, yawn.
The Smiths but without all the good bits. Like a Christmas dinner but it’s only sprouts.
Indie AHA. Litt boring
morrisey :/
So the Album is okay, some song better than others. I listend to all Songs but I would not hear the album on repeat or mor than once
Boring racist man and album
Oh, no, Morrissey, what have you done. Complaining about the whole world does not fill an album. I guess your big times were before this album.
A bit boaring britpop
My mentally unwell aunt, who homeschooled her child but never taught them to socialise or even read, changed her surname to his and named her child after him. That paints a fairly accurate picture of the type of person drawn to this perpetual self-aggrandising, faux self-pitying teenager.
Judging in a vacuum this is ok. Judged against much of his other output it’s pretty drab. Very few memorable moments.
Oh Morrissey, how did you become so terrible?
I just didn't really like this album much. It's like Morrissey was making a band impersonation of one of his own albums. He's always been pretentious, but this album has even more of that and on repeat.
Hmm, musically this is a decent album. Lyrically, it’s super casual, almost feels like stream of consciousness rather than a cohesive song. It’s humorous enough on a first listen, but it’s not really conducive to repeat plays. Honestly the further into the album I get, the more over this guys thoughts I feel. I think this is a 3 musically and a 2 lyrically. I’m going to rate this a 2 because I don’t think it’s possibly to block out the words when listening and after hearing all 47 minutes, it’s starting to sound really whiney and annoying.
a lot of the lyrics were cheese at times, but the groove was just too good ! he lost me at some bits, but had me throughout and i could def see myself putting this on again in my life #easylisten
Had some nice tunes but fuck Morissey
Morrissey heeft echt een prima zangstem. De gitaren en muziek sowieso is vrij standaard rock. Het is alleen jammer dat het vooral een beetje zeikerig word. Hij huilt, en klaagt een heel album vol, en dat is toch niet echt iets waar ik warm van word. America is not the world heeft ie volkomen gelijk in hoor, maar dan het zeikerige, hijgerige Let me Kiss you, tsja... Ik ben er niet zo van, vind het nummer daarvoor vele malen spannender. Stuk sneller ook! Maar verder? Mwah, ik ben niet zo'n groot fan. Zangstem is prima, maar het is allemaal niet super spannend eigenlijk, het is prima achtergrond muziek want als je wat meer naar de teksten gaat luisteren dan irriteer je je snel. Ik tenminste wel. FAVO: The first of the gang to die
Didn't really care for this. I think Morrissey doesn't work for me outside the context of The Smiths. It seems like Johnny Marr made Morriseys songs less cynical and more bittersweet or something. That balance is off here and I didn't care for it. 2.25/5
Wenn man die Smiths Vergangenheit außer acht lässt bleibt eigentlich nur politisch fragwürdiges gejaule
Couldn’t really get into it
Sorry, no
Seriously, enough with the Morrissey. We get it; the creator of this book loves Morrissey. I can understand The Smiths being on here, and I can understand an album of Morrissey's solo work. But it's getting ridiculous. This album was pretty mid, too, so that just annoyed me even more. This album somehow seemed even more pretentious than usual, which is saying something for Morrissey. I guess this was a comeback album for him, but it wouldn't have gotten more than a single play from me, if that. Anyway, whatever. The album was a 2.5, not rounding up. Please be the last Morrissey album I have to listen to on this project.
Instrumentation is dull, a gigantic step down from the Smiths. He comes across here as a deeply sour and unpleasant person.
Accidentally closed my browser with my full review written. Not doing it again, can't. He hates America, He made an incel song. The whole thing is way too long. I don't get how so many kids were into this guy. That might be my cut and paste review for all of his solo work from now on. Maybe I should be writing these out of the browser and then copy/pasting into the browser because this happens way too often.
It’s just very much the definition of M.O.R.
I take great pride in, at the ripe age of 51, I'm still actively and constantly searching for new music and bands. Unlike most of my friends I'll happily get an album that looks cool or see a show by myself. That having been said, I have a fee artists that haven't grown past me being 17. Sonic Youth, Built To Spill, and, yes Morrissey. I was the stereotypical goth kid, crying along with the Smiths and memorizing Bona Drag when it came out.. Seminal shit. So, to hear a new to me Morrissey album is strange. Still hits the notes. Still some biting social commentary and wit, and still the jilted song structures. But all these years later, it just doesn't land. Not because it's bad, or even because of his increasingly problematic personality, but because I know what real pain is. And loneliness. And how mean the world the can be. It used to be romantic. Now it's just sad. I don't know if this is a good or bad record. I just know that I know where I'm gonna go to when I wanna remember what being 15 felt like. This isn't it.
For me, it is just an okay album. Fine lyrics and fine music, but not really anything that hits my ear right.
Good album. Interesting. Felt like there was an underlying message he wanted to get across.
Hyllad och efterlängtad, kallades t.o.m. comebackplatta när den kom (Maladjusted kom 1997). Detta efter att Moz varit utan skivkontrakt i flera år efter att gjort sig omöjlig hos flera bolag. Men som ni hör problemen har redan börjat innan en ton är spelad. Moz ägnar sig mestadels åt att avhandla diverse personliga oförrätter och fäktas med väderkvarnar. Visst det finns en och annan välriktad udd. Passningen till The Cures "Friday i'm in love" på "I have forgiven Jesus" är underhållande och snygg t.ex. (Robert Smith och Moz har ju haft en beef ända sen 80talet). Men mestadels blir faktiskt ganska tröttsamt med dessa personliga vendettor över en nästan ett helt album. Borta är den historiebaserade lyrik och mera allmängiltliga tilltal med knivskarp precision som vi såg på "Viva Hate!". Musiken är rätt tråkig, mycket låter som urvattnade kopior på låtar han gjort förut fast utan bra popmelodier eller hookar och balladerna är för svulstiga. Det är närmast en parodi på sig själv musikaliskt. Sen produktionen, det är möjligt att mycket gitarrpop lät så här vid den tiden, jag vet inte? Men produktionen är steril, plastigt komprimerad och helt själlös. Skivan lät aningen bättre i ett par taskiga lurar, men i bra lurar eller ut i högtalare låter den fruktansvärd rent soundmässigt. Kanske är jag lite väl gnällig? Det finns absolut en del bra låtidéer. Den mexikanska gangsterflörten i texten till "First of fhe gang" är bra även om musiken är trist, "the lazy dykes" tycker jag om liksom de oortordoxa tilltaget med syntar "I like you". Men på det hela taget har jag ganska tråkigt och det är ingenting jag brukar ha när Morrissey är bra
Back to Camden är en av Morrisseys finaste ballader någonsin. I övrigt ytterligare några bra låtar, som America is not the world och hiten First of the gang to die, men produktionen är ett sänke. Slentrianspelad gitarrock klär Morrissey dåligt.
Musikaliskt trist och själlöst. Produktionen låter livlös, särkilt trummorna. Med mycket där på ribban tar sig Morrisseys penna över godkäntnivån.
This album may include what is probably Morrissey's best solo song, but do we really need to listen to four (4) Morrissey albums before we die? I mean, they all kinda sound pretty similar. It's not bad, but definitely not essential. Key tracks: The First of the Gang to Die
Disappointment
This is not the album I would have picked. I can think of a few much better
The Smiths this is not
I guess I think Morrissey is fine, which is better than bad.
First introduction to morrissey beyond obviously the smiths. I feel like if you don’t know why people don’t like him this album will pave it’s way to it. Very crybaby, I’m a big lyrics person so I’m always extra sensitive to them and it brought nothing. I liked first of the gang to die I guess!
unfortunately, i HAD this one. i was naive and aware of the smiths, but really only knew morrissey was the singer, and not much else. getting this on site from a rack of CDs, (don't see that shit anymore) i picked it up and learned a lot. this felt like a tryhard attempt to cash in on politics at the time. its not very cryptic and its unapologetic. at the time punk rock me was like COOL but now it just feels like some British man being condescending. the music is decent, and im sure the brits love this shit, but as a colonist, i dislike it. 2/5 and that's with my connection to it.
Gettin high off his own farts on this one. It didn’t do anything for me.
Amb el que m'agraden els Smiths, Morrisey no hauria de fer discs en solitari.
The problem with Morissey is he writes compelling lyrics even when he's an assehole. Trying to gauge where he is on this album in his journy to the state of absoutle and supreme asshole! The level of self obsession is alarming but little dog whistles at this point ,so maybe halfway there?
Bon c'est de la pop du début des années 2000 Un peu rock Un peu engagé Pas transcendant
The instrumental tracks sound like they were bought online wholesale. So generic and boring! Why Does this guy get 4 solo albums!?
Why are there so many albums from Morrissey in this list? Is my musical taste so bad that I don't appreciate Morrissey's music, or is the creator of this list such a fan of him?
The first few songs had be cackling. Comedy music isn’t for me, but I get what he’s trying to do. Bo burnham vibes
I confirmed what I have always suspected - I do not care for Morrissey or his solo work. One additional star because I know several people who do like it, so it’s got to be a subjective thing for me. 2⭐️
Kinda insufferable
First of the Gang To Die is excellent, rest is the sound of a bitter man disappearing up his own arse...
Music is pretty okay I guess, but those lyrics suck :/ guy is full of himself
Typical Morrissey. It was decent.
All Morrissey, no Johnny Marr
lyrics far-too on the nose. Self-righteous drivel. early-2000s musical trends. Just all-around bad and forgettable.
oddly political. the bass lines are cool and the music is good. his voice also isn’t bad it’s just not musically interesting enough to detract from the jarring lyrics. the first of the gang to die is good.
I have forgiven Jesus…but I can’t forgive Morrissey for this meandering snoozefest.
No standouts, not for me
This album was later removed from the 1001 List, which should make you ask yourself — what the hell? Do I have to listen to these albums before I die or not? This one, I don’t think so.
Yes, we are the quarry, and Morrissey doesn't mind hating his fans and bemoaning the fact that they keep spending money for his music and merchandising. The real scandal is that the longer he makes this grumpy music, the more anachronistic and irrelevant he becomes. I never felt this way with the Smiths or even his early albums. I think his lack of growth undermines his appeal.
Not interested
Really not my thing, despite a couple of interesting tracks, it's very moan-y and self-centred and overall feels quite repetitive.
Flavorless. 2/5
Couldn't listen beyond a track or two. Bland smarmy poppy mehfest
New Wave by any other name is just as disagreeable. The first song is prescient and I admire his forthright lyrics, but it’s no fun to listen to.
Still with Morrisey?
I love the Smiths and I’m aware Morrissey is a twat but because of the writing in the Smiths songs I’d expect some substance out of a solo album… This album muses on politics with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. It’s just… Not good. I wanted better.