Vauxhall And I

Alright, alright, fine! Just stuff me with vegetables and fuck me already. Fuckin' Morrissey just won't give up until he's got a parsnip up my ass and is greasing up his penis and waving it in my cabbage filled face.

Seriously, fuck this guy.

I have somehow managed to never listen to The Smiths or Morrissey in my life. I really liked this album. It’s really good! Morrissey’s politics, on the other hand 😬. Yikes.

MOZZA!! He's such a prick. I can't emphasise that enough. But this is a great album both lyrically and muscially. Its still not as good as the Smiths though. 4/5

Why is he so sad?

You know you’re in for a dud when the Wikipedia entry is pretty much “ya this album existed”

don't care + didn't ask + you lost your dynamic after the smiths

Just being very clear that giving 1992 Morrissey 5 stars in no way condones 2023 Morrissey. I wonder if he can remember the person that produced this charming, knowing, clever album ?

The guy is a fucking prick, but he makes great music. 4/5

twat

His masterpiece. Hang it in the fucking Louvre. If this had been his final album, and speedway the last song out of his mouth then his myth would have been cemented. I said what I said.

First up: Mozza 2023 is a knob. Mozza 1994 was a different man. His masterful lyrics flow through each track. The More You Ignore Me remains infectious. This is a great, great break up album. It's still a little raw for me, almost 30 years later. There's a ray of hope from the old bigot with The Lazy Sunbathers. Lyrics on ecological issues didn't get you NME covers back in the day. It still stacks up. A reluctant five stars.

I’m biased, but I’ll always love a Morrissey album. The lyrics are unsurprisingly brilliant here, and they’re combined with some really nice instrumentation. I’m probably ignoring some flaws here because I have nostalgia for the british prick, but to me it’s great.

Now My Heart Is Full - Pretty generic rock thus far, I think it had some bearings on future Coldplay releases? I can hear a lot of 90s. It's definitely not my favourite track. It is a bit catchy. Morrissey's voice is as smooth as ever, though. Not impressed by the guitars, can do a lot better. Springed-Hill Jim - The bass. The bass. I like it. Using samplers. This is Morrissey more like you've heard in the Smiths. This rocks more. I like the sampling. I like how it fits within the narrative of the song. The man is obviously a whore. Billy Budd - Rocking backtrack. I like it. The guitar is kind of psychedelic, very Hendrix-y. But it's overshadowed a bit by Morrissey's voice. Definitely my favourite song so far. Is this song a reference to the novel? Hold On To Your Friends - Nice little melody, I guess. I think this is going to a ballad. Social commentary on capitalism and happiness? Meh.... a bit hypocritical . The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get - I can fuck with this instrumental. I like it. It's.... Unique. A lot of repetition of lyrics throughout the album, especially regarding time. I like this track-- But it feels like Morrissey is just Morrissey. And Morrissey is a controversial figure. I can sort of hear a Pixies-like... Parallel. The distortion of the guitars are a treat and I feel like the instrumentals are what shines on this album and Morrissey could be removed, I'd enjoy these songs more. Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself - A groovy little piece. It's nothing extraordinary but it does its job. The commentary continues through the album through repeated imagery and lyricism. It has a recurring theme of death and loss and acceptance of death and loss. I Am Hated for Lovin - I like the instrumentals a lot. It's a good song, I'd heard it before. I don't know what else to say. It is kind of devoid of the usual rock and forced "agony" for lack of better words of the Smiths, it feels like a very very bittersweet goodbye. May be acceptance is really the recurring theme and motif of the album? He just doesn't belong, he doesn't have many friends... Morrissey needs a psychiatrist and a therapist, not to release albums. This feels more and more like a suicide note. Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning - Oh, I love the instrumentals. This is baroque rock. This is very worrying, as worrying as it is pretty. The poor girl didn't deserve to drown, what is Morrissey on about? This is a real album with a theme of accepting loss and death. Makes me want to read into his mind state when writing this. But the instrumental shines and even his vocals and his vocal delivery is very different. "Please don't worry..." Yeah, suicide notes have been written to sound happier than this album. This album will kill the mood if you play it during sex. The girl at the end is literally being silenced by the cymbals... She died. Used to Be a Sweet Boy - This is a pretty decent song, I guess? But very samey... Which is a problem with this album. Something went wrong? And he's not to blame. Is that his relationship with his father? I feel like I should have some context for this album, far more than is provided. Otherwise, we don't feel the "pathos" or the "acceptance" as much if we are not already initiated to Morrissey. The background vocals are amazing though, very angelic choir-like. Is Morrissey talking about himself dying or having died and being an angel now? The Lazy Sunbathers - World War? I'm sorry... I don't get this one. War is bad, I guess? But he seems like he's accepting it. This album in general is grim. It's a bit of a kill-mood, it makes you feel a bit depressed. And if that's you want, then sure, this album is for you-- All of you weird folks out there. Speedway - Oh, this song is faster. Chainsaw massacre? This is odd... Definitely cool but very grim very very very grim. A decent finisher to this "album", I think he's released all of his anger and got the pathos he sought. Score - If you know Morrissey and you like Morrissey, then... Sure, this album might be for you. That is, if you want to feel depressed. In that respect, it does really well; it conveys the artist's emotions but requires an already-existing bond to be able to be experienced fully. I would give it a 3.5/5... It's certainly not bad, but it's not on the podium for me. It's just shy of a bronze metal.

You know, pre-comeback Morrissey isn't as bad as post-comeback Morrissey but it's still pretentious, self-centered, sad-sack twaddle and I'm not here for it.

God I hate morrissey

Morrissey's last great album. Really stands up, even if I wish we'd never heard from him again after this.

I bought this for my dad back in HS. He was a big Smiths fan and didn't have any solo stuff. I didn't really like it as much at first. When I relistened in college I fell in love. No skippable songs. Biggest standouts are the more I love you, Lazy sunbathers and speedway. The album really ends on a bang. The drums on the last song are killer.

Difficult person but some really good songs.

Doesn't get better with age. Self indulgent, arrogant, dire, over-hyped, badly structured, poorly engineered, crap lyrics.....garbage.

If an album could qualify for 5 stars on a single song, Speedway is it. It is quintessential Morrissey... dramatic pauses, biting lyrics, a loud orchestral sound, passion. One of my favorite songs of all time. Spring-Heeled Jim and Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself capture a similar passion that really elevate this album. Though I can pass on Billy Budd, everything else here are nice variations of the Morrissey formula and really are a nice continuation of what he was doing with the Smiths. Great.

Morrissey is a piece of shit and a sad excuse for a human being. But damn is he an amazing songwriter. If you are able to separate the art from the artist with Morrissey his catalogue is a fantastic lesson in music history especially in The Smiths era. And if you don't know how The Smiths wrote music it's worth learning because it is a strange situation that became wonderful art. All that being said this is an amazing album. It opens strong and then "Spring-Heeled Jim" is a weird track and "Billy Budd" falls flat. "Hold on to Your Friends" has a beautiful guitar part. "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" reminds you that Morrissey is a creep while backed by a great song. The next two tracks just feel like classic Morrissey but nothing too special to me. "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" is strange vocally but solid musically. The next two have that classic Morrissey sound again and "The Lazy Sunbathers" is my second favorite song on the album. "Speedway" I think is the most progressive song on the album, it somehow balances the Morrissey sound with a much more progressive musical sound that is an energetic masterful way to end an album. Morrissey is a 0/5 person this album is a 4.5/5. If Morrissey wasn't a shitty person and was more of a musician I'd be inclined to give it a 5, but I'll stick to a 4.

I'm just going to put this out there - this is the first time I've listened to this or any album by Morrissey in its entirety. It came out in the early '90s when tween/teen me was preoccupied with grunge, which spoke to my soul. I'd heard some of his solo work but just a song here or there. But I listened to it three times. I can see why so many friends and acquaintances are/were big Morrissey fans. He taps into that melancholic, misunderstood energy that so many feel. His voice is lovely and soothing, the music was easy to listen to.

Regrettably this is pretty great

Two Morrissey solo records down, two more to go.

Not listening to this shit. Fuck Morrissey

cool

Great voice, good music by a giant cunt.

Starts very expectable and develops a wall of sound‘ish and dreamy and warm metamorphosis.

World needs more Morrissey, less Billy Bragg.

Is the art beholden to the artist, or can it jettison the maker’s flaws? The songs do their part, never surprising, but carrying his romantic sting with confidence, and they don’t hang around. The impression of watching a poison-pen writer dance to themselves from behind a one-way mirror is present. Keep yourselves buttoned; he knows we’re here. The sound is apt: big, dense, surging, regal, with the notes of antiquarianism he wielded in The Smiths - pub chat and siren sounds in Spring-Heeled Jack, not to mention the title itself - the purposefully old beside the modern, out-and-out grandeur never far. Reading the notes, I see Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte deserve more prominence than the blanket “Morrissey” branding allows. Generally, I keep personal life out of these reviews, but context can creep in. As recent arrivals in this country, we’re trying to fit in and be worthy citizens, so in that spirit went on a march today to help safeguard our new home. As we chanted at a cruise ship and burned stuff (libraries with foreign books, a burrito stall, Mazdas), the delicate melodies of Stephen Morrissey synched to our rowdier nativist cries… Immigrants go home, immigrants go home, I heard him sing as smoke curled wistfully over downtown Vancouver.

The problem with Morrissey (aside from the fact that he is a twat) is that he is a great lyricist but he needs a musical genius like Johnny Marr beside him. That is what ultimately made the Smiths work. Some musicians need that collaborative friction to bring out the best in them, and the Smiths are a prime example (alongside the Beatles and Pink Floyd)

6.5/10 FT: The more you ignore me, the closer I get

I've got no background or context for Morrissey...but this one was difficult to get through for me. Something about the way his voice floats over the music just doesn't sit with me. It's almost like the music could be any random track and he'd be singing the same lyrics in the same way and it wouldn't change anything. There's nothing wrong with this obviously but it makes the whole thing sound jumbled to me. If a song has lyrics, I want the meter and melody to line up with the meter and melody of the music; this felt like he had a list of poems and any one could have been overlaid over any other track on the album and it would've been the same experience. Don't bother timing your words with the beat of the underlying track, just stretch out a few words randomly and let the rest of the sentence catch up with the beat at the end...blegh.. I kept waiting for a melody to sneak in...something that I could hum along to, something that would stick in my head... But honestly, having listened through the whole thing I don't think I could hum a single bar. I remember nothing about what I just listened to because musically it's so bland. This was hurdling towards a 1-star for me, but he stopped singing for a decent span in The Lazy Sunbathers and my head moved a little bit so I'll give it a 2.

Vaguely familiar, likely due to a friend desperately pretending that each new Morrissey release of the period was "a return to form". Nope The trouble with Morrissey's solo career is *not* what a dick he became, it's that (barring "Viva Hate" and parts of "Your Arsenal") the tunes are so threadbare it becomes such a dull slog. Boorer/Whyte (who?) were no match for Johnny Marr, unlike perhaps Vini Reilly or Mick Ronson. But, sure, sample some more Ealing film dialogue and grind out some more basic rockabilly indie mush, someone will buy it. The hit and Speedway afford this a high 2, but nothing more

Usually I have to weigh the music against the level of asshole and artist is. Morrissey is a known asshole so that usually would hurt an albums score. Here though, the album sucks anyway. This one isn't any good. So it's easy to score.

I'd imagined I'd like this one, but never expected it to be a 5. Guess Morrissey's really that good (as a musician!).

Exzellentes Album mit einer schlüssigen Attitüde im Smiths Stil. Tolle Songs sind „Now my hart is Full“, „The more you ignorieren …“, „Why don‘t You find out yourself“ und „ Speedway“. Das Album kombiniert die ruhige Stimme von Morrisey mit guten Elektro und Bass Sounds. 😊👍

So good, this one is definitely up there for my favorite of his solo stuff. Only a couple of the backside that I don't get much out of. My appreciation for Morrissey has grown a ton over this project, I only gave Viva Hate 4 stars previously but would put that one at 5 stars with this one. Rating: 4.8

Great album

Always been a fan. But this is as good as any of his releases

One of mythe two great albums by Morrissey.

Not only is the man devilishly handsome, but I love the smiths. I knew this was for me before I even hit play. I need a pint

Great album

Always enjoyed Marcy. I grabbed the deluxe remaster that included live versions of all the songs so it was doubly good.

Another Morrissey album in this list and one that could likely be considered his best work to date, with closing track Speedway possibly the best solo song he has released. "All of the rumours keeping me grounded I never said that they were completely unfounded And all those lies, written lies, twisted lies Well, they weren't lies, they weren't lies, they weren't lies"

Now My Heart Is Full, The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get

4.5/5

Pretty collection of tunes with great guitar.

One of my absolute faves, ever

Now My Heart Is Full, The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get

I love Morrisey! And the smiths

Just perfect. Probably clouded slightly by my strong memories attached to this one, but it definitely does it for me.

i really liked it and it’s def my music taste :-)

Morriseys strongest solo work, I can’t get along with viva hate super well, nor can I say your arsenal or you are the quarry quite reach the heights of the smiths… this does. It’s probably the biggest grower of these albums but the opening 5 tracks and speedway as a closer are some of his best work. Is side two weaker? Yes but the queen is dead has an equal amount of filler both are 5/5’s end of story

Let your guard down for a minute, catch Morrissey religion. Vauxhall And I was a total surprise mostly delightful and entirely melodramatic. Each melody is hummably familiar, mood-as-theme works perfectly. This also sounds rather unlike the Smiths, which helps the vocal choices not-grate.

sonzeira, um grande mestre

One of the easiest to give a five star.

Now My Heart Is Full, The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get

Morrissey has the inimitable sound. Drones on and hits very dissonant tones with his voice. Genius.

Is this my first solo Morrissey? I think it is, I know which albums of his are on the list and three of them might very well be his top three albums. I think I slightly prefer "Kill Uncle" over "You Are The Quarry" but it's not my list, is it? Besides this is "Vauxhall And I"

Classic Moz. Well, he has better albums with or without Johnny Marr but this is still really good stuff with some essential songs for any fan. Moz always gets a 5.

Really liked this one. Somehow it put me on a very good mood.

Cool 90-S pop. Clean and rich sound!

This was way too relatable.

This is cool, I didn’t really know what to expect from morrissey but I like this

I like the sound of this one. This is one I would consider buying and would look into more of his music.

Pretty good. Pretty standard Morrissey stuff, once again, shame he's a dick.

Standard Morrissey. It's good.

Dave va dire que c'est pas bon, c'est homogène et plate. Qu'il s'est endormi au voulant et à foncé à travers la fenêtre d'un Tim's à cause de cet album. Écoute Dave, c'est pas parce qu'il y a pas de solos épiques ou d'interludes fait en musique 8-bit que c'est de la marde. Maudit que je suis tanné

J'ai déja écouté des albums des Smiths et Morrissey, j'aime quelque tounes de The Smith mais j'ai jamais réussi à embarquer. Morrissey, j'avais écouté Viva Hate et Years of refusal, pis j'aimais pas ça. Cet album là, je le trouve excellent, une très belle surprise. Il a toujours une petite twist mélodique le fun, un mélange réconfortant de détours et de prévisibilité. Pis ça s'écoute bin. C'est pas intense, ça chigne pas trop, ça coule bien, ce qui est une qualité. C'est comme une IPA des chutes. Ça se prend bien dans la douche genre

People may not like the guy but he makes good music, this album being proof of that.

By 1994, Morrissey had become a bit of a punching bag. His brandishing of the Union Jack and incendiary song titles like The National Front Disco had him pegged by the music media as a racist nationalist. Yet Moz always had a trick up his sleeve to make those concerned Cathys come around his corner again. Vauxhall & I is Morrissey at his most explicitly vulnerable, keeping his heart on his sleeve while remaining subtle enough to let those who think they know know more. From Now My Heart is Full onward, the listener is taken upon a wave that would not only remind them of Morrissey's greatness but become convinced that there would be more to come from this side of the usually thorny wordsmith. Favorites: Now My Heart is Full, Spring-Heeled Jim, Billy Budd, The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get, I Am Hated for Loving, Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning, The Lazy Sunbathers.

So whiny, so good

Thoughts before listening: Dude has turned into a punchline, but at one point he made some pretty good music. I definitely enjoy the Smiths, and I know that this is a well respected album. Not sure if I've heard it or not? Review: Well this definitely sounds like a Morrissey album, and a good one at that. I think of Morrissey albums mainly being about his crooning and lyrics, but I am really enjoying the music on this album as well. Really nice guitar work throughout. I'll be adding a few of these songs to my playlist. 4-stars

Sure, I'll get sad with you Morrissey. Just don't say any words. I will say, this album holds up surprisingly well. The production is top notch, and the songs are clever, albeit a bit slow once you get into the second half.

Lillywhite's pristine production provides the perfect polish for one of Morrissey's most mellow and measured collection of solo songs.

Easy breezy sitting out on the patio on a Saturday afternoon kind of music. Dig it...

Like it

Mellow, smooth, enjoyable!

Moany voice but good!

Quintessentially English. Mozzerian vulnerability at its finest!!

naturally adored the homoerotically ambiguous opening track (a theme thats revisited more explicitly on 'billy budd,' 'i am hated for loving,' and 'speedway', also alluded to in the album title). caustic wit shines through despite a tendency towards sensationalist melodrama. lyrically, a psychoanalyst's wet dream, and i do appreciate the genuine vulnerability on display. inevitably does descend into self-aggrandizement (its morrissey after all). 'lifeguard sleeping, girl drowning' is a definite lowlight. given the weight of positive associations rooted in past listening, its difficult to evaluate morrissey's vocals under any pretense of objectivity; can't help but dogmatically heap praise. without the anchor of johnny marr's banging riffs, the compositions do sometimes slide into musical theatre—not the good kind (if "good musical theatre" is even a tenable concept). ultimately, enough elite songwriting to more than compensate. sidenote: very much relate to morrissey once releasing a statement saying: "unfortunately, i am not homosexual."

The more you ignore me, the closer I get too crecked. Stripped back instrumentals on vocally/lyrically emphasized albums always come less naturally to me.

At first I wasn't too sure about Morrissey. I had heard of him, and heard a little bit of his music, both solo and with The Smiths, and I didn't think I was really into it. But after listening to this album and really giving it a chance, I've decided that I am a fan after all. The way the lyrics often don't match the tone of the music is really interesting and the production values and musicianship on display is really nice. Four stars.

The last solid Morrissey album, thanks in large part to producer Steve Lillywhite

Pretty good. I like the smiths so this was enjoyable too.

Day 0020/1001 of One Album a Day / Listened to whilst: commuting Favourite tracks: hold on to your friends, the more you ignore me the closer I get Worst tracks: lifeguard sleeping, girl drowning

Hyvää ysäri brittirokkia, miellyttäviä kappaleita. Parhaat: Hold On To Your Friends, Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowing, The Lazy Sunbathers

We all know Morrissey and we all know what we think of him. Fine, let's move on. What I want to know is, why does he always seem so very sad? I imagine it's quite a polarising opinion, but I actually love his voice. Distinct, soft, airy and pleasant. Good instrumentation and he taps into that melancholic energy. There are some really great tracks to be found here, The opener and closer of the album are probably the strongest two. Enjoyed this a lot and would happily stick this on at any time.

Better than I expected

Great voice and mellow songs. I just sab ack and enjoyed. I haven't listened to Morrissey before but I probably will in the future. Great album!

The first half had me wondering if something was wrong, because I really wasn't that impressed by it. The second half definitely kills though. Wow is it good. I'm more of a "Your Aresenal" type of Morrissey fan, but this was very enjoyable

Een artiest die oververtegenwoordigd is in de lijst. Maar dit is wel het derde album waar weinig op aan te merken is. Dat is een prestatie op zich. We weten inmiddels dat we geen uitschieters kunnen verwachten. Misschien heeft dit album geluk dat ik het middernacht luister. Dan hoeft het ook niet zo spannend te zijn. 3,5 ster.

Entertaining and somewhat mesmerizing

Excellent stuff. Prick of a man but that was a very good album

I hate that I kinda like Morrissey.

Like all Morrissey albums there's 4 or 5 tracks that I absolutely love. The slower mopey stuff I can do without, but The More You Ignore Me and Speedway and a few others elevate this to greatness.

This album was better than initially expected. Leaving aside all logical reservations about Morrissey himself, and his racist views (which is a lot to ask, I know) and if we stop comparing his solo career with that of The Smiths, “Vauxhall and I” is a very enjoyable album. Build around literary (Melville, Dickens) and a bunch of steady veiled queer references, this album builds a coherent journey. If Luis Cernuda had been a rock star this would have possibly his album. Although not all songs are great (the projects starts fizzling out by the second half of the record (with a serious of slow-paced ballads that do not hit the mark fully), the start and the conclusion are solid and coherent with the overall theme surrounding his fictionalized queer experience: filled with solidarity, friendships, rejection, desire (symbolized by the sun that covers the sunbathers), and the consolidation of identity. It’s noticeable the reverse influence of Brit pop at times (Oasis) but also The Cure, but absorbed by the singer in a totally personal way. Morrissey’s clever lyricism is still top notch. And while the pace is questionable, as the second half drags, the album closes on a high note with the tense drums of “Speedway”. My overall consideration 8/10

I love the Smiths. But before I loved the Smiths, I loved Morrissey's solo records. Call me weird. Vauxhall and I is considered by many to be among the best of Morrissey's solo albums. And it's hard to argue against that. The songs are uniformly strong from start to finish. Now my Heart is Full is a wonderful melodramatic opener. Side A also has the barnburner, Billy Budd, the anthemic Hold On to Your Friends, and one of Morrissey's best-known and poppiest tracks: The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get. It's so poppy, in fact, that you might miss that it's written from the very creepy perspective of a stalker. The second side is also above average. The whole album comes off as perhaps Morrissey's most complete statement as a solo artist. And it's the first of Morrisey's more "mature" albums. The whole thing is really, really good.