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

twat

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 ?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

World needs more Morrissey, less Billy Bragg.

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

Yeah you know I kinda enjoyed this actually but I am docking one point for being the world's worst spokesperson for vegetarianism. That's right!! No rules! I mark how I want!!

So many Morrissey solo albums on this list Like the rest of them, this stays stuck in third gear and lacks the magic of the best Smiths stuff. He’s a great lyricist but remains a great arse too

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.

Not as great as the best Smith albums, but good enough.

Better than the other Morrissey solo album we got earlier, but still not as good as the Smiths.

I like Morrissey. but his one is not one of my favs. Mellow and mopey without bitterness

Not Morrisseys best..

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 do like the mood of Morrissey's music, but this album didn't interest me at all.

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

I hate morrisey

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.

Un de mes albums préféré de Morrissey.

Agréablement surpris! Rien contre les Smiths mais j’ai jamais capoté. Donc je ne m’attendais pas à grand chose. Excellent! Sa voix de bariton se mêle parfaitement bien à l’atmosphere parfois glauque parfois peppé des chansons. Spring-heeled Jim avec ses sonorités post-punk me fait penser à Fontaines DC, mon band préféré des dernières années Billy Budd la rockeuse de 2 minutes en beau contrepoids du reste de l’album. Speedway la finale melancolique mais enivrante qui donne envie d’en avoir plus. Bref ça me donne envie de revisiter les Smiths! (Ça viendra certainement dans le top 1001)

O Morrissey é daqueles que torna difícil separar a obra do artista: as músicas sempre lembram um tempo que não volta, e então lembro das bobajadas que ele fala...

Feel good, wistful melodies. Absurd lyrics that hit too close to home. Buttery vocals that I want to listen to forever.

I’m a Morrissey and The Smiths fan.

Smooth sonorous and beautiful. As always motive as hell.

Geweldige stem, veel gave nummers, Morrissey op z'n best!

Brilliant lyrics

One of Morrissey's best albums and one knows why. It is his lyricism on a peak level. It's all there and like an instrument of its own that sucks you in. While Viva Hate might have been more interesting musically, this one would be my recommendation if you'd wanted to get into his work.

One of my favourite surprises from this project was discovering just how prolific Morrissey has been since he left The Smiths, and how high quality some of his solo albums have been, including this one incidentally. I loved The Smiths, but lost interest in Morrissey as all I had heard from him solo had been a bit weak. Looking back, this was a big oversight, as his solo material ticks many boxes for me. Good lyrics, wry humour, excellent delivery, interesting music. This feels like another 5 star album.

Amazing. Just amazing

Moz at his best!

Ok. Another death of the author situation. We all know some great art comes from a different kind of mind. Sand gets in and irritates a clam's mouth, it spits on it in defense, viola, a beautiful pearl is created. Not easy to ignore Morrissey's personal POV and choices, but the work is just so damn good. The feel, the depth, the mood, the soul. I don't think he's all bad. None of us are. How great is it that maybe he shared the best parts of himself with us.

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.

I really like this record. Too bad Morrissey just seems to be an angry, hateful old man nowadays.

Not full of out-and-out hits, but pleasing to listen to. Lots of lullaby-eque songs.

Surprisingly Ok given I can't usually stand Morrissey

Now my heart is full, Spring heeled Jim, and Billy Budd is about as good an opening trio of songs as you can get. One of the two classic Morrissey albums.

Not bad. Nice and mellow. Reminds me of Chris Rea.

Первая песня в альбоме приятная, добавила в плейлист. Вроде неплохо, но будто бы не совсем моё, хотя всё еще приятно и вроде даже не скучно слушать.

Banger

A lot of pleasant songs

There has been no greater victim that Steven Morrissey knows of than Steven Morrissey. Having said that, he really has an ear for music, and his stuff generally ranges from no worse than ok, right up to gorgeous. This album is good, there is no denying it - put aside the personal qualities of the artist and just listen to som really good tunes.

Enjoyed more than I thought I would… a little bit one note from time to time but otherwise really nice music.

buen pub, mejor machista

This album feels very personal and self pitying even for Morrissey. Liked the first couple of songs but he really goes on autopilot in the middle. Not bad but just seems like the stuff he writes in his sleep. Speedway, however, is fantastic and a strong way to close out. That gets this to a light 4.