Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Whatever. This shit is GOOD.
His voice is great but it's boring over these instrumentals
Something is missing here
Most songs were quite good. My favourites were Hold on to Your Friends & The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get. My least favourite was Spring-Heeled Jim.
Oh, great, another Morrissey album. I can't say that this one is any better or worse than the last one. It just kind of is, just like the last one. The lyrics, while they attempt more maturity, are not very interesting. Sonically, it sounds like every average Morrissey vocal, not particularly interesting in any way. I could have died without hearing this-or any solo Morrissey really. This album is ranked #22 of 29 albums for 1994. Other 1994 albums rated by me: Dookie(2/29)-4 Grace(3/29)-3 Dummy(4/29)-5 Illmatic(7/29)-5 Smash(10/29)-4 Ready to Die(11/29)-2 Live Through This(13/29)-4 Protection(15/29)-4 Talking Timbuktu(17/29)-3 Music for the Jilted Generation(19/29)-4 Dog Man Star(20/29)-3 Snivilisation(28/29)-3
(light 6/10) I just really don't understand the appeal I guess. The instrumentals are fine and dandy, but Morrissey himself is just irritating. I don't really get; or care to get, the lyrics.. and his vocal phrasing is so repetitive. He sounds like he has a frog in his throat at all times.. just idk. I really do not care for this man's music, let alone his solo stuff.
En daar is veganist van dienst weer eens. Een van de vaste vrienden van de show, samen met Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, Neil Young en nog een hand vol anderen. Als je ander werk van Morrissey hebt gehoord (en dat heb je, als je meedoet aan deze lijst) heeft dit album letterlijk helemaal niks wat je zal verbazen. Ik stoor me er niet gruwelijk aan, zoveel was al duidelijk. M'n kritiek is niet gericht op Morrissey, maar op de makers van deze lijst. 3 sterren. Vergeetbaar.
my 666th album, very appropriate MORRISSEY IS THE DEVIL!
Another sad boy Morrissey album that’s not as bad as some others. Just kinda ok sad
Why is this horseshit anywhere near this list?!
I bounced off of this immediately but before reviewing listened to it to give it a fair shake. It’s not my vibe really but it’s not bad. The more you ignore me is the single for a reason. A bit too samey musically for me.
mmm NO ES MI FAV.
Difficult to dissociate the album from the performer, but I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. I suspect repeated listening would improve it, hence a 3.
Fine, nothing particularly captivating for me. My enjoyment of music often comes more from the tune and beat rather than the lyrics. This album felt very much focused around the lyrics with a lot of the tunes sounding very similar, just not my taste I guess.
I've had two Smiths albums so far and liked both. I am very from an expert, but it feels like whatever instinct led to those being interesting to listen to and not just pure bummers is fully missing. Morrisey's music, and evidently the man himself, are dull and depressed here.
I suspect I have higher than average Morrissey tolerance levels (for his music rather than his opinions), and I like a lot of these songs. But if you've got Viva Hate and Your Arsenal on the list, you probably don't need this too.
Too much Morrissey on this list. Not awful, but not essential listening by any means
Enjoyment: 6/10 Replayability: 6/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 7/10 Artistic Merit: 4/10 Weighted Average: 5.8/10 Review: I've never heard Morissey before and maybe only a handful of tracks from the Smiths, but this was pretty good. Nothing stuck out as excellent, but nothing stuck out as bad. This album walks the line down the middle. Liked Song(s): Now My Heart Is Full, Hold on to Your Friends, The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get, Why Don't You Find out for Yourself, Speedway Disliked Song(s): Lifegaurd Sleeping, Girl Drowning Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No
He’s pretty hip!
Una cumbre indiscutible del jangle pop y la canción de autor británica que ha envejecido bien como el testimonio de madurez definitiva de su autor. En el plano de diseño formal, la producción de Steve Lillywhite logra un entretejido que da claridad a toda la trama instrumental, permitiendo que los arpegios de guitarras acústicas y eléctricas, las líneas de bajo y las texturas de percusión respiren con impecable definición. La fuerte y cálida interpretación de Morrissey desborda una autenticidad pura, imponiendo una autoridad superior mediante un registro vocal más reflexivo, pausado y libre de artificios. Obras maestras como la apertura luminosa de "Now My Heart Is Full", la cadencia seductora de "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" y la densidad catártica de "Speedway" consolidan un documento profundamente conmovedor, crudo y real que opera como un sutil llamado a la conciencia sobre la fragilidad afectiva, la pérdida y la aceptación de la madurez. Un trabajo de una elegancia atemporal cuya constante sensación de paz y fluidez lo vuelve extraordinariamente apto para múltiples usos, destacando como un acompañante excepcional para potenciar el trabajo creativo, la conducción o sumergirse en una reflexión solitaria.
Meh
My first experience with Morrissey and I liked this a lot. It’s the kind of thing that will take more than one listen to fully digest. I added “The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get” to my playlist.
Absolutely will not listen to this racist piece of shit.
Mój najlepszy przykład w grze "nie lubię ciebie, ale lubię twoją muzykę". Aczkolwiek ta płyta średniawka, Steven umiesz lepiej.
Good God. I just had Morrissey yesterday. It's all the same.
I never got into The SMiths because I just can't stand Morrisey's voice and the one cadence he seems to end every melody with. This was more of the same really, I hate all the soft chords and gentle melodies, it's all just tepid. It's very competently recorded and performed, but I got nothing out of this listening experience, didn't bother with the last two tracks and won't be going back to it
The first half sounds like Morissey fronting a Smiths cover band who just heard Definitely Maybe. I do love the jangly riffs tho. Second half is more his usual speed. 3/5. Did not overstay its welcome but didn't captivate either.
Before i get into the album itself: What the hell is this album cover? Did he want to stare creepily into the camera like a guy that makes you cross the street when you see him at night? Why? WHY? But i have to admit, this cover kind of represents the album itself quite well. I had only ever heard of Morrissey for… non-musical reasons but had no idea what he got going on musically. And what he got going on musically is whiny singing above average instrumentals - but the two have nothing to do with each other. Morrissey is just exercising an most exhausting and self-centered form of navel gazing ever put to record. This guy’s ideas and experiences are IMPORTANT and you should definitely hear him singing about stalking a woman, i guess? Is that what he’s doing on The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get? Oh and he’s such a great human being because he doesn’t spill another guys’s secrets while being on blast himself? I can’t even say much about the instrumentation because the singing and lyrics irritated me so much. Used To Be A Sweet Boy and Speedway got my interest, but i could only listen to them again with another singer. Or as instrumentals. Anything that isn’t this album.
Better than Coldplay
This is better than I remembered it. Really really good!
Morrissey is a prick but I do like his music
It was alright. I enjoyed most of it. Prefer The Smiths to his solo stuff.
I actually didn't mind this as something in the background, but not sure this would ever be an "active" listen
Gloomy crap
I've never been a fan of Morrissey or his monotone singing. It's well made but not my cup of tea.
Morrissey being Morrissey in other words. It's very alternative mixed with British pop sounds. Didn't caught my attention and felt a few of the songs sounded the same. It was okay.
A solid album. None of his solo stuff is at the same level as when he was with The Smiths IMO, but I've never walked away hating an album of his either (though maybe I haven't listened to enough of his stuff). I don't know if I liked this more or less than Viva Hate, but I'd probably put them pretty close together.
Vauxhall and I is, for me, Morrissey's best solo album. I've always loved this record, so I was very pleased to see it come up on the challenge today. Musically, I think this is the best band Morrissey has worked with as a solo artist. The guitars are fantastic throughout, the melodies are brilliant, and there's a richness to the music that perfectly complements his voice. Everything feels incredibly well put together without ever sounding overproduced. Lyrically, this is also Morrissey at his very best. There's the usual mixture of melancholy, humour, bitterness and vulnerability, but the songwriting feels particularly strong and focused here. Every track has something to offer, and there isn't a moment where the quality noticeably drops. The first half of the album is especially brilliant. Tracks one to five are about as strong an opening run as you could ask for, but the quality continues throughout. It's one of those rare albums I could happily put straight back on again as soon as it finishes. For me, Vauxhall and I captures everything that made Morrissey such a great solo artist at his peak. Brilliant lyrics, a fantastic band, memorable melodies and not a weak song on the record. I could listen to this album all day. Favourite tracks: "Speedway" is probably Morrissey's greatest solo song in my opinion. I also adore the entire first side of the album; tracks one to five are incredibly strong. Least favourite tracks: There isn't one. Every song earns its place on the album. Album artwork: A classic Morrissey album cover. Simple, distinctive and instantly recognisable.
Was anyone else first introduced to Morrissey from the Bill Nye the Science Guy episode about momentum? Or was that just me?
WTF this is actually good? Why are the other Morrissey solo albums so bad???
It's a crime to include so many Morrissey albums and exclude so many other artists. Let's talk about one of them! Los Amigos Invisibles are an amazing disco funk pop band from Venezuela, their first albums are all amazing and cover all their biggest hits, but their 4th album is incredible. The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1 released in 2003 is perfect and in my opinion, one of the best releases of the decade. Perfectly blending bossa, disco, house, salsa and other latin rythms i'm not knowledgeable enough to list here. It's mixed from start to finish, 16 tracks, no fillers, takes you on the most incredibly fun trip. Produced by Masters at Work and Dimitri From Paris, another example that sometimes you just need to trust an experts hand to create something special and unique. It's a shame that instead we have to listen to Moz's boring album where he wants to be igonred and we just don't oblige.
"I'm Hated For Loving"? Pfffftttttt. More like "I'm Hated For Being an Insufferable Racist Prick". Tone-deaf piece of shit.
Nope. I just can’t handle the crooning. The vocals all sounded the same. It was like he came to a studio and cut one long whiny vocal track and the band built 11 songs out of it. 2 stars
It was a good album. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen again, but solid. 6.4/10
Went on a bit, but please don't make me like Morrissey
Terrible voice, forgettable songs. Well-produced at least.
I.... Liked a Morrissey album? What no! This can't be no. Something must be wrong, this shouldn't be possible. And yet it is. I wasn't like in love with it but I actually would consider putting this on again if he wasn't the biggest twat on the planet. I feel betrayed by myself somehow. 6/10 I didn't say I loved it just that I liked it. And even then I feel dirty doing this.
There is altogether too much Morrissey on this list. If you had to pick one of his solo albums, I guess this is the best one. But for me that's still not high praise. It's self-indulgent, melancholic pap with some decent musical backing. 2⭐️
Just not a big fan of his solo work.
Still no fan of Morrissey. At least he doesn't sound so whiny on this record and the music is a bit more upbeat.
I didn't hate it. But so much of Morrissey just sounds the same to me.
Prefer his earlier singles, from Viva Hate
This was a pleasant surprise. Way better than the smiths album on here so far. Morrissey is given a rep of being depressing and this was far from that
Best Track - "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get"
Sad and hopeless sound from a real jerk
another wasted 39 mins.
Some halfway decent sounding songs but dragged down by the affected vocals and some lame lyrics
No thank you. Just not my cup of tea.
i liked a few of the pieces on this, but overall its just like any other morrisey, oh and his voice is starting to piss me off, really a dick of a person
If this had came out a decade earlier, everyone would have lost their minds. It's just the same stuff that had already been done for a decade. It isn't bad, just boring.
It's unfortunate to see a great album with a low score due to factors that don't just include the album itself. I like Morissey and The Smiths for the most part and this definitely feels different enough from The Smiths to be It's own thing.
None of these songs were good enough for me to overlook how old the "i am so lonesome, for i am detestable" schtick is when you know they're actually detestable
Okay whatever why is this here compared to his other albums
O cara é odiável mas até dos álbuns solo eu gosto. Favoritas são The More You Ignore Me e Why Dont You Find Out For Yourself, que eu percebi que sabia as letras inteiras de quando eu era xovem e mais fã, mais dedicada.
A good Morrissey album he actually sounds happy on this one it's nothing special just a solid album where all songs are just good
some hits and lots of misses. missing the secret sauce (marr). like how bare the nutso incel lyrics are in this compared to smiths tho, the pathology of it all showing itself (complimentary). fave track the more you ignore me
I really don’t care for Morrissey
I’ve listened to this twice now. I can say I have really tried with solo Morrissey. But it’s always the same. Something is missing. Marr. I gave The Queen is Dead a 5. I’ve had arguments about Morrissey and the Smiths with people. But without Marr, he’s just a sad, limp bit of lettuce revisiting all the themes of his youth with less vim and verve. It’s fine. 3 But I didn’t need to hear it before I die. Boolean: False
#201/1001 🇬🇧 Morrissey's finest album of his solo career, i was lucky enough to see him touring this record too and the St George's Hall in Bradford. Its amazing to think that this came 10 years after The Smith's first album and was already his 4th solo record. I remember him threatening to quit the music business after this, and i wish he had as everything that followed this has been pretty awful but he seems to be filling arenas rather provincial town halls these days. I'm done with him these days, but can gladly dissasociate this album from all of the nonsense that he spouts now. Best Tracks: Speedway, Lifeguard Sleeping Girl Drowning, Billy Budd, Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself, I Am Hated For Loving.
ok like i went into this fully expecting it to just be "the smiths but worse". and honestly a lot of it kind of is. but it turns out "the smiths but worse" can still be pretty good actually, and i enjoy some of the weird shit on the more adventurous tracks, like how "spring heeled jim" is layered up with documentary audio. it is with great regret that i must admit morrissey did make at least some good music. .....i still think he's a dickhead tho.
Dull
3/5 listenable but overall feels kinda milquetoast
Everything about his solo work and the Smiths is just fucking insufferable pretentious bullshit.
Chill pero sentido
I'm sorry, but this is great. Lots of users on this website cannot separate the artist from the art, it seems. THIS WAS 1994. Morrissey wasn't the same person then, and if you were alive then, neither were you. Yes, he's a garbage human now, but how is that relevant to this album? Focus on the music! So, that's what I'll be doing. Of course I know the Smiths, but this is for real the first Morrissey album I've ever listened to. Atmospheric, cathartic, and intense at times, though the melodies are perfect pop compositions for the most part. It's not completely perfect, but it might grow on me over time. Morrissey's delivery is particularly warm here, even when being sardonic. Some great lyrics as usual, though at times maybe he should have gotten off his high horse over certain "lessons" he has to teach us. "The Lazy Sunbathers" is even more relevant today than before. A great listen overall.
Absolute masterpiece!
Good talent but preferred his earlier tunes :)
Replacement-level Morrissey, but it's still Morrissey. Inevitably you have to compare this music to the Smiths. The vibe of the sadder songs is here on this album, but what's missing is the catchy intricacy of Mars' guitar work, or the fun cheekiness that Morrissey has. Probably a 3.5, but rounding to 4 because it's a nice album to have in the background.
This did not hold my attention very well, and little stood out. Didn’t offend me I guess.
Mwah niet helemaal mijn plaat. Te veel melancholie, ik heb nu vakantie dan heb ik daar geen zin in. Stem vond ik eerst maar waardeloos, maar uiteindelijk kan ik hem zeker waarderen. Ik denk een 3.5 misschien hoger als ik als boze tiener op mijn kamer zit en mijn ouders haat. Of als ik bipolair zou zijn en ik dan in een mega down zit , of als mijn vriendin het uit maakt… maar dat is allemaal nu niet, toch?
Dit album heeft mij positief verrast, zeker na de laatste die we van Morrisey hebben geluisterd. Het is minder zwaarmoedig en vaak ook minder zwaarmoedig dan de smiths. Waar zij vaak balanceren tussen indie en alternatief is dit album veep meer indie. Ik vond het een leuk album. Het fluisterlied vond ik dan weer wat minder. Ik zou het tussen de drie en vier sterren geven. Hoewel de review overwegend positief is gaat mijn gevoel tpch naar de drie sterren
Sinds het vorige album ben ik er een beetje op afgeknapt en ben ik bang dat het niet meer goed gaat komen. Muzikaal is het best wel aardig. Het is meer ruimtelijk en in mineur en minder jangle-achtig, wat ik eigenlijk interessanter vind. Alleen blijft Morrissey zelf me behoorlijk tegenstaan. Die theatrale, jankerige manier van zingen en schrijven begint me steeds meer te irriteren. Ik merk dat Morrissey, hoe meer ik in het album kom, steeds meer in de weg gaat zitten.
Leuker dan het vorige solo album van Morrissey, t klinkt dan ook meer als The Smiths dan het vorige. Dit album heeft wel wat melancholisch, ik moet zeggen dat ik niet de allergrootste Smiths fan ben, niet dat ik t slecht vind, maar zijn stem kan je altijd uit duizenden herkennen. Tis de manier waarop hij articuleert en hoe hij zijn zanglijnen een kant op buigt. Ik weet dat veel mensen dat erg mooi vinden, zelf weet ik niet zo goed of ik t mooi vind of hoe ik het zou moeten waarderen. Ik geef t daarom een 3.5 en wie weet groeit het naar een 4.
I didn't feel this one quite as much as t'other
Really thought I'd hate this, but as it turns out it is OK. Doesn't do anything for me but listenable.
I didn’t hate it. But I still hate Morrissey.
4 - like the smiths more. Lethargic
Ihan oikeesti, tällaista kuraa listalla, yksi huonoimpia tähän asti. Vaikka The Smithsin albumi aiemmin listalla oli hieno levy niin tämä on aivan ripulia. 1/5
Ça ressemble un peu à The Smith dans la voix je trouve, et dans les instrus et rythmes c'est très sympa aussi, pop-rock
J’adore sa voix J’aime trop, c’est doux avec la bonne justesse, c’est pas chiant
C'était plutôt sympa, j'ai bien aimé
Better than the Quarry album
***a good easy listening album!
First they made me sit through two Smiths albums, and now this? No, thanks—I don't want to listen to those awful vocals and those dreary songs anymore. I've had enough, please.
Morrissey should not have 90s sludgy production he's not an adult contemporary singer he's a catty bitch. The More You Ignore Me is pretty great - "I've made up your mind" is so classic Morrissey. Speedway kinda fun when they play a leafblower for no reason.
Racist attention whore.
It's that guy from the Smiths.
Nothing that even touches the Smiths on here. And I don’t have even faith in Morrissey to follow him down these rabbit trails.
Morrissey recorded this album at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire during the summer of 1993, immediately after his longtime producer Mick Ronson died of cancer. He responded to this loss the way Morrissey responds to everything, by making it about Morrissey. The result is an album described by critics as a swansong, a masterpiece, an elegant midlife crisis, and a windowless hallway of nonstop self pity. All of these descriptions are correct simultaneously, which is the particular magic trick Morrissey has been pulling since 1983 and which I find approximately as charming as a persistent car alarm. The album debuted at number one in the UK. Thom Yorke later said it was all over The Bends, which means Radiohead owes Morrissey a debt they will never publicly acknowledge and Morrissey has almost certainly mentioned this in an interview. The lead single became the only Morrissey or Smiths song to crack the American top fifty, which tells you everything about America and also about Morrissey. Hold On To Your Friends, is a song about the importance of not abandoning the people closest to you, written by a man who has spent thirty years being abandoned by or abandoning virtually everyone closest to him. Johnny Marr left. Mike Joyce sued him. His manager quit. His label dropped him. The list of people who have played on a Morrissey album and then given a carefully worded interview about it is long enough to form its own support group, which they would probably enjoy more than working with Morrissey. One critic described the experience of listening to this album as being tossed down a windowless hallway of self pity with a surprisingly good groove underneath it. This is the most accurate sentence written about Morrissey since Johnny Marr handed in his notice. The orchestra is beautiful. It is Morrissey with more instruments. This changes nothing fundamental about the experience of listening to Morrissey, which is the experience of being cornered at a party by someone who is genuinely witty and completely exhausting in equal measure and will not let you leave until the song is over. Morrissey has seventeen albums, a voice like a man sighing in a library, and a songwriting catalogue of documented grievances against people who have since moved on and are doing fine. This is the first I have been subjected to so far for this project, I'm afraid there will be more. 2 out of 5. One star for Now My Heart Is Full, which is genuinely beautiful and almost made me forget who made it. One star for the band, who recorded a number one album at Hook End Manor with a man who titled a song I Am Hated For Loving and apparently did not find this exhausting. The remaining three stars are holding onto their friends somewhere, which is more than can be said for the artist.
Third verse, same as the first. Vauxhall and I doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. Maybe that’s exactly what Morrissey’s fans are looking for, and if so, he’ll probably deliver everything they want. But from my perspective, it feels like he’s content to stay in familiar territory rather than push himself creatively. More than anything, listening to this just left me wishing we had another Smiths album on the list instead.
As far as I am concerned there are too many Morrissey albums on this list and this is one of them. If you like his stuff then this is the same old vibe you'd expect. Nothing outstanding or even interesting at all.
3.4
Now My Heart Is Full 3.5 Spring-Heeled Jim 3.3 Billy Budd 3.4 Hold On to Your Friends 3.4 The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I get 3.8 Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself 3.3 I Am Hated for Loving 3 Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning 3.1 Used to Be a Sweet Boy 3.2 The Lazy Sunbathers 3 Speedway 3.2 Score: 3.290909091
Kurwa co to byla za kosiara na speedway
Let’s put the "Morrissey is a twat" arguments aside. Some good lyrics, which we know Morrissey is good at. I think the fault lies more with the music. It's not stirring emotions. It feels limp to me. Beige. And this was the solo album NME declared as Morrissey's best (in 2014). If I were to "blame" anyone, it's not just Morrissey. He collaborated with Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer from the early 90s. Whyte and Boorer created a sound profile for Morrissey- they gave Moz an old school rock and roll plus light rockabilly transfusion. Overall: 2/10
I liked the sound and the song writing but it definitely wore out its welcome.
godDAMNIT
Look, if you want to hate on Morrissey I get it. Truly truly truly. These songs will always be here though, long after he's done having opinions.
Un par de melodías buenas pero la mayoría son zzz 2.7 ya qué no hay ni una canción memorable
Morrissey is annoying. And he sings every song in the same “woe is me” sickly-sweet “listen to my ‘poetry’” delivery. I can tell this album has more to it and some of the songs sound ok. But they all sound like sad sack love songs, regardless of the topic. It’s a 2. I hope i am now done listening to Morrissey’s ouvre.
This felt a more reserved and introspective Morrissey than normal, and perhaps not as brusque as much of his other work. I actually ended up giving 2 listens through which I wouldn't have anticipated at the start of the day.
Released in 1994, *Vauxhall And I* is widely considered the pinnacle of Morrissey's solo career, an album where his artistic vision achieved a kind of profound, melancholic perfection . It's the sound of an artist shaking off the ghosts of his past and fully owning his future. ### 🎶 The Music & Production: A Rich, Atmospheric Sound After the glam-rock energy of *Your Arsenal*, *Vauxhall And I* takes a more subdued and atmospheric turn . Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album has a lush, layered sound that feels both intimate and cinematic . - **Musical Style**: The core sound is driven by carefully constructed guitar pop, with textured, ringing guitars that feel like a natural evolution of The Smiths' jangly sound, but distinct from it . Guitarists and songwriters Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer crafted music that perfectly complements Morrissey's vocals, moving away from pastiche to create something new and confident . - **Production Highlights**: The production is full of rich detail. "Now My Heart Is Full" builds from a quiet intro to a near-Spectorian wall of sound, while "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" uses haunting, ethereal backing to create a delicate, melancholic atmosphere . The use of unusual instrumental colors, like the melancholy clarinet and marimba, adds to the album's unique sonic texture . - **Album Highlights**: - **"Now My Heart Is Full"**: A sweeping album opener often cited as one of his best solo tracks. It’s a grand, emotional statement that sets the tone for the entire record . - **"The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get"**: The catchy lead single that became his first US chart hit, built on a perfect, driving riff with a self-aware, witty lyric . - **"Speedway"**: A visceral, epic closer that roars to life with the sound of an engine and culminates in a powerful statement of defiance and survival . - **"Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself"**: A quietly magnificent, gentle-yet-jaunty track where weariness and resignation are delivered with a powerful sense of ambiguity . ### 📝 The Lyrics & Themes: Weariness, Defiance, and the Self Lyrically, *Vauxhall And I* is Morrissey at his most honest, vulnerable, and sharp . It was born from a period of personal and professional turmoil, including the death of his friend and producer Mick Ronson, and intense scrutiny from the British press over accusations of racism . - **A Midlife Crisis with Dignity**: The album is often described as an "elegant midlife crisis" . It's an album about aging, loss, and the weariness of a life lived in the public eye . "I'm tired again, I tried again / And now my heart is full / And I just can't explain, so I won't even try to," he sings on the opener, capturing that profound exhaustion . - **Against the Detractors**: Several songs are direct shots at the music industry and the press who had targeted him. "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself" is a kiss-off to "record-label ogres" and the "industry-vulture species," while "Speedway" serves as a "two-finger salute" to his detractors . - **The Romance of the Outsider**: He continues to explore themes of doomed romance and misunderstood outsiders, while also being more direct about his sexuality. In "I Am Hated for Loving," he captures the exhaustion of being persecuted for his affections: "I am hated for loving... I am mine" . The ambiguous "Billy Budd" also hints at forbidden love and societal rejection . - **Dark Humor**: As always, Morrissey's wit is never far from the surface. The gleefully bitter "The More You Ignore Me" contains the classic couplet: "Beware I bear more grudges / than lonely High Court judges" . This ability to laugh in the face of despair is a key part of the album's charm . ### 💡 The Influence: A Definitive Statement *Vauxhall And I* cemented Morrissey's status as a solo star, proving he could thrive without The Smiths . It was a critical and commercial success, going to number one in the UK and breaking him into the American market with its lead single . Its influence is seen in the way it reconciled artistic credibility with a more mainstream, accessible sound—a blueprint for the melancholy pop that would follow. --- ## ⚖️ Pros & Cons Given its high praise, what holds it back from absolute perfection? ### 👍 The Pros - **Career-Defining Peak**: Often cited as the definitive Morrissey solo album, rivaling the quality of his work with The Smiths . - **Incredible Lyrics**: Some of the most honest, witty, and emotionally resonant lyrics of his career, tackling complex themes with great skill . - **Superb Production**: Steve Lillywhite's rich, atmospheric production creates a perfect, textured soundscape that is both intimate and grand . - **No Filler**: Every track is considered strong and fits perfectly, making it a cohesive listen from start to finish . ### 👎 The Cons - **Monochromatic Sound**: The album's consistency can be its weakness. Some critics find that the slower, ballad-heavy second half melts together into a "shapelessly lovely mass," leading to a "sleepy" or "one-note" feel . - **Lack of Energy**: The genteel production, while beautiful, can rob the songs of the urgency and velocity they possess in a live setting . It feels more like a refined, stately procession than the combustible rock of its predecessor. - **Flawed Masterpiece**: Some argue that the album is "deeply flawed," with several tracks ("Hold on to Your Friends," "I Am Hated for Loving") being musically unremarkable and not stretching Morrissey's range enough . *Vauxhall And I* stands as a towering achievement in Morrissey's catalog. It is the sound of a man at a crossroads, choosing to move forward on his own terms, and creating a work of art that is as vital, perverse, and alive today as it was upon its release .
There seems to be more than enough Smiths and Morrisey albums on this list and every time one comes up I think it might explain the hype. Still none the wiser after this.
It’s just decent. I’ve got no strong opinions on this at all. Hold on to Your Friends and Speedway were my main highlights
A solid rock alternative/indie pop album, some personal, confessional and socio-political tracks.
It wasn’t until I’d listened to 300 albums that I actually realized Robert Dimery’s mission with his book *1001 Albums* is to demonstrate the greatness of British musicianship over the ages. There’s hardly any other explanation for why a total of seven albums by Morrissey and The Smiths are included - none of which, however, are better than mediocre. Especially in the ’90s, the British scene had fallen somewhat behind internationally, and “Vauxhall and I” must have sounded really odd back in 1994. Instead of being contemporary, this is… well, what exactly? Weird singer-songwriter stuff that wasn’t cool in any decade I’m familiar with - not really bad, but dead boring. Interestingly, before this project, I didn’t know who Morrissey was, which I’d previously considered a gap in my education. Good to know that’s not the case and that I can continue to skip him in the future.
Softer gently-er Morrissey. A little boring but a few tracks stand out like “the more you ignore me…”
This is a pretty good album but I can't see how this is necessary to listen to. 2nd solo Morrisey seems redundant.
another morrissey album... I listened to more morrissey albums than the smiths. music aint that bad, but can bro please be happy for once? (3.0/5.0) music wise
I enjoyed this album. I was a bit distracted but I like what I heard. I will give this 4 stars
It is difficult to separate the art from the artist with Morrissey. Morrissey has repeatedly demonstrated the rare ability, over a lifetime, to truly be an insufferable miserable douche bag. So, any effort to interpret his songs is a difficult task because it is obvious that he is talented as a vocalist but every song comes off as a parody because you are constantly reminded that he is an insufferable miserable douche bag. And so, while it may be possible to someday get past the hurdle that makes listening to Morrissey painful, today is not that fucking day. 0/5
I listened to this as a teen but my tastes have changed
This is the most British thing I've ever heard.
Never been a Morrissey fan. I liked this album. He's a tool.
Oh this is where some of this sound comes from! You can tell he's a contemporary of Joy Division, and the Manchester sound shows through.
I like The Smiths a lot. And I liked the first 1.5 albums Morrissey put out after the Smiths broke up. But with every passing year farther away from Johnny Marr he just gets more insufferable. This was still fairly early in his solo career, but it is still just boring.
This was an okay album. It had a relatively old-ish vibe but also somehow relatively new-ish. Leaving it in the background was alright and some might even find it enjoyable for active listening.
The More You Ignore Me still rocks.
I will begin by saying i am unapologetically a big smiths fan. they are my most listened to band. that being said, i was never a huge fan of his slo career. i feel like most of his post smiths albums lack the bite and tenacity of old. this album, although as close as you can get to a true smiths experience in the 90s, sounds a bit dull compared to earlier works. Morrisseys vocals and lyrics are still brilliant and sound vintage. i believe the album starts off quite slow and poor, but picks up the pace by billy budd. the stand out tracks to me are tracks 5,6, and 8. A fine, inoffensive album with no real peaks or valleys. also apparently this album inspired the bends but i doubt it. 3.25
Can someone please tell me why Morrissey is still so famous? He doesn't write any songs, he's a monotonous singer and by accounts a complete ahole in real life. I can see some Smiths on this list but solo stuff? Really? To paraphrase Charles Bukowski in Barfly, it's not that I don't like Morrissey, I just that like it better when he's not on the stereo.
At long last, the last Morrissey (solo) album in the collection! (Sadly, still one more Smiths album to go, though.) Not too much to add beyond that factoid and sentiment, honestly, other than this album didn't seem to be all that distinctive or different from the others. Oh, and each Morrissey infliction revises my Cure estimation upward.
I hated this one the least of the too many Morrissey albums on this list. It was okay. Made me want to put on some Esprit clothes, maybe pick up a sweater at Benetton.
Sounds a lot like Morrissey, which is okay.
Boring...
Ok
3/5
Ugh, Morrissey is so much better than I want him to be.
Ok
Does Morrissey have the biggest chasm between his approval rating as a person and the approval rating of his music? Maybe Kanye? Although Kanye is almost in a different tier due to crossing way more lines than Morrissey ever had plus the mental health angle. I feel like Billy Corgan is the most apt American comparison to Morrissey. However with Billy it’s really his insecurity that makes him off putting so people just see him as a (sneakily giant) baby. Thank you for coming to my TED talk
Why don't you find out for yourself is a tune, the rest is OK. There's way too much morrissey on this list!
Morrissey being Morrissey
Jeez this was frickin amazing. I didn’t wanna like it because it’s him but I loved it.
Enjoyed it a lot, probably more than any Smiths album.
Not bad, but nothing really stood out as worthy of making this list. A decent album of Morrissey songs, but not nearly as good as the stuff with the Smiths.
Best Song: The More you Ignore me, the Closer I get Phew, there was way too much good music in the mid-90s, we needed some Morrissey to help balance it out. Seriously, wtf is with people's love of Morrissey. His voice and genre is best described as monotone annoyance. Plus, from everything I have heard about him, he makes Eric Clapton and Roger Waters look like nice, uncomplicated, and even keeled chaps. I don't like The Smiths and I don't like their douchey lead singer. 1/5.
Was actually close to 4 stars. Gave most of it a second listen
I don’t know, this is fine. I didn’t hate it as much as I always kinda expect to hate Morrissey’s music that isn’t accompanied by Johnny Marr’s fantastic guitar but I still didn’t necessarily like it all that much either. 3 stars
Go ahead, and marry your favorite English city then.
Morrissey being an insufferable twat aside, I really enjoyed this album, and lyrically and musically it is very good. Now My Heart is Full is head and shoulders above a collection of great songs. 4 stars
Very solid. I really enjoyed Billy Budd, which I don’t know if I’d heard.
I kind of liked this one, for the most part. As I understand, he’s a bit of a douche…too bad, but I don’t let that influence my ratings. Anyway, this is between a three and a four for me. Probably closer to a three.
Lol. "Doet me best denken aan the smiths" dacht ik. Blijkt de zanger daarvan te zijn. Echt mooie alternatieve rock. Heeft idd iets van The Smiths maar dan meer 90s alternatieve rock. Soms wat verrassende keuzes (sax bijv!)
J’viens d’apprendre que c’était le chanteur de The smiths, pas si fou vu que c’est le même style mais surpris quand même 3,5
Almost every song is about how no one likes Morrissey and how he has no friends. When someone tells you who they are, listen.
It was fine.
I find Morrissey to be “aggressively okay”. This is no exception
Bueno
getting really into morrissey lmao. what does that mean about me idk but. perfect rainy day album. like the vibes are fantastic for driving in the rain and everything's all gray outside... feels very twin peaks-y. but yeah this was lovely
어우 듣기 좋아
I remember reading about this album when it came out. I never listened to it. I know Viva Hate really well the album he released after leaving the Smiths. This album he seems to have found a sound that complements his singing. It’s not Johnny Marr but it’s close. The music is good. The lyrics are vintage Morrissey sure he is a racist and full of his nationalist bs. I can separate it on a few things. He is just an odd person. I think plenty of these old guys have embraced nationalism as a viewpoint. It’s a horrible stance.
Mit dem Morrisey werde ich nicht warm.
It’s a shame Morrissey is such a knob, because it dilutes how much of my hatred is purely from his music output.
Morrissey makes a Britpop album, and it fucking rules. And that stinks a bit because he's a garbage person, but I gotta be true to myself and love him in spite of himself. Even at his most overdramatic, there's a thoughtfulness here that is impressive and poignant. It's good - plain and simple.
I still don’t like Morrissey, but maybe I don’t hate him
surprisingly nice
Morrissey doesn’t have any friends and he’s making it everyone else’s problem
1.55
Dimery has limited musical taste
🎧Decent album. Shit human.
Der Engländer Steven Patrick Morrissey, einst Stimme und Kopf der Smiths, veröffentlichte sein viertes Soloalbum im März 1994 über Parlophone – aufgenommen im Sommer 1993 in Hook End Manor, einem herrschaftlichen Landsitz in Oxfordshire, der sich als Aufnahmestudio etabliert hatte. Produzent Steve Lillywhite entwarf einen Klang von ungewohnter Zurückhaltung: akustische Gitarren, gedämpfte Streicher, kaum ein aufgesetzter Effekt. Das Ergebnis klingt, als hätte Morrissey beschlossen, endlich leise zu sprechen. Thematisch kreist das Album um Abschied, Freundschaft und die erschöpfte Würde des Alleinseins. „Now My Heart Is Full" trägt eine fast zärtliche Dankbarkeit in sich, „Hold On to Your Friends" ist ein seltener Aufruf zur Loyalität statt zur Selbstbezogenheit, und „The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" gelang der größte kommerzielle Einzelerfolg von Morrisseys Solokarriere. Selbst die dunkleren Tracks – etwa „Spring-Heeled Jim" oder „Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself" – wirken weniger theatralisch als auf früheren Alben, was ihnen mehr Gewicht verleiht. Vauxhall and I gilt weithin als Morrisseys stärkstes Solowerk, und dieser Ruf ist verdient. Es ist eines jener seltenen Alben, bei denen die Reduktion kein Mangel ist, sondern die eigentliche Aussage. Wer von Morrisseys späteren Irrwegen enttäuscht wurde, findet hier den Künstler in seiner ruhigsten, konzentriertesten Form – und das ist mehr als genug. Wer hier zum ersten Mal zuhört, wird verstehen, warum eine ganze Generation diesen Mann für unverzichtbar hielt.
'Now my heart is full / & I just can't explain / So I won't even try to.' Yeah, I think this is as good as The Queen Is Dead, & Morrissey is honestly a more impressive storyteller on his fourth solo release. He receives his points for not loosing himself in obscurantist fantasies at the same time that he's not the poster child for realism/naturalism. 'I said, Billy Budd / I would happily lose both of my legs.' Topped off w/ greater rock 'n' roll spirit than he ever did muster w/ The Smiths, Morrissey may not be the greatest songwriter of all time, but he's second to none for a certain brand of pop madness, b/c that is what this is: a mad, mad tribute to pop music.
As much as I dislike Morrissey as man I can’t get away from the fact he’s done some good albums, although I do wonder where he would be without the talents of people like Johnny Marr and other backing musicians
It was an alright one, I liked his others more Will I listen to again: 25%
Yeah, whatever. The most middle of the road album imaginable. Nothing offensively bad, but nothing great either Favorite Song: Spring Heeled Jim, Speedway
Here’s what you need if you listen to Morrissey (I never will again): a stuffy black turtleneck, a vodka martini with a green olive, and a butt plug.
This was just alright, I prefer The Smiths over Morrissey's solo work. Very same album. Also obligatory fuck Morrissey. Favorite Track - The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get Least Favorite Track - Hold On To Your Friends. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
He might well be a complete dick these days but this is still a great album
t abien
Morrisey is a good lyricist. This album is quite good. It's not great. Starts out a lot better than it finishes. Not even taking 2026 Morrisey into consideration. It's almost a 4 on its own. (Very good, but I won't be listening to it again.) However: Johnny Marr is worth a star.
This Morrissey album was actually pretty good. I didn't like The Quarry, he sounded way too much like a Smiths parody then. That album made me not feel too great on his solo stuff. However this one I feel could pass as a Smiths album, I guess he still had the same mojo left. Musically, it has all the jangle pop characteristics and Morissey's very unique songwriting and singing style. This has put some faith back into Morrissey post-Smiths music career. Hoping the next album I get from him is as good as this or better. Highlight Song/s: "Now My Heart Is Full"
Very nice. Well made.
Not my cup of tea but not unlistenable. It reminded me of the Smiths but less melancholic, or at least less whiny. Edit: this dude is the singer for the Smiths so that explains the resemblance. 3/5.
Politics aside, this is an ok album that fails to match his or the smiths previous work
The opening track wad worrying ok and i might even stretch to say enjoyable, albeit could have been shorter. Up to ‘the more you ignore me…’ this is actually quite a good album, but the tracks after that dont really maintain that level and its all a bit meh. Overall its a 2.5/5 but as that’s not possible i think it’s possibly slighter more a 2 than it is a 3
I don’t know who I annoyed in a previous life to have to listen to Morrissey again so soon, but I clearly upset someone. It was alright. Inoffensive, as far as Morrissey is inoffensive (so not very).
There has been too much Morrissey lately... I don't particularly like the timbre of his voice, but I think I have a much bigger issue with the way he delivers lines: how he holds notes and jumps around all over the place. Plus he's an arsehole. I think this is another situation where if someone else was singing the songs, I might really enjoy some of them a lot more. There is some good songwriting here, it's all just not to my taste when sung by Morrissey. 2/5
Morrissey has 7 albums total on the list, 4 solo and 3 with The Smiths. What the fuck Dimery, are you telling me Morrissey is as good as the Beatles? But anyway, this is the best Morrissey I've gotten so far, the songs seem more upbeat. I wonder if this guy has ever done a 40's style big band album, he fits right into the crooner category.
After awhile, Morissey’s shtick just sounds the same.
Found this album generally dull and forgettable. Maybe you had to be there at the time, but it just doesn't stand out to me as particularly interesting. Not to mention that Morrissey is a raging asshole.
Kind of boring and not really emotionally resonating with me. And to be honest I think it's the worst thing one can say about a Morrissey album.
Really enjoyed this. Thought I’d had my fill of Smiths / Morrissey throughout this project but obviously I was wrong.
Um… Morrissey without Marr really is pretty insufferable. And there’s four of these! FOUR. That’s ALOT of Morrissey without Marr. Not sure how I feel about it. I was going 3, but I am feeling salty.
I think I’ve heard enough Morrissey now to really know where I stand on him overall. It’s 2 stars. However, if this were a list of song titles rather than a list of albums, he would be one of the greats. I Am Hated For Loving. lol, lmao, good stuff
I like individual songs by the smiths but this album felt like too much of the same. Nothing resonated with me.
The album is pretty good, not really my jam but it's perfectly good listening music
Second Morrissey album in my first 90 days. Apparently, I am not a fan.
Never will I ever, f*ck this guy.
That was pretty mid.
So this album was more tolerable than other Morrissey/Smiths albums I've had. Used to Be a Sweet Boy stood out. 2.5/5
This one I'm struggling with, because I am appreciating that he's going in a more straight 90's alternative direction vs. his old janglepop/post-punk stuff with The Smiths. But his voice, especially on the more rocking cuts, kinda gets drowned out, and I've never particularly been a fan of his vocals. This is one of his better vocal performances though. Hold Onto Your Friends has an amazing melody as well.
I initially expected this album to bore me, but surprisingly, it didn't. It was actually sort of pleasant to listen to as background music while I completed random tasks.
I thought for a moment that this got really good, but then I realized that Apple Music automatically started playing music after the album ended and it while it was probably obvious that the Cranberries aren't Morrissey, it was just so nice to hear a good song after listening to this.
meh
I NEVER connected with the Smiths or Morrisey and try as I might, it is not clicking now. Like who cares. Why does he sing like that. No rhythm.
2.3 Johnny Marr > Morrisey
Ihana ihana Morrissey! Ei petä ❤️
Pretty enjoyable album Standout songs: Now my heart is full Why dont you find out for yourself Speedway
He's a twat, but it's decent.
would've been a 4 if morrissey wasn't a prick #shame
no me disgustó pero a veces se siente como si la base musical no hiciera match con la voz idkkk
no estuvo malo pero no destaca
Another Morrissey album that did nothing for me .
Not very impressed. Another bland Morrissey album. Let's keep it to the Smiths and that's it.
My daughter's really like The Smiths so this album made me think of them. I like listening to his voice. Its not necessarily comforting but it makes me feel at ease. However the production of this album doesn't feel intentional. Its slightly messy. Favorite song: I Am Hated For Loving. The song alone is a 4.5 to me.
The thing I struggle with, with Morrisseys solo stuff, is the actual music itself. Morrisseys voice sounds great, just like it always does, and he sings some great lines with the same self pity that could be found in the Smiths stuff, but I find the dynamic between him and the music not good, it falls flat, so that it all feels pointless.
It’s beautiful album , I like it , I don’t love it , I usually say 5 but he is a prick so a 4
El álbum de los yearners y migajeros, me encantó.
**** is this. I have heard this album like 5 times already with the amount of "inspirations" its probably based on. Wow what a waste of my time. Even bruce springsteen is better than this.
I feel like I have heard this album atleast 5 times before on this list. It is genuinely boring and uninspiring. The old heads that made this list should get their heads out of their asses and listen to anything made after 1990.
This is just more of the smiths, I am not particularly fond of the smiths, and particularly I never really enjoyed the vocals. That having said I can hear the actual songs are pretty good, and perhaps if someone else had sung them I would've enjoyed them more. Though I cannot imagine them ever being my favourite.
Meh...
I thought this album was a little slower and sadder than The Smiths albums I’ve listened to. It was a little interesting, but kinda just unremarkable. Nothing particularly stood out, but it wasn’t horrible either.
This is actually a good album but he loses 2 points for being Morrisey
5/10… madchester / britpop / *1994
Don't care about this man at all
I like The Smiths but Im sorry morrissey this one is a lil boring!! It was such a borrissey I started to snorrissey. The morrissey the less I know, right? Fav track: idk they all sounded the same
Billy Budd kinda goes. The Closer I Get is nice. It's all good enough, I just think it would have been a lot better had it had some more bite to it. The songs are begging for the snare to cut through, for louder guitar, a bigger and sharper sound in general. As is it kinda hangs there when it shouldn't
what i expected from a morrissey album it was Fine
i wanted to like this more because i enjoy morrissey’s voice and some of the sound was fun but i think without the nostalgia, his "i am hated for loving / i am haunted for wanting", "used to be a sweet boy" shtick makes me roll my eyes. like, is that sincere? i hope not. as my previous reviews have established i’m not in a big "self-pity" era but if i were this would probably appeal to me more. HATED all the fucking whispering on the track about the drowning girl, felt like an HR report. overall fine but probably not something i would go back to. fav: billy budd
had to search up if this guy was in the smiths and he was
Not for me
actualyl pretty good ut is this not just the smiths guys? Hold on lemem search ot up update it actauly is
I kind of hate that this is pretty good, given how terrible a person Morrisey is now. Not nearly as good as The Smiths, but lots of solid tracks and some nice guitar playing too. I think if I had listened to it when it came out first I would have loved it, but there's too much baggage with this guy now to judge his solo music fairly. It's definitely not "for Loving" that he's Hated.
While the instrumentation and arrangements change, Morrissey doesn't shape his vocal performance to the song. It just sounds like the exact same poetry reading over different backgrounds, instead of the vocals adapting to the music. This is important to me as I value the instrumentals, the melody, harmony, and rhythm, much more than the content of lyrics. So, a 3 maybe for the instrumental performers, the engineers, and the production staff, but nothing for the vocals. I wish that Morrissey had discovered how to expand his vocal performance skills. Baffled how this makes anybody's list. I'll take Tom Jones THE LEAD AND HOW TO SWING IT from 1994 over this. At least Tom Jones knows how to deliver a varied vocal performance.
Can tell he’s talented but didn’t really hook me.
I hate this man. Great album.
I hate this man and this album just makes me miss the smiths.
Still doesn’t have the sauce The Smiths albums have.
Favorite Track: Speedway
He's doing everything on here opposite of what I hate about The Smiths. He's open and honest, like he's just having a conversation with you, he just happens to be singing. He's not reaching for high notes, not whispering or murmuring or singing with some dumb quaver to cosplay intimacy. He's just there. I enjoyed everything, but liked none of it enough to say I wanted to listen to it again. I wouldn't get mad if someone put it on, but I'm not coming back on my own. My Rating: 3/5
I'm looking forward to encountering a Smiths album on this app. Meantime, we have this offering from Morrissey. It's not too shabby and each track seems to attain the same standard. But unfortunately it ends up feeling like a poor man's Smiths album. It's also difficult to listen to this without remembering how bonkers Morrissey's views became post-Smiths.
As much as I despise Morrissey for his political views and narcissistic, pompous persona, I can’t deny that he has an amazing voice and a real knack for poetry. His ability in that regard is present here, but The Smiths ultimately have far better albums than this.
very good!! maybe gets a little slow and monotonous at times, hence the missing star, but individually almost all of these tracks are fantastically floaty and ethereal. morrissey why must you be such a dickhead
Is everything from him on the list?! I don't get the allure. He's got a decent voice but it's missing something. So at best I would give this album a 2. It's just not for me. That said I worked in a venue he came through on a tour. He is such an insufferable ass nothing would get me to listen to him more than this list. Seriously go read about some of his antics, no talent is worth that.
not my thing
Music: Excellent. Lyrics: Confusing and English. Singing: Whiny. So whiny. So very mopey and whiny. I think I just don't like Morrissey. 3.
Morrissey has great descriptive language / turn of phrase - “Spring Heeled Jim,” “I will be in the bar with my head on the bar,” “ I near more grudges than lonely high court judges,” “the sanest days are mad”. His voice is great. I do miss the Smiths band back up on this album though. I need the Smiths or Morrissey’s sound is too swoony for me. Morrissey tried a different vocal style on “Sleeping Lifeguard/Dying Girl.” I’m not sure if I like it. Possibly more listens to it are required to decide.” “Speedway,” is more my speed. (Yes, I know what I did there).
lol, Morrissey sucks so hard. 1/10
Didn’t love, didn’t hate.
Good.
I'm not sure we needed four Morrissey albums (and maybe more to come) on this list. This was probably the one I was able to sit through without being completely annoyed, but overall its the same issues I have with him; overwrought but simple lyrics, these big sweeping musical numbers behind him with the most uninspired monotone vocals.
Yeah I just don’t think I like Morrissey and despite this lists best efforts I don’t see that changing
Ahhh, okey
I might just not be a Morrissey kinda guy
bore off 2/5
Separate the art from the artist. Yes, an absolute plum and it’s not the Smiths, however a decent album, and well worth a listen. Enjoyed it 3.6/5.
I mean it’s basically a decent smiths album so it certainly does the job, but i’m not head over heels for it. And i know morrisey sucks, but his vocals are something special. Standouts are Hold on to your Friends and The more you ignore me.
With the caveat that I came into this liking the smiths and disliking Morissey, it was difficult to come into this without bias. That being said, the lyrics were torturous, the melodies passable and the vocals draining
Wasn't what I expected. I actually really enjoyed this.
Oh, Moz, you pretentious, self-centered, insufferable turd. Some of this is actually enjoyable.
A bit forgettable. Not really the classic morrisey vibe.
I kind of liked his style and his voice was nice. But the music didn't really do anything for me.
Not pleased about being made to listen to solo morrissey. He somehow has the worst taste in album artwork ever. Speedway did kind of knock my socks off though so credit for that
More jangle slop Nothing interesting really happened ngl 2
Me gustó mucho, mucha letra interesante y canciones que reversionadas quedarían muy bien (ej electrónica)
Jesus Christ, how many fucking albums from this cunt are on here??? 2⭐️ rounding down because 🖕🏻Morrisey
It's alright. I found it a lot better than "You Are the Quarry" Would rather listen to the Smiths than just this guy.
F Morrisey. What a disappointment. Classic album but there are many better albums by better humans.
I thought I was going to hate this album but it turned out to be quite tolerable.
Not a huge fan of Morrissey's voice, delivery or general vibe. Didn't recognize anything off this album and so it just sort of slid past me.
Well, it sounds less mopey than Morrissey's other works that I've listened to, and some songs (e.g., "Billy Budd") are downright energetic. Still nothing that makes me especially interested in listening a second time, though.
Ugh. Morrissey. Again. If you've heard one Morrissey album, you've heard them all. There's usually a decent song (two if you're lucky) and then back to Morrissey being miserable.
Now my heart is full Billy budd The more you ignore me
Okay, there is a gap between what I have known and what I have become. Morrisey is like a mint julep on a May Day, refreshing. For years I never listened to morissey or the smiths because I saw them as a weak man’s music. I think I hated him for loving. I prescribed to the poison pen of Colorado’s war lock punchers moto, “morrisey rides a cock horse”! I repent it’s a mint julep for my lazy day at the races.
Thing about Morrisey albums is that he picks talented songwriters to take care of the music and arrangement and he only writes the lyrics so really he is the Bernie Taupin of the operation. To me it’s all about the tunes, bad lyrics can definitely drag songs down but no quality of lyric can elevate bad music. I don’t like him but I do like his albums, that’s not an endorsement of the monumental ball bag that is Stephen Morrissey but rather an objective recognition of his taste in song writing partners. 4.0
Its fine. Not a fan of the man or his voice but there are good songs on here. Probably slightly prefer it to Viva Hate too
His voice is so velvety…enjoyed the listen!
I read a review saying this was Morrissey's best solo album and I might have to agree with that. Steve Lillywhite made this and Under the Table and Dreaming in 1994 so I can see why this album is pretty solid. There's one hit track that I've heard before. Still, its Morrissey solo and its not that great at all.
Shame that this guy is a dick, but at least he makes good tunes, I suppose. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I am somehow at a 5. Lord, forgive me. I said it the last time we got Morrissey, which was over 500 days ago: I think I like Morrissey when he’s not fucking complaining. This is, for once, an album where he’s not fucking complaining, and what emerges from it is a genuinely strong 40 minutes with good observational tracks that doesn’t feel like it’s a guy bitching about the state of the world. The loose grunge / alt rock soundscape that underlines many of these more personable & slightly intimidating tracks fits well. Morrissey’s delivery has just enough minor vitriol behind it as often as it has some sweeter tones to it, keeping it balanced in a way that really works. He knows when to really HIT on certain lines & pull back on others, controlling the emotional push/pull of each track akin to a director filming a scene. These are all things that normal singers should be able to do consistently, but in Morrissey’s case, he’s only really done it with “Meat is Murder”, so to hear it on a solo effort is a pleasant surprise, given that “Viva Hate” was awkwardly unmemorable & “You Are The Quarry” only did it just over half the time. It’s not a perfect album, but realistically, all of my complaints boil down to a few longer outros that could’ve been trimmed down, and a very slight weirdness to “Used to Be a Sweet Boy”, if only because it does feel a little blame-y, although some people are very valid in sort of disowning the way their parents raised them & having to bear the emotional brunt of it when things fall apart. Morrissey earns some of that benefit, but the guy’s track record does leave me a little iffy on that track alone. Other than that, I think these are all genuinely good to great tracks, with one of my favorites being “The Lazy Sunbathers”, if only because it’s obnoxiously relevant to the current political landscape in the U.S. There’s other strong tracks, including “The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get”, if only because someone taking glee in living in one’s head rent-free is kinda satisfying to me. Ultimately, I guess I like 1994 Morrissey more than I like 1989 & 2004 Morrissey, and I damn sure like 1994 Morrissey more than I like 2026 Morrissey. This is the best solo effort we’ve gotten from the guy so far, and if his other solo album here is as good as this, along with the 2 Smiths’ albums we’ve yet to get having some strong acclaim to them, perhaps the last 3 times we’ll encounter Morrissey will be better than the first 3 times. I do genuinely think this earns its spot on the list; it feels like a 1994 album should, the lyricism is stronger than I would’ve expected, and instrumentally, it’s just very well produced. I really do think it’s a 5. Lord, forgive me.
Dick
This album turned out to be much more to my taste than I expected. The guitar sound feels familiar, even on first listen, yet there’s something about it that quietly draws me in. Speedway stood out to me the most and has quickly become a favorite. I can’t quite explain why, but I just really like it.
Like Blood and Chocolate from Costello, like it more than the usual Morrissey 2.4
Again, Morrissey. Not quite my jam though better than the Queen is Dead by the Smiths - bit less monotone.
Smiths lite.
Okayy
So fun!
I hadn’t ever heard any of these songs. I liked it
Great Morrissey album, with his butterry vocals weaved in with great music and less preaching. Really listenable, and more than a few great tracks.
He’s a great songwriter, with the whimsical lyrics and intriguing sounds you expect from the Smiths present here on this solo record. What’s missing, though, is the rest of the band and of course, Johnny Marr’s iconic guitar tone. Without those balances, the Morrissey of it all is the whole meal, and you have to be willing to submit to his particular voice and his particular moroseness. It’s good, but it suffers in comparison to the work of the Smiths. High three
Morrissey's take on britpop - the band sounds like Suede or Pulp, but his voice is distinctly his own, all aching melodrama, pained pique, and sweeping nostalgia.
Wanker
BNP fan boy. ugh.
Just kind of sad and mopey
You know the type of guy that has no reason to be sad all the time but he's being a downer anyway just for the sake of it? Morrissey strikes me as that type Sad in a bad way
Very, very boring. JPEGMAFIA took the words out of my mouth
Hans bästa. Jämn 5 av 5
Har alltid haft lite svårt för Smiths/Morrissey, framförallt för att jag i regel haft lite svårt för folk (ofta göteborgare) som gillar Smiths/Morrissey mer än livet självt Men tyckte tyvärr den här skivan var riktigt tight och bra rakt igenom. Fyra!
Bör vara rasande för ännu en brittisk altrockskiva från 90-talet, men det här är, till skillnad från gårdagen, kvalitutta. Morrissey må vara pretto som djävulen, ibland så man blir galen, men här är han på rätt sida gränsen. Många snygga, stämningsfulla låtar, ofta harmoniskt meckigare än de låter. Hold on to your friends och speedway höjdpunkter. Landar nog i rak 4a efter andralyssning.
MEEEEEEER. Den här var dock tung, riiiiktigt tung. Borde lyssna mer på Morrissey. Tyckte knappt en låt var seg!