Reviews (page 3 of 7)
I sort of hate I liked this
What a way for Morrisey to formally start his solo career. Great melodies and instrumentalization. Lovely themes and charming songs. I love this album
I wish I could unabashedly love Morrissey. But outside of his music he makes it so hard. Anyway, this is essentially my catnip. I like his vocals and ethereal instrumentation. It’s mostly a home run, but might have a couple of songs that could’ve been cut. 4/5
Read any other review of Morrissey. It's good. I have to be in the right mood, but if I am, it's good.
Solid solo effort from him. I remember hearing it for the first time!
yes i like morrissey. yes we exist
Conflicted. Big conflict. I can look on at the Kanye or Clapton arguements and ultimately not got that much skin in the game. Kanye's first three albums are fine. Can leave the rest of it. But Morrissey. I loved The Smiths and saw them twice (ticket stubs framed of course). I've seen Morrissey solo once. Vauxhall and I, Viva Hate and his early singles compilations are all regularly played chez nous. And yet he's throughout his career written songs and spoken not just from a conservative standpoint. That would be Phil Collins or Tony Hadley. No, from an anti-immigration and 'England for the English' standpoint. He's endorsed far-right activists and the arguements that it's either because of his animal rights views or he's being a provocateur don't wash. Yet....the music on Viva Hate is fantastic. Like many first solo albums you suspect these songs were brewing during the end of the Smiths. Everyday Is Like Sunday, Suedehead and Late Night, Maudlin Street are fantastic tracks that could slot into say Strangeways....perfectly. Vini Reilly's guitar work on the above is very different but equally wonderful to Mr Marr's. Bengali in Platforms has a stunning looping, nagging guitar part....but it's a massively anti-immigrant rant. So, you could mark him down for his views, ignore this and mark the music. I'm a massive hypocrite and going for the latter. So, it's a four. Aargh. Will never buy any more of his music or see him live.
Morrissey without Johnny Marr is like an oreo without the cookie, less satisfying and apparently kinda racist. I'm a sad fat man so I'm still gonna eat it up, but it's not what it used to be.
gordo puto que es morrisey pero el álbum god
Less consistent than his work with The Smiths, however, it makes up for it by making use of the artists complete creative vision. A powerhouse of a solo debut.
Good album-not exactly my taste but interesting vocals clever lyrics and thoughtful arrangements
I hate the fact that I like the album this much. FUCK MORRISSEY, ALL MY HOMIES HATE MORRISSEY
For the most part, I enjoyed this listen! It's certainly the best of the Morrissey solo projects I've taken in thus far, but still pales in comparison with the Smiths (or so I'd think, but I've rated them quite low as well in the past, oops). Some of the production was crap in places, but that's just the album showing age. Still though, the songs are often fun and humorous, or dark and brooding, as required. It does the trick, but Moz is still a dick.
Not sure how to seperate Morrissey from The Smiths except for maybe Johnny Marr so as a fan of The Smiths I found this quite a comfortable listen. Certainly worthy of more plays. Faves: Everyday Is Like Sunday, Late Night, Maudlin Street
Well now, as someone who has (pretty much) avoided all things Smiths and Morrisey over the years, both this album and the one I "warmed up" with ("Meat is Murder") have come as something of a revelation. I don't think I could ever be a fan of the man's voice but there's enough musicianship and song-craft here to merit a decent rating. Viva mope-rock.
Wow!!..talk about dark; I was just listening and I wanted to cut my throat…great production, great voice, but I found myself wondering how they could write music that was fairly catchy when the lyrics were so melancholy…
morrislay
Leže mi Smithsi u zadnje vrijeme, Everyday Is Like Sunday top.
Late Night, Maudlin Street is almost a whole star on its own. This was the first Morrissey I've actually listened to. Wish I had more time to fully pay attention to this album yesterday. Which means I probably like it a lot. 4/5
Peak Morrissey. The album starts off aggressive and dark, but slows and mellows down a bit to become more depressive and... dark.
This was a great album throughout-old but modern. 4/5
Love his style of sad rock, even though it's a short album does get a bit tiring by the end. 3.8
good for math okay for other things (have been looping it tho) 5/7
Этот альбом не впечатлил меня на 5, но он меня очень порадовал и повеселил. Классная работа, получил удовольствие её слушать. Если бы мне подарили винил - кайф! Отдельно отмечу песню I Don't Mind If You Forget Me. Ну кайф!
Я чёт уже запутался в Моррисси, смитах и иже с ними. Ну звучит узнаваемо, соглашусь, хоть уже и без гитары Джона Марра (так же его звали?). Кажется, синты появились, которых раньше не было... или почти не было? Последняя песня здесь конечно добивает прям. И выбивается сильно, с этим акустическим вайбом. В общем, это то, что мне отметилось. В остальном, ну смиты и смиты, чё бубнить-то...
Como fan de los Smiths la vuelta de su cantante en solitario fue una alegría (y una pena), sigue teniendo el espíritu de la banda pero sin Johnny Marr (a pesar de que Vini Reilly ex Durutti Column, no era mal fichaje) me faltaba algo. Al final hay que seguir adelante y creo que fue el inicio de una carrera diferente a la que sigo teniendo aprecio. Creo que para muchos este disco no será nada del otro mundo pero para mí significa bastante. Me gustan casi todas las canciones: "Alsatian Cousin", "Little Man, What Now?", "Everyday Is Like Sunday", "Bengali in Platforms", "Suedehead", "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me", "Dial-a-Cliché" y "Margaret on the Guillotine".
I'm tired of all the sanctimonious clowns who hate on Morrissey. Most celebrities spout the exact same impotent, sterilized, socially-approved opinions time and time again. It's nice to see an occasional celebrity diverge from the mainstream zeitgeist. As for the music, it's a pretty solid album.
3.5+/5
Dude kinda looks like the lead singer of the smiths 🤔
Ignoring recent controversy with Morrissey, I'll say that I have loved The Smiths and Morrissey's solo music (Quarry being his last great one). Though Viva Hate gives us Everyday and Suedehead, the rest of the album is just interesting and pretty decent. If anything it really just showed us that Morrissey retained some exciting potential without having Johnny Marr's great guitar work. Still, good album.
Decent album. I don’t have a lot to say about it, because it was another run of the mill Smiths album but with Morrissey’s name slapped on it. 4.0/5 Favorite: “I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me” Least Favorite: “Late Night, Maudlin Street”
I like most of the songs, I like this, mellow, 4 stars!
I enjoyed the variation within this album. Starts bordering on some nice edm tracks, then transitions to a bit of pop and finally heads to pretty straight rock. Really good. The vocals are also top notch.
Morrissey reminds me of what makes him a special singer. being able to dive into the deep of your emotions with a soothing, calming demeaner.
4 Ohhhhhh Morrissey, my most complicated relationship, and one my own girlfriend must compete with at times (sorry Mel). Look, I know he’s a massive POS and has said (and continues to say) terrible things, but he’s also the ultimate sadboi icon, and this album is proof of how much star power and bankability there is behind that. Granted, it also led to an inflation of the man's ego that has spiraled and led us to where we are today, but for a minute there, Morrissey was king. That all to say, this album is great, but it’s not better than the majority of his albums with The Smiths, nor is it even his best solo album (that’s Your Arsenal). There was just something about his chemistry with Johnny Marr (professionally, not personally) that elevated The Smiths to above and beyond levels of musical genius that he never quite reached again after their dissolution - though he’s come close, and this album is one of those times. Gotta mention right out of the gate - two of the best songs of not just his career, but of all-time are present here in Everyday is Like Sunday and Suedehead. Morrissey captured everything that drove fans to The Smiths in the first place on these two epic numbers with impassioned, brooding charm that rivals even There Is a Light That Never Goes Out… aaaand then the rest of this album is just pretty good. There’s nothing that I dislike, though there’s also not a ton I find super commentable either. Alsatian Cousin is a cool opener, I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me is a banger, and as a whole, there’s a lot of cool, new instrumentation being thrown around, though I will say, Margaret on the Guillotine is a particularly strange and weak closer. I respect the energy though - wish he would have kept with those kinds of political views. Regardless, if you’re a Morrissey fan, there isn’t a bad time to be found here, and while it’s not the best work of his career, it’s proof that the man had stock as a solo artist and ultimately sealed his place as a depressive musical icon.
Ah, Moz. So polarizing yet so unique. As a huge Smiths fan I also gravitated towards his solo work later on, and this album was in my rotation back in the day. It still holds up, but I've outgrown Morrissey a bit since then. My 1990's self would have given this 5, but my 2020's self veers between 3 and 4. It still has the quirky, scathing, pretentious lyrics, great production, and great instrumentation. But I sympathize with those who find it a bit much.
2.99? Damn, I really liked this album.
Moody and relaxing. I like the Smiths, but don’t think I’ve heard a Morrissey solo album before; not quite as good. Despite being a fan of the overall atmosphere of the album, it was getting old by the end. 3.5.
Morissette is a strange vocalist, cramming more syllables into every line of his songs than any other musician. He's a great storyteller. I don't really listen to his stuff. Until today. Like watching performance poet I don't necessarily understand how he does it but I like it. I'm going to have to listen to more
pleasantly surprised. I had preconceived ideas and was expecting to not like it, but there are some really well written tracks that sound fresh and forward-thinking. On occasion, some tracks and his voice in general sound “of the time”, but not unlistenable
I liked this better than Your Arsenal! Still can’t hold up to anything by The Smiths, but still really like it.
Morrissey albums this year: 3 Morrissey albums this month: 2 The Smiths albums this year: 0 Good thing this album is good, otherwise I'd be right annoyed Stephen Street definitely produced the f*** out of this, but then you get neat diversions like the orchestra in "Angel Angel Down We Go Together" and the new wave dance of "I Don't Mind if You Forget Me" HL: "Late Night Maudlin Street", "Everyday is Like Sunday", "Alsatian Cousin", "Treat Me Like a Human Being", "Margaret on the Guillotine" November 28, 2023
Lekkere muziek! Kende Morrissey eigenlijk niet, maar hij was frontman van The Smiths en nu valt alles op z'n plekje want herkende z'n stem zo erg Dit is wel een artiest die je niet de hele dag kan luisteren want dan gaat z'n manier van zingen denk wel irriteren haha, beetje net als Liam Gallagher van Oasis (niet qua stem maar qua vermoeiend haha) I don't mind if you forget me opgeslagen en favoriet denk ik Would buy!
Beware. Beware the one who assures you they’ll have just a little Morrissey. Just a little Morrissey at breakfast, a little Morrissey at lunch, a little Morrissey at dinner: for they may soon transform into a morose melancholic maudlin little lump. What can I say about Morrissey that hasn’t been said a hundred times before by more elegant descriptors? I like his haircut. He is a consistent man. Same can be said for his musical output: always vibrant, engaging, surprising, and full of that singular Morrissey downbeat wit and mournful charm. ‘Your gran died and your mother died on Maudlin Street In pain and ashamed, with never time to say those special things’
great effort
Morrissey being Morrissey
11/14/23. First time listening to anything Morrissey or Smiths. Had no idea he was big into the jangle pop sound. This album has a good flow and variety of songs, would check out again.
Any album with “Everyday Is Like Sunday” and “Suedehead” is a four minimum. The rest was good but not enough to bump it to a 5.
What's not to love about a hateful old man prancing around singing about a Bengali on platform shoes
Not bad on first listen, although doesn't compare to the smiths
4.0
Morrissey was a new band for me and I will definitely listen to their other albums, and I could see myself listening to this one again. My standout songs were Everyday Is Like Sunday and Dial- A-Cliché.
I can't believe but I really liked this. I guess I'm somehow a fan of this guy's music.
Not bad at all
Didn’t get the chance to listen to the whole thing, but I enjoyed what I heard. Sounds like the 80’s post-punk/new wave sound was perfected on this album.
Quite good! I enjoy the rocky aspect, reminds me of depeche mode.
I'm disappointed with how much I enjoy Morrissey and The Smiths. I couldn't pick a favorite, so I feel like that says enough.
Once again, I do love me some Morrissey. Not his politics but his music. Every Day is Like Sunday speaks to me on another level.
It might be my love for The Smiths that is making me lean this way, but I really enjoy this. It's almost like a 5th album of theirs, just missing the amazing Marr guitar work. But still Morrissey manages to string together a choesive album full of fun catchy pop songs. Sunday, Suedehead, Forget Me are all fantastic and I would throw on a playlist in a heartbeat.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
He's a really good songwriter. He does the melancholy thing better than most. Is that what you want to hear? I'm not going to call him a genius, he doesn't deserve that! Also my god, what is with the shredding on I Don't Mind If You Forget Me? Eddie Vam Halen over here.
I imagine most people look at the idea of Morrissey going solo with quite a bit of skepticism, especially these days. After all, he’s the only insufferable part of The Smiths (and that’s nothing to say of his politics). It was definitely the reason that, despite being a fan of his original band since I was a teenager, it’s taken me some 15+ years to dive into any of his solo work. But honestly, at least in his beginning years, Morrissey clearly reveled in the idea of what he could do without being shackled to the sound of The Smiths. He still has his moments, but more often than not his lyrics have more wit and malice than the overly dramatic emotions he was expressing with Johnny Marr. He just seems to be having some fun for a change, with a little bit of maturity that keeps him reigned in, and it comes out in some of his best work. Suedehead is a must listen, and Everyday is Like Sunday will be stuck in your head for weeks once you hear it. Break Up the Family may be my favorite of the bunch. It feels like the bridge between The Smiths and his solo debut, while simultaneously being something he never could have done with that band.
Hate the person, like the art. This album being good was a surprise to me. I had expected something slightly different, but this album has alot of elements of the late 80s that I love. I may revisit this album from time to time I will go for a 4/5
God dammit, Morrissey is such a fucking nonce. The whole time I was listening to this I was reading quotes of his that just displayed what an asshole he was. And yet... this was good. The nonce makes good music, because of course he does, its like a requirement of a musician. Usually hear I'd praise the singer for liking Sparks, because I am the your local friendly Sparks shill, but nah, fuck this. Bad fan to have, thank God Sparks have never joined in on his comments. Hell, they told him "lighten up" in a newer song. Anyway, he doesn't get praise. Just enjoy your four star and get out of here. Oh, and that album font on the cover is ugly.
Some observations. If 2000's emo thought they were the first to come up with novel, long-winded, and sardonic song titles, they need to check out Morrissey. And really he was emo before emo was emo. A very gifted lyricist and vocalist, and a key figure in the changing 80's music scene. I don't know how much different his solo stuff was from the Smiths, other than the music is lighter and less edgy guitar-oriented. But this is a great debut. I'm also not sure he was able to consistently deliver the same kind of quality solo as he did with the Smiths. But again, great start. Everyday is Like Sunday is my favorite of all his solo songs on any album and one of his best even including the Smiths. Beautiful and haunting delivery. Angel Angel Down We Go Together, Late Night Maudlin Street, Treat Me Like a Human Being (even if he wasn't trying to be, you can see why he was seen as a champion in gay circles), and Dial a Cliche are other good songs with that soft soaring vibe. Suedehead was also a big single and it's very good, but it has a different sound - more tempo, less despairing, and more criticism in its lyrics. Alsatian Cousin and I Don't Mind if You Forget Me are other good songs with more tempo and more of the Smiths feel - more edgy or jangly guitar. Margaret on the Guillotine was another song with much criticism in its lyrics (when wasn't he going after Thatcher?) but a softer style. It's a great tune with a great outro (wish it didn't end so abruptly). A few meh songs, but all in all a good album.
Overall fine.
Morrissey really is at his best when he’s allowed to croon at full volume. This album features (arguably) his best solo track alongside a decent collection of other rather well-written and well-produced pieces of ‘80s pop.
Morsel
Quelques moments un peu moins mémorable mais définitivement un album très bien construit. Je devrais réécouter The Smiths car la voix de Morrissey ne me dérange vraiment plus comme elle le faisait. Je me sens mal d'apprécier la musique de quelqu'un qui a clairement des tendances racistes, mais il faut admettre que la musique de cet album est très bone. 8/10
Not bad. This seems like The Smiths but with less good guitars. It's overall more varied though, so it has that going for it. 3.5/5
As a person, I think Morrissey is dreadful, but I have always loved this album, having worn out the cassette in middle/high school. It has aged surprisingly well
Alsatian Cousin, Everyday is Like Sunday, Bengali in Platforms, Angel Angel Down We Go Together, Suedehead, I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me and Dial-a-Cliche. I love Morrissey’s voice and I also love The Smiths but never heard his dolor stuff. Guitar player is great. I really enjoyed this. 9/10
extremely classy, i live on the same planet as this guy. Alsatian cousin, little man, what now, Angel Down We Go Together
Morrissey is a very controversial guy, but I can't help but thoroughly enjoy this album. Great guitar and catchy songs.
Actually a really good example of a not-tacky 80s sound. A highly relaxing listen
his sister is good too but not bad
He's good at music, people shouldn't hate him for other stuff
Shows just how much M was capable of sans-Smiths, which was quite a bit, obvs. There was reason to be skeptical but classics such as "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead" and the nearly-as-great "Bengali" put such concerns to rest.
I know Morrissey thinks me and my family are like ruining Britain or whatever because of our race, so I should hate his music on principle but sadly, I cannot. My biggest guilty pleasure is not the 4 hour long Glee playlist I have on my phone but the fact I have The Smiths on there too. Anyway, this was also good. Why does such an annoying person have to be good at music??? Best songs: Alsatian Cousin, Little Man, What Now, Everyday Is Like Sunday, Angel Angel We Go Down Together Worst song: Dial-a-Cliché
This album was sick! I feel like this is the sound so many artists in this time we’re trying to go for *cough cough* Elvis Costello… Glad I got this one
Yeah I think I just overall like Morrissey. He's a total shitbag, but he writes a solid tune, even if he never does a ton different. Favorite tracks: "Bengali In Platforms", "Late Night, Maudlin Street", "Break Up the Family", "Margaret On the Guillotine"
Valt eigenlijk nooit tegen, die Morrissey.
Very good. Not my style everyday but very good.
Liked: Everyday is Like Sunday, Late Night Maudlin street, Suedehead, and the music behind the singing is really great. Pretty dang good overall! I hear the tides have turned against Morrisey though.
Usual caveats on his stance on many things, but... pretty damn good album
It seems that Morrissey makes better music on his own than when he's with The Smiths. Viva Hate has more life and groove, and is frankly pretty enjoyable despite still being brooding and sad. I mean, God knows we could use a lot less whining from guys like Morrissey so this livelier tone is very much welcome. I'll give him a 4 for this, but a -1 for everything else outside of music. Standout tracks are Everyday is Like Sunday and I Don't Mind if You Forget Me.
A surprisingly strong Morrissey record. If I had to choose any of his solo work, it would be this.
i’m absolutely a biased sucker for morrissey. i accept that. this wasnt my favorite of his, but still quite good imo
not as good as the Smiths
8/10 glad that the list reminded me that I love this album.
7/10. I liked this, especially the first bit, but towards the end the sound of his voice started to wear on me.
Editors are right that there was reason to be skeptical about M's post-Smiths output but this was a winning effort all the way around. "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead" are all-time pop songs. "Bengali" is terrifc, too. Other than this being lighter and perhaps slightly less biting and driving, there's not a huge diff musically from late Smiths. But the overreaching guitar solo on "I Don't Mind" reminds one of this record's Marrlessness. Still overall this is quite a bit more than solid – and not only from having avoided being worse, which it very much could have been.
Some of Morrissey's solo work is pretty great. Can't stand the person, but man did he have some good stuff.
Yeah, he's a dick. Yeah, he's a piece of shit, but his music will always be with me, be it through is solo stuff or through The Smiths.
Not his best album, but mostly good songs
The randomizer must really want me to listen to Morrissey and The Smiths as this is my second Morrissey album and I've had all three Smiths' albums in the challenge. "Viva Hate" is the debut solo album by Morrissey and wasting no time, it was released just six months after The Smiths' final album "Strangeways, Here We Come." It was produced by Stephen Street who also played bass. Vini Reilly from the post-punk band The Durutti Column played guitar and a key part, I thought, to two of my favorite songs. Overall, this was a much more pop-oriented and softer album than what he would do a few albums later. I did not exactly find an overall theme focusing on the break-up of The Smiths...maybe a few songs. This album starts out uniquely in "Alsatian Cousin" with an early PIL sounding guitar and drums sounding like a drum machine. A harder sounding song especially with the guitar. One of my favorite on the album. An unattractive girl is jealous about someone in a relationship. "Everyday is Sunday" has a majestic pop feel with the strings. I think it's simply about being bored. One the Moz's best songs. The second half starts with another one his best songs in "Suedehead." Great melody. I think some more straight-forward lyrics about a person breaking up with another for reading their diary. A very good hidden song is "I Don't Mind if You Forget Me." Here's a a song that might be about the breakup of The Smiths. Like the first song, just great interesting guitar by Vini Reilly. Not anything like Johnny Marr. Morrissey gets his acerbic side out in the closing song "Margaret on the Guillotine." Pretty self-explanatory about his opinion on Margaret Thatcher. A slower song with guitar only. This is an album that has two classic Morrissey songs and two very good hidden ones. I found the other Moz album "Your Arsenal" that I've listened to in depth (from the challenge) harder sounding, Morrissey's lyrics more clever and an overall better album. But, this has some highlights and definitely worth a listen.
Big album from a massive arsehole.
His solo work is better than his songs with The Smiths, and people hate him for that. Also: something of a mope.
Savrsen album za jednu laganu depricu. Ak dođe sezona imat cu ga na umu
Dosta klasika na ovom albumu, meni najdraži njegov - jer se osjeti još trunci Smithsa. Posjedujem vinyl i drago mi je. Čista četvorka, dakle ono 8-8,5/10. Fale ljudi iz bivše mu grupe and it shows.
Heard it before?: Yes! Enjoy it?: I don’t like to give Morrissey any more credit than necessary but his music is very special, very peculiar songwriting but great nonetheless Favourite song: a LOT to choose from but Track 3 - Everyday is Like Sunday
Morrissey is a guarantee for good music. Enjoyable album, without any big standouts but a high quality throughout
Je ne le connaissais pas beaucoup, et j'ai bien aimé! Très Brit, pas trop extravagant. À découvrir (avec The Smiths également)
Not the best Morrissey solo album, but it's certainly good and only 6 months after the demise of the Smiths! Not sure why they keep fiddling with the order and the typeface, but it still holds up.
4.0 - Besides the bald-faced "Margaret on the Guillotine", this album thankfully finds Morrissey on a less political bent. Not surprisingly, I like this solo project much better than the more abrasive "Your Arsenal." It's got two notable hits, "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead." I also like deeper cuts like "Little Man, What Now?"
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's good and I don't mind Morrissey's lyrics.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Everyday is like Sunday, Suedehead
The worst thing about Morrisey isn't that he actually makes good music, but it us the most annoying. The man may be a prick, but he makes some solid sad boy tunes. Bit melodramatic for my tastes at times, but overall great record
The sound on this one is interesting to say the least. Was pretty surprised to hear his voice over something like this. It works imo.
So I'm 600 albums in and this will be the SIXTH time this morose cunt has appeared in the list: 3 Smiths albums and now 3 solo albums as well. SO FAR. Are you telling me that Morrissey is basically 1 out of every 100 musicians in the world? Fuck off Robert Dimery, you UK-centric piece of shit. No one wanted a soft advert for the UK music scene. If I'd known this is what it'd be when I signed up, I don't think I'd have done it. But in any case, this is a nice soft rock/pop album. In a more sensible world, this would have been the only Morrissey solo album included. It's really cruisy, story-like, the scungy UK council flat vibe isn't too full on and his vocal delivery is kinda perfect here. I even listened twice and I think I'll save it for future listens too. 4/5. Also, because I must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed this morning: everyone who goes "wahh Morrissey is such a bad guy, -10 points for all his albums", shut your holes. You're pathetic.
Oon aina tykännyt tästä vaikka ukko on aika sekasin. Hieno melodinen kokonaisuus 4/5
Täähän oli yllättävän jees. Luulin, että ilman Marria Morrissey ei oo tehny mitään erityisesti mun makuun. Aika tasan 3,5 ja pyöristetään nyt ylös.
Vähän pehmeämpää kuin Your Arsenal, mutta edelleen jostain sydämestä tämä tulee. 4/5
Yeah, I liked most tracks. Since this was his debut record, it was very reminiscent of The Smiths. The guitar work here is really pleasant. Still don't like Morrissey, though.
Morrissey’s first solo album strikes a different tone from his work with the Smiths. He has an incredible gift for melody and his voice and delivery style are iconic. There are some truly incredibly songs on this album. One song that I found challenging was ‘Bengali in Platforms.’ I know this song is controversial, and while I see how this song could be seen as darkly ironic, the use of the word ‘belong’ is a bit troublesome to me.
The first album post Smiths from the Mozfather. Decent but missing the soaring Marr guitars. 4/5
This is a pretty good album despite Morrissey's personality. Exceeded my expectations.
Dark, morose and beautiful
Really solid follow up from Morrissey after the death of The Smiths. Similar to my feelings of that band, I enjoy this album best in brief intervals rather than the whole. Still, this I'd a very good album nonetheless. Favorites: "Alsatian Cousin", "Everyday Is Like Sunday", "Suedehead"
C'est bien, mais 1 point de pénalité pour le racisme.
J'allais mettre 3 mais le dernier titre est trop bien.
papa maman les gars dsl j'ai aimé cet album
nice
Before he went all weird, I listened to this a lot on the original vinyl and loved it’s musical variety, despite being crushed that there wouldn’t be anything else from the Smiths. A great collection of tracks and collaborations. One of his best albums. Top tracks: everyday is like Sunday, late night maudlin street, suedehead
I'm gonna be real honest. I'm giving this 4 because it sounds just like a Smiths album. From the powerful yet jangly synths, to the unique vocal style, and the introspective lyrics, there's little for me to dislike. Has a couple hits, several other tracks to sing along or dance off to, and only a few that are indisputably weak. Nothing new or crazy, except for some intriguing techniques here and there. It's a solid debut.
I like how the songs keep it interesting with having a nice variety. I also enjoy the overall low-key mood of it, without it being a downer.
Not bad, Needed more time to listen
Classic.
This isn’t bad. Obviously it’s not a scratch on the smiths. The vinnie Riley stuff adds something interesting.
Oh Moz, you’ve certainly made an impression on me.
Good but not amazing.
morriseys voice is so fucking annoying but even that cant save it from this being an alright album :((( SHAME!!!
This was an enjoyable pop album which I expected since The Smiths, The Queen is Dead, is one of my favorite albums ever. Really only a certain few tracks dragged on then it needed to be but besides that really enjoyed the brevity of the project. That being said Morrissey is a piece of shit cunt and an absolute dickhead I absolutely hate him as a person but I can't deny at the time his personality was not like this as well as his ideals. Peggy said it best "I cannot fucking wait until Morrissey Dies". 8/10
Brilliant. Not just lyrically but musically and I found this surprising. I was expecting I'd need to really pay attention to the lyrics to appreciate this album fully but the music perfectly captures the mood and emotion of his lyrics and compliments his singing brilliantly meaning I could tune out every now and then and just enjoy the music. Will definitely be adding this to the listen again list and I'm sure it'll get even better with further listens.
Good. Can’t stand his politics though
Nice
Great album haven't listened to it in many years. Everyday is like Sunday is just such an incredible song. Top 5 Morrissey songs, including The Smiths output. Hardly a dud on the album. I'm tempted to give it a 5 star rating but 4.5 seems right which means 4 stars for this exercise
overall thoughts: I enjoyed this album quite a lot. I was already familiar w/ a couple of songs by the smiths, so it wasn't surprising that I was going to enjoy this LP. love the vocals, the lyrics. tho I will say that Bengali didn't really do it for me. also the margaret track thooo, get oofed. anyway, I can def come back to a lot of these songs, many faves. sum good brit indie rock rite here. fave tracks: everyday is like sunday, angel angel, late night, suedehead, I don't mind if u forget me
Morrisey
This is way more the catchy Morrissey that makes it hard for me to denounce his notoriously eye rollable personality. Not quite the same level as The Smiths as a whole but definitely some gems on here and an overall decent album.
A notch below the Smiths
Critical listen during my sad, misundertood adolescence, and just a hair below his best from The Smiths, which is the only thing keeping it from a 5/5
Ennakkoasenne oli, että Morrissey ei olisi ihan omaan mieleen. Levyn alku oli kuitenkin yllättävän mukaansa tempaava, mutta kun samalla selätti bittejä, niin jäi taustamusiikiksi ja tuntui, että ei sitten kuitenkaan ole erityinen levy. Kuuntelin kuitenkin seuraavana päivänä uudelleen ja tokalla kierroksella tykkäsinkin taas enemmän levyn tunnelmasta.
Viva Hate sounds a lot more badass than the sort of middling whine he does throughout most of this album. I think The Smiths, and by extension, Mr. Morrissey here, are one of my favorite finds of this whole list. I really dig the sound. That being said, I really don't get the hardon some people have for him. Just look at him.
I have listened to the Smith's some but don't know a ton about Morrissey (other than what I have heard from Jon) so I am coming to this more or less with fresh ears. I liked "Everyday is Like Sunday", so smooth and 80's in a good way. Like the spooky guitar work on "Late Night, Maudlin Street". I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would.
Still full of The Smiths essence, all in all not too bad, only 1 or 2 bangers.
It is textbook Morrissey. To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die. God I love 500 days of summer
Too much Morrissey on the list :(
Familiar Morrissey, didn't love or hate it
meh, maybe if he wasn't such a cunt. I forgive it when listening to the smiths, but it is amplified here because the album is not spectacular.
franchement pas mal. need to listen again
Fine
Morrissey is an ass but this was alright.
I would be curious to hear from fans of this music in the 80s what they thought Bengali in Platforms was about, because it did not age well. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get the appeal if this album, though. The music is pretty fun, the guitar work in particular. Pop-ish songs with twinkly tones and a thick driving bass line is usually a recipe for success, and I don't even mind the vocals. That all said, the conversation has moved on. Morrisey shat on his own legacy by being a twat. I tried to judge this music on its merit and not by who created it. I think 3/5 is a more than fair score for this album of contradictions.
I've never really listened to him and I've listened to very little of The Smiths. I can definitely see the through lines between this solo work of his and the band.
(Strong 6/10) Sounding like Smith's songs that never grew to fruition, this thing is a hella mixed bag. "Everyday Is Like Sunday" is a great bop, "Suedehead" was pretty good and "I don't care if you forget about me" had a really disorienting guitar part that I absolutely loved. "Margaret On The Guillotine" was also a hilariously dark way to end the record. Sadly, there was just a lot of other songs that I straight up don't care for. Mainly cause I find Morissey himself to be outright irritating. So when he has a good hook or clever song idea, I'm right there. When it's stuff like "Bengali" and "Angel Angel" I really am just waiting for it to be over.
rather than a break with the smiths sound, the album feels like an expansion of morrisseys creative concerns with a greater emphasis on his personality the lyrics are capable of alternating between brilliant poetic images and the most disconcerting eccentricity these songs rely more on instrumental arrangements, vocal melodies, and atmospheric sounds, in contrast to the interwoven melodies and sense of constant movement that marr brought; surely the formula that this work misses
Classic singles and some strong songs that mainly carry this album.
I’m not saying all the super talented people are moody pricks… but this guy certainly is.
It was pretty good. It’s Morrissey.
creo que me esta empezando a gustar este estilo de musica...
Good album! Morrissey was such a good artist before he went nuts! Lol but still good music!
I really don’t want to like it, but the first half has a lot of quality songs and good performances. I actually like his vocal phrasings better as a solo artist than in the Smiths. Alsatian Cousin, Everyday is Like Sunday and Late Night, Maudlin Street are all excellent tracks. The second half lacks the same quality, but is still decent. 6/10
Morrissey is good evidence for the argument that the book is too UK-heavy; no reason he should have 7 albums included, between the Smiths and his solo stuff. 2.5/5 not awful but the mediocrity was evident
Now maybe I just been worn down with the smiths and Morrissey, but this was the best album that I have heard by him. Still not astounding but pretty decent
Morrissey is a divisive figure, and some of the things he's said are terrible, but I very much agree with Margaret on the Guillotine. The music is also pretty good on this. 3.0/5.0: Good
I liked that the music on here was actually pretty good, and Morrissey didn't seem overly Morrissey, and it kind of ran together and was over before I expected it to be.
Sounds very similar to The Smiths but a little more experimental for the time. I enjoy some of the songs, like 'Suedehead' and 'Late Night, Maudlin Street', for example. Tho others were not my favorites. I did kinda like the highly instrumental 'Margaret on the Guillotine' too for some reason. 3-4/5
Morrissey, the solo act and attending band, didn't gel until the ironclad Your Arsenal four years later. "Everyday is Like Sunday" is a great lyric, especially "Come Armageddon, come." "Suedehead" has that brilliant guitar riff that is the limit as x approaches Johnny Marr without reaching it and has all the trappings of the Smiths without coalescing. It's not terrible, It was just not quite there yet. This album sounds to me more like he's doing guest vocals like Chemical Brothers had people do. Did he ever do a Chemical Brothers song? I'd rather hear that.
Outside of the addition of some synths, bongos and drum machines, I can hear many of these songs as Smiths tracks — and that’s the problem. Whoever’s playing bass brings a similar bouncy, funk-forward style to Andy Rourke, but while Vini Reilly is competent on guitar, he’s no Johnny Marr. Only on a track like “Suedehead” do I hear traces of the irresistible rhythmic and melodic chemistry that distinguished Morrissey’s former band and made them sound so complete and essential. That’s where to focus if you want Morrissey at his best.
Another case of grudgingly admiring the result even if the artist is a complete arse.
fine, but it became a bit boring towards the end
Fin indgangsvinkel til Morrissey og The Smiths, som jeg har fået anbefalet mange gange. Jeg er stadig ikke helt inde i det, men har nogle sange jeg godt kan lide, men jeg skal lige have levet mig helt ind i deres univers Jeg er ret vild med Morrissey's stemme og måde at skrive tekster på. Han er ikke bange for at gå over stregen, og virkelig skabe tydelige billeder. Jeg synes dog det her album blev lidt langt og kedeligt til sidst. Det startede meget godt ud men jeg kørte ret træt i det... 3.5/5
Ah, the lord of doom and gloom is at it again. I think I liked the last Morrissey album I got on here a little better than this one. It was ok, would hit the spot if you were in the mood for some brooding and seething. Had some good rock tracks, and didn't overstay its welcome, but its a 3/5 for me.
Some very good songs on here but way too inconsistent for me to call this great. Also doesn't hold a candle to any of the best Smiths albums. Favs: Every Day Is Like Sunday, Suedehead, Bengali In Platforms Least Fav: Dial-a-Cliché 6.8/10
I feel the same about this as the other Smith’s album I listened to: It’s fine, nothing that special. Likes: Everyday Is Like Sunday; Suedehead; I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me
Not as whiny as usual
I'm glad to be introduced to Morrissey, but I'm not sure what to do with it in my life. Maybe that's what "Alternative" music is? It's just that Other over there that's sort of someone else's life.
Every day is like Sunday is one of the greatest songs ever, and Suedehead is one of Morrissey’s best songs. The rest isn’t really necessary.
No denying the two big tunes on this one, but aside from those Vini Reilly’s guitar offers up plenty to enjoy - if not consistently. Not that Morrissey relies on having a top guitarist alongside him or anything.
I was alright.
Listening to this makes me think of sophia which makes me happy, I'm enjoying listening but not quite my cup of tea
a good album from the late 80s indie music scene.
Liked some of this, thought it was good, and there's definitely some Morrissey I think is pretty great, but a lot of this also just sounded kind of whiney. 3
не сильно нравится сольное творчество, но и плохим альбом назвать не могу, это 3.5
What a way to celebrate my 365th album; with this asshole.The paradox of Morrissey is that his personality and beliefs are so frustrating because he has some great art. If he didn't, then his whole deal wouldn't be frustrating, it would just be laughable. So Viva Hate, released mere months after The Smiths concluded, ends up prodding at an interesting question: when billed on his own, is Morrissey still talented enough to be frustrating. The Smiths were a truly great band insofar as a great band is capable of creating a unique whole by reconciling (or emohasizing) differences between the unique, distinct people going into it. Morrissey's presence and poetry was just as important as Johnny Marr's guitar (some of the best, ever, in indie), Andy Rourke's bass lines, and Mike Joyce holding it down on drums. But, as it turns out, even without The Smiths, Viva Hate is very enjoyable. Although, a lot of that is still admittedly the other players here.In particular, Vini Reilly's great guitar work, which easily navigates between melodic indie chords, post-punk strumming, and stealing solos. As well as Stephen Street's bass playing, and guitar work. Also, it has largely been confirmed that Street did a *lot* of the songwriting on Viva Hate, so make of that what you will. Although, Morrissey himself is in great form too. His presence is as powerful as it was on The Smiths' records. And he has some really striking, darkly beautiful lyrics speckled across here, most prominently on Angel Angel Down We Go Together and Late Night, Maudlin Street. But I think the songs here where everything comes together best are the (relatively) popular Suedehead, and I Don't Mind If You Forget Me, which almost ends up sounding like an alternate universe's invention of pop-punk. Although, honestly, what brings this down the most is that it still kind of can't compete with The Smiths. Also, Morrissey has some pretty songs, but the reasons that make him insufferable are kind of bubbling below the surface here. Ultimately, Viva Hate is a little spotty, but it *is* a worthwhile endeavor for any Smiths fan.
Better with The Smiths for sure. Good vocalist and has good lyrics. The instrumentals are still decent. When you're not feeling Morrissey he's torture to listen to, but in the right mode he's great.
Like I said previously on Vauxhall And I, I like him more with The Smiths. I also find this sounding kind of flat overall. This is fine, but nothing jumps out for me on this one.
Do generally like Morrissey's music but this album didn't quite land with me for some reason. It was quite light touch for the most part, the songs sounded like rejected Smith's tracks from that album I also wasn't big on, which I suppose most of them probably were. When it's good it's still good and I do like the general sound but probably not one I'll come back to.
It's good, but it's missing the rest of the band that helped make him great (musically) and although I try to always remove the artist's indiscretions from their work, this is becoming more of an issue for him by this point.
There's a lot of Morrissey in this list. This wasn't my favorite of them.
Meh, nothing exciting here, but nothing terrible either
I mean... it really is just Smiths Lite™. The same brash, airy 80s production, the same style of drumming and (rhythm) guitar and synthwork. And the same singer (who knew?), complete with a melodramatic delivery and melodies that seem meandering but really aren't. (80% of the time, they meander between the same two notes. "There is a light that never goes out..." Can't you hear it?) What makes the song Late Night, Maudlin Street stand out so much is that the melodies legitimately meander. Surprisingly pleasant. Morrissey does well with a few range-pushing notes here and there. Everyday Is Like Sunday stands out immediately, mostly for the strings – because admittedly, the first three songs are fairly sonically similar to each other, other than those violins. For a similar reason, Angel Angel Down We Go Together also stands out. Zero percussion to speak of, which is a bit of a relief considering how repetitively "brash" they can get. Instead, Morrissey delivers us a bizarre-yet-perfect string arrangement, creating an inquisitive, mysterious atmosphere. Suedehead makes perfect sense as the album's biggest single: it glows with positivity (contrasting hilariously with the lyrics, which seem to talk about a former lover the narrator hates but begrudgingly continues to hook up with.) I immediately approve of the first song transition. It's been so long since I've heard... well, any transition at all. They're not particularly common in popular music nowadays. Somebody is torturing one particular guitar string in I Don't Mind If You Forget Me, and it creates such a distinctive atmosphere that I can't help but enjoy the song. Other songs are not so fortunate, though: Little Man, What Now? and Treat Me Like a Human Being fail to stand out from the crowd of Smithy Britpoppy sludge. (Mostly good sludge, though.) 3/5 Key tracks: Everyday Is Like Sunday, Angel Angel Down We Go Together, Suedehead
Light 3,5
I prefer his work with The Smiths, but I did enjoy my listen of this solo album.
me.. solista no me gusta
Fine but not Morrissey has proven himself less than great.
There were a few good songs (Suedehead, Everyday is Like Sunday, Late Night, Maudlin Street) and I like the way turns the phrase it as a good lay into a yodel. Overall the album played in the background without leaving much of an impression other than I think Morrissey seems conflicted and could benefit from a strong cup of coffee and some time outdoors. 2.5 rounded up.
It's better than the other Morrissey album we had, although it doesn't feel as on-target as The Smiths. On the whole, this shows that Morrissey is a capable artist and his uniquely blase view of desperation and depression are part of the zeitgeist of the 80's, but I'm not sure he's worth multiple entries in this list. And of course, as a person, he's shite.
Every time I get Morrisey (and that is often apparently) I think "Ugh, oh boy, I'm going to hate this" but then I always kiond of like it. THis one has some really excellent guitatr and the usual moping. Perfectly ok.
I sort of hate to feed into the narrative about Morrissey's downfall - from his career-defining work with the Smiths to his progressively less and less essential solo work - but that narrative exists for a reason and it starts here. This collection is at its best when it functions as Smiths Lite, as on the singles "Suedehead" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday." And don't get me wrong, much of this is quite good and worthy of the attention of Smiths fans. But "Bengali in Platforms" is a wholesale misfire - an attempt at ethnic sensitivity that falls utterly flat, thereby revealing Morrissey's persistent narcissistic inability to solve the other-minds problem - and at least a few other tracks here feel tossed-off and lazy. On the whole it isn't bad but you can feel the wheels loosening, harbingers of their eventual coming off.
Morrissey again. This one has excellent production value and slightly more variation in songs than the others. I didn’t like it, but didn’t despise it either.
Depressed mf Fave track: Everyday is Like Sunday
So average
I like the smiths and with morrissey I felt the album was average no spectacular songs just average
No Morrissey please
meh. some bangers but not much substance
I know Morrissey, but I’m not actually familiar with this album. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it, but it’s definitely worth a listen. Three stars...
Apart from Suedehead this just doesn't do it for me.
It’s too bad Morrissey is such a fucking asshole, because he wrote some damn beautiful catchy tunes. “Every Day is Like Sunday” is the most hilariously suicidal song ever written. Just a masterpiece of self-indulgent misery. I used to think his “beautiful mope”character was just that, an act. But M. really believed in his own bullshit as The Smartest and Most Misunderstood Boy in the World. But his lyrics were full of self-pity AND hatred for everyone else, and he’s curdled into a fully-formed shitbag. There’s no saving him. But I’ll still play “Suedehead”, “First of the Gang” or “How Soon is Now?” because they fucking work, despite everything.
The last time I listened to a Morrissey album, I commented that I think his voice and overall sound don't land on my ears well - this album confirmed that for me. I may have liked it more if a different artist performed instead. This was okay.
I thought that was going to be awful as the few solo songs I've heard I never really liked and I'm not really into the Smiths. But some of the songs are actually quite good. I do not like Morrissey's voice though. It really grates.
Eponymous-he’s not happy
Obviously there's a Mozza fan lurking in the 1001 editorial team. Four albums, really? This lacks the bite of You Are The Quarry and mostly feels like a pale imitation of The Smiths. That said, there are a couple of stand-out tracks, Everyday is Like Sunday and Suedehead
Alright
I like Morrissey, but I like the Smiths better. Aside from "Suedehead" (one of my favorites!) this whole album feels rather mediocre if I'm being honest.
I've got Morrissey fatigue
5/10
solid
Solid
I enjoyed their sound. I liked his voice.
The best of Morrissey's solo albums
3.5
This is a hard one to rate. There are such great heights and such great lows on this album, the three first songs for example are almost perfect in a way but on the other hand the second song is also pretty bad. There are two enormous hits on this album, but some duds. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, it’s not a bad album, but to think of what it could have been… but I guess that’s just Morrisey, after all.
Good but samey
M i d
Not my typical thing, but not bad. I was a little surprised to see the low worldwide ranking after I listened to it, but I guess most of those low reviews are because he’s a dick? I don’t care enough to look deeper into it.
Still riding many of the strong waves started with the Smiths, Morrissey doesn't compromise his confrontational and often too sharp wit. Despite a few memorable songs, however, it lacks the musical cohesion of his earlier work, and as a result, feels more biting than ironic or cynical. As a frontman, he is too unrestrained. Again, he does ok here, but it doesn't last.
Lowkey sardonic.
Pretty boring stuff but there some fairly good songs in the first half here, I don't really like Morrissey all that much
3- Stars (7/15)
Another familiar one from my youth. After the Smiths were over, this was good B-/C+ Smiths substitute, as I remember, and I played it plenty. But this was the last Morrissey album I listened to. The best songs here ("Every Day is Like Sunday," "Suedehead,") would've fit on Smiths albums. The worst suffer from, first, very 80s production with terrible percussion and, second, Morrissey getting repetitive. There's some keepers here, but overall it's merely good. I learned from listening that the current tracklist swaps a couple pretty good tracks out in favor of a pretty crap one. If Morrissey himself thought he needed to fix this album, what is it doing on this list? 2.5 rounding up, somewhat generously (or nostalgically?), and no, this doesn't need to be on a Must Hear list.
Day789 - i wish i knew nothing about him other than his music. suedehead is an amazing song
Not bad at all. Less droning.
2026.03.01
This is great - I love Morrissey’s whiny character and lyrics… Not his very unfortunate comments throughout the years. The songs are great, but sometimes I really miss that Johny Marr jangling guitar on here, though
Not bad, better than the previous Morrissey record I reviewed.
Some good hits but the rest just kind of faded into the background at times. I’d give it a 3.5 overall.
fell into a little morrissey hole!! like the vocals and the production was interesting. yet still prefer the smiths
I know we’re all meant to hate Morrissey, but there are some absolutely brilliant tracks on this album. I absolutely LOVE ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’, it’s a euphoric, impactful indie track that really does hit the sweet spot. And throughout the album there are many strong points - ‘Late Night, Maudlin Street’ and ‘Suedehead’ are great examples. What lets it down slightly is how disjointed it feels. Going from the aforementioned to ‘Bengali in Platforms’ is like going from a 5 star meal to a Tesco Meal Deal. There’s a real inconsistency that for me drops it to a 7/10 album.
No. 370/1001 Alsatian Cousin 3/5 Little Man, What Now 3/5 Everyday Is Like Sunday 4/5 Bengali in Platforms 4/5 Angel Angel Down 4/5 Late Night, Maudlin Street 3/5 Suedehead 3/5 Break up the Family 3/5 Treat Me Like a Human 3/5 I Don't Mind If You Forget Me 3/5 Dial-a-Cliche 3/5 Margaret on the Guillotine 4/5 Average: 3,33 He might be a POS, but I actually enjoyed listening to this.
Not too bad. Morriseys voice is not quite my thing, but there's a lot happening in the music.
Good grief, the book author sure has it bad for Morrissey. As the project goes on, it's becoming more difficult to separate my annoyance with how often certain artists appear on this list from what my true feelings would be about an album. But I persevere. As its own separate entity, I didn't mind this album. His voice gets grating, but I like how the songs are structured, and the instrumentation is enjoyable. But when will you die? (From this list, not for real.) Barely squeaking by with a 3 here.
Pleasant enough to listen to but nothing really draws me in. For me this really illustrates how important Johnny Marr was to The Smiths’ sound.
Assez boring et inoffensif
Aunque un álbum no debería valorarse con una sola escucha, las tres primeras canciones me han parecido muy buenas, especialmente Everyday Is Like Sunday. El disco en general está bien, pero se me ha hecho algo largo. Tomando esta valoración con cautela —ya que solo lo he escuchado una vez— le doy un 3,5/5.
que sí Morrissey, ya te vimos SIN PELOS
Listen, I love The Smiths, I admit it. Despite what I know of Morrissey's shitheadery. I liked a few songs here but nothing that wowed me as much as the earlier stuff.
What a pretentious twat! Shame there's so much good music that he's put out...
Separating the art from the artist; it's one of those unending challenges for fans of music, film, literature, sports... Anything really. It turns out, most people who get a platform either end up being dicks or become dicks. I went through a briefer than most Smiths phase in my younger days. The whole Manchester music scene never did much for me, but The Smiths were the one group who I rated. Good tunes, good guitars, funny lyrics for sad boys. Plus they hated Thatcher, like all sane people should. But they didn't have much staying power. Outside of a handful of songs on each album, while I recognized their overall importance, I could live without them. And so, I had no inclination to listen to any of Morrissey's solo work. Had you told me at the time this was just another Smiths album, I would have believed you. The voice is obviously the same, but so is the rhythm, best, melodies, sound, and even the guitars. Which means it's good. Is it four star good? Maybe. There are some strong songs here, up with the best of The Smiths. But there's also all the other stuff which just exists. And then there's the fact that Morrissey turned out to be more than a little like Margaret. I feel for those who held him up as a hero. So, I must go with three stars. It's a good album, deserves it's place for being Morrissey's debut, but outside of a few songs I won't listen again. He doesn't deserve that attention.
I love this writhing crazy but his work with Mr Marr is still superior.
Guy from the smiths!!!! fun voice
Marcy's stuff was good but never as good as his Smith stuff
Replacing the light floaty jangle of Johnny Marr's guitar with a mix of production styles like dark gloomy goth rock (Alsatian Cousin), string section (Angel Angel), and super 80s acoustic pop (Late Night) means that this is a pretty slow, bloated, and ponderous album that has all the maudlin crooning, but not of the bittersweet dynamism. Still, if you're going to listen to any maudlin crooning, this shithead is pretty much the best at it, and this being barely in the top 10 albums he's made is just an artifact of how prolific he'd been to this point. The two best songs are among the best Smiths approximation: Everyday is Like Sunday & Suedehead that have that bounce and jangle and a bit more of an upbeat uptempo sound to cut against the morose vocals.
Nice start with some strong songs. Feels quite experimental at times, which keeps it interesting
Нытье Однако не самое плохое Есть интересные песни Есть хиты Вокал не надоедает Возможно переслушаю
5/10 Separate the art from the artist, separate the art from the artists, separate the art from the artist… Let’s leave aside Morrissey and his awful opinions for a moment and focus on the actual music here. This is actually a pretty good album. There’s a decent range of styles across the tracklist, but it all feels very stylistically consistent and well produced. For an album from 1988, there is a very 90s indie sound about a lot of this, and it’s clear that Morrissey was very influential among the indie and briptpop bands that would follow. The strongest aspects of the best songs on this record are undoubtedly the bass and drums, which bring a solid and reliable drive and impetus to proceedings. Morrissey’s voice is exactly what you would expect; a bit flouncy, always somewhat maudlin, and consistently ensuring that there is a morose edge to even the most uplifting of tracks, but he’s got good control and does what he does well. He does have a few common phrases and intervals that he uses again and again in his work, which does stand out after a while and makes his work have less range and variety than it could. The quality of the songwriting does vary a little, with some strong efforts and some that are a bit dull and underdeveloped, but by and large it’s not bad at all. Production wise, there are a few odd choices. The guitar in I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me, and the vocal delay in Late Night, Maudlin Street, for example, and the the reverb is pretty overdone in places, but for the most part it’s well balanced and competently presented. Unfortunately, Mr Morrissey does give us an indication of some of his worst opinions on Bengali In Platforms, and his subsequent behaviour has essentially doubled down on the sentiment therein, leaving no further room for doubt about his intentions. It’s a shame, because this is actually not a bad album, but I’m not going to go back to it. At least listening to a Smiths record puts money in Johnny Marr’s pocket. Alsatian Cousin - An interesting piece of sound design to start us off and the guitar emerges in a wash of tonal distortion. It’s Quite a dark and dreary, but has a decent drive to it in places. It’s not a bad track and there’s a decent bit of range to the different sections. I quite like the ambience to it too. Little Man, What Now? - This doesn’t really go anywhere. It’s a nice enough idea of a track, but it just doesn’t really do enough with the idea. Morrissey has a lot of go-to melodic phrases and runs that he goes back to again and again, which often makes it feel like a lot of his vocal performances are incredibly similar, and this is one where that is pretty blatant. Everyday Is Like Sunday - This is a more Smiths-like song. It’s ok, but it’s a fairly basic composition that more or less does exactly what you expect and it’s a bit on the dull side. Ok, but not in any way exciting or invigorating. Bengali In Platforms - It’s not entirely clear if this song is intended to be Morrissey representing the views of others, attempting to speak about immigrants trying to fit in, or just him sharing his own views, but given his subsequent behaviour, I think we can probably make an educated guess. The guy is an odious little prick, and just grouping people as those who “belong here” and those who don’t (particularly from the son of Irish immigrants) is enough to turn me off. The song beneath is pretty enough, but fairly plain. Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together - The string arrangement here is really quite nice. It moves really nicely and there’s enough variation in the lead violin part to give it extended interest as the song flows. It’s a stark and open song that’s really nicely produced and backs up a really convincing vocal delivery from Morrissey. When he produces stuff like this, he can be really good, which makes all the horrible shit even harder to take. Late Night, Maudlin Street - Maudlin is right. It’s a thin old production too, at least to begin with. It does thicken out a little, but there are some odd choices of effects in places with a slightly distracting use of delay on the lead vocal in places. The rhythm is quite nice, but pretty repetitive after a while, although when it eventually gets fuller late on, it does add a bit of extended interest. It’s a slow build that the core musical structure is perhaps a bit too basic to justify, even though there are some nice moments from the piano. I mean, it’s not that bad and could have been decent at 3-4 minutes, but how on earth did he drag this out for nearly seven minutes? Suedehead - There’s a bit more of an uptempo approach here, although Morrissey’s vocal delivery fails to ever let any of his songs be truly uplifting. This is quite a nice little track and actually sounds a little ahead of its time. I could easily see this fitting in with the jingly indie-pop canon of the 90s. The bass is a great driver to this track and there’s a solid drumming performance in there too. It’s got great tempo and I’m not surprised to see this was a single. Break Up The Family - This runs on nicely from the previous track. More decent driving bass and a really solid groove to the beat keep it shifting along. The arpeggiated guitar is pretty nice too. Overall, the ambience of this is really pleasant and Morrissey uses rhythm nicely in a few places to give the vocal range an interest. This album is growing on me, much to my chagrin. The Ordinary Boys - I had to look around for this one, as Morrissey decided to remove it from the remaster and replace it with something more plodding and boring than this. This is also quite plodding, but there’s a little more about it. Some decent moments of piano and guitar and it’s pleasant enough, but overall, it’s just a bit dull. I can see why he removed it, but I can’t see why he replaced it with something that is also dull. I Don't Mind If You Forget Me - I wish I could forget you Morrissey. I’ve quite enjoyed this album in places, but you’re an arsehole. This has got a really good drive and pace to it. There’s a nice blend of guitar tones in here, although there is a bit into the chorus where the guitar goes off piste and sounds distractingly odd. In fact, the longer the song goes on, the more out of place that bit sounds. It’s awful! Besides that, it’s a good piece of pop-rock songwriting. The bass and drums are solid and driving and the vocals are well delivered. But that guitar can do one. Dial-A-Cliché - This is a pleasant enough folk-edged track. The rolling drums are restrained, but give a really solid shuffling pulse to things. It’s another slice of good pop-rock songwriting that’s quite emotionally compelling, but it kind of has that Morrissey trademark ‘always the victim’ mentality to the lyrics and delivery. He seems very sad that people might not like him, but would rather look outwards than inwards. Margaret On The Guillotine - A song about Margaret Thatcher that could easily have the name ‘Margaret’ replaced with the name ‘Morrissey’ and be a suitable representation of how many people now view Morrissey and his take on the world. It’s stark and pretty and closes the album out quite nicely.
If I separate the music from the artist, I actually kinda like it.
I’m not sure how I feel about this album. It was good, I guess, but also kind of forgettable. I did like the variety on the album, but I wasn’t exactly blown away or super impressed by anything either.
Damn, I really wanted to hate this one. You win again Morrissey.
The music stands out. I think there needed to be a song with a more vocal punch at some point and the lyrics feel clumsy in places. I also find it hard to stay in Morrissey's melodramatic view of the world for a whole album. Low 3 for me .
Decent indie pop collection. Not as good as 'your Arsenal' which for me was improved by the heavier guitars.
Did not like this one nearly as much as the last Morrissey record I got this week. I have a feeling I'll be rating this one lower due to the fact that I already got one this week and I'm kinda salty about it. Genuinely though I didn't like this one as much and I gave the last one a 4 so this one will probably get a 3. It's fine but it's also kinda flaccid.
I viva hate that I got another Morrissey album this week. But in all honesty, this is fine. Some of it is even great. A few parts caught me off guard, but I’m overall bored of Mr. Morrissey showing up on this list.
6.6/10 I mean it’s alright but for the most part it just sounds like diet smiths, and If I want to listen to the smiths, I’ll go ahead and listen to the smiths.
Ia escrever que a voz dele parece do The Smiths, aí fui pesquisar e é ele mesmo kkk. Parece Smiths mais tranquilinho. Voz dele é bem única, mas achei ok o álbum. 3*
I kinda liked this. I just wish it had less Morrissey.
åååårgh en gang til?? javel // han har dessverre en syk stemme og spennende fortelling. det er irriterrende. men jeg sliter å forstå at hele to morrissey album må høres før man dør. men det er bare meg. han skriver bra, jeg bare takler ikke trynet hans. en allerede pretensiøs uttrykk blir bare enda verre med alle uttalelsene hans i bakhodet. høydepunkt: Little Man, What Is Now?, Suedehead
the reviews are about the man, not the work, which is good politics, but bad criticism. I mostly like The Smiths, finding their sound here is nostalgic, for me, reminiscing of adoloscence and desperation. it also is a little lazy on the artist part. Reproducing oneself is the entryway for obsolescence.
2/3. This is a good one, caught my ear right away and didn’t let go until the last 3 tracks. Nice mix of moods and tempos, classic 80s sounds, and interesting stories. Had heard the name but never bothered to seek him out, but I’ll be coming back to this one.
Mid
After listening to the first line, I was thinking this guy ripped off The Smiths... had no clue he did solo stuff! I liked it, I just wouldn't be able to distinguish this from The Smiths.
I wonder if this is the same guy who does the techno music. An easy listen
nice music, bad human
Er is weinig meer toe te voegen aan mijn eerdere teksten. De albums slaan mij niet achterover, ook deze niet. Maar ook dit album biedt wederom een continue kwaliteit. Dus voor de artiest heb ik wel waardering gekregen. Wellicht dat er het boek me dat wil laten merken en zijn er daarom vier albums opgenomen.
This is ok, it’s a bit Smiths-y, but nothing is outstanding and Morrissey is a gigantic cunt.
I liked the music but I don’t like morrissey or his self indulgent and pompous lyrics.
- bout 10 minutes in, pretty mid sofar, Morrisey without Marr just feels incomplete - Latenight Maudlin Street is quite alright to be fair. I like the cyclic melody. Reminds me of the smiths - Most songs sound alike. No nuance, noch beat switch. i dont see the artistic vision - I dont mind if you forget me suprised me. something different finally. appreciated. l like the guitar and the playfull accents. Favourite Song: I dont mind if you forget me Worst Song: Dial A Cliche HM: Margaret on the Guilliotine "without guitarist/composer Johnny Marr at his side, the mahatma of mope rock seems to have gone out for a nice depressing stroll without noticing that he didn't have a stitch to wear"
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Suedehead, I Don't Mind If You Forget Me This album sounds a lot more like The Smiths than his fourth studio album, Vauxhall and I. It also appears that two of the songs from this album are his top songs in general. Strangeways Here We Come was a sleeper hit album for me. I think this album also has potential for being a sleeper hit. It takes a lot of listens to really get into the music. What's being said? Where are the good instrumental sections? What exists under the somewhat cheery music Morrissey puts out? Only time will tell if this enters into my rotation or not.
el plan perfecto sería escucharlo con una cerveza fría en una mano, un cigarrillo a medio fumar en la otra, mirando por la ventana a la luna iluminando el mar
alright, nice sound
Ik dacht eerst; hé dat klinkt er beetje als the Smiths, voordat ik eracht kwam dat dit de debuutalbum was van de zanger. Ik vond t wel mooi maar niet heel bijzonder. T album zou t goed doen tijdens een etentje op de achtergrond.
Some good stuff in this album. I don’t know much about Morrisey but if this is his best album I agree with it being on the list.
Lovely voice, but nothing else really captured my attention. I sort of forgot I was listening to this album while I was doing so
This album really makes you appreciate how much Johnny Marr contributed to The Smiths. The bad thing about solo Morrissey is that every song sounds the same because he only sings one way. Like you could lay the vocal line for any of these songs over the music of any of the others on the album and it would be fine. Plus Morrissey is a dick. 2.5/5
Viva hate this man but can respect his talent.
I have listened to the two hits on this one many times, the rest of the album I listened to most of it one other time. Its a fairly fine album but it is Morrissey. Why does he have so many albums in these books?
This sounded the same as the other mortises albums we’ve already heard. I don’t get why this is essential listening.
Mopey music from human trash.
The most tolerable Morrissey album on here. Rocks out a bit more than I expected. Margaret on the Guillotine is definitely provocative. He's still punchable and there's too many Morrissey solo albums on here. A begrudging three stars.
Rating temp, just generating albums.
Enjoyable music and voice Bit redondant, nothing really stood out. Kinda felt like listening to a subpar album from the Smiths.
# In-Depth Review: *Viva Hate* – Morrissey (1988) Released just six months after The Smiths’ break-up, *Viva Hate* is Morrissey’s first solo statement and still his most commercially successful album. It was cut with two new collaborators who could hardly be less like Johnny Marr: producer / multi-instrumentalist **Stephen Street** (who had engineered *Strangeways, Here We Come*) and Durutti Column guitarist **Vini Reilly**. The record is therefore a strange hybrid: sometimes lush, sometimes brittle, always haunted by the recent past and by Morrissey’s twin talents for cruelty and compassion. --- ## 1. Lyrics – “a sepia-tinted poison-pen letter” - **Autobiography as ammunition** Whole songs read as coded cables to his ex-band (“I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me”, “Break Up the Family”) while others crawl back to 1970s Manchester poverty (“Late Night, Maudlin Street”). The effect is a diary you are allowed to read only if you accept the author’s right to edit the truth . - **Character sketches** “Little Man, What Now?” elegises a forgotten child-star actor; “Suedehead” is an open letter to a stalker / ex-lover who stole a diary; “Alsatian Cousin” imagines a teacher-pupil affair on a leaking groundsheet—camp, sly and cinematic . - **The political couplet** “Margaret on the Guillotine” (“When will you die?”) is pure pantomime venom, while “Bengali in Platforms” tries to universalise displacement but ends up sounding patronising (“life is hard enough when you belong here”)—a lyric that still shadows Morrissey’s reputation . - **Universal misanthropy / self-pity** Whether attacking Thatcher, small-town boredom or his own family, the default tone is *viva hate*—yet the punch-lines are often self-inflicted: “Come, Armageddon, come” sung over a gorgeous pop hook . --- ## 2. Music – Smiths DNA spliced with post-punk and MOR | Element | What happens | Example | |---------|--------------|---------| | **Drums** | Early affordable sampler/sequencer patterns give a stiff, *jagged* funk to the opener; live kit used elsewhere for Smiths-style swell | “Alsatian Cousin” | | **Guitars** | Reilly’s spider-fingered, semi-improvised arpeggios contrast with Street’s crisp, jangly overdubs; occasional psych-metal riffing | “I Don’t Mind…” contains an unwanted hair-metal lead that dates the track | | **Orchestration** | Mellotron, synth-strings and real string quartets push the record toward 60s pop and easy-listening | “Dial-a-Cliché”, “Everyday Is Like Sunday” | | **Dynamics** | Verses often whispered, choruses explode into multi-tracked Morrissey choirs; seven-minute “Late Night…” is essentially a *novella* with three musical acts | “Late Night, Maudlin Street” | --- ## 3. Production – Stephen Street’s balancing act Street’s brief was “replace Johnny Marr, but don’t copy him”. He built backing tracks on guitar, bass, keys and drum-machines, then let Morrissey top-line. The result is *cleaner* than any Smiths record—Harrison-esque slide touches, bossa-nova bass lines, even a flamenco outro on “Margaret…”—yet the voice is pushed far forward so every curled consonant lands . Reilly claims co-writing credit on almost everything; Morrissey disputes it. Whatever the truth, the album’s *sonic* signature is Street’s: spacious, slightly sterile, like a museum lit to highlight the exhibits . --- ## 4. Themes – a concept album about stasis 1. **Nostalgia as escape** – seaside towns, dead actors, childhood streets. 2. **Betrayal** – band, lovers, country. 3. **Self-erasure** – “forget me”, “break up the family”, “little man, what now?” 4. **The enemy of movement** – every upbeat hook carries a lyric about *staying still* and rotting. Even the anti-Thatcher song fantasises about a *static* head on a plate . --- ## 5. Influence – the template for “miserable-is-gorgeous” - **Britpop blueprint** – Blur’s *Parklife* guitar tone and Pulp’s kitchen-sink storytelling both borrow Street’s bright-but-grey palette. - **Emo genealogy** – American bands from Sunny Day Real Estate to Brand New cite Morrissey’s *vulnerable venom* on this record as permission to be literary *and* self-loathing. - **Indie production** – the mix of drum-machines with jangly live instruments re-appears on early St. Etienne, Belle & Sebastian and The Postal Service. - **Cultural shorthand** – “Everyday Is Like Sunday” became the go-to shorthand for dowdy English resorts; the phrase *“Come, Armageddon, come”* has been sampled or quoted by everyone from The Cure’s Robert Smith to novelist David Mitchell . --- ## 6. Pros & Cons at a Glance | PROS | CONS | |------|------| | Contains Morrissey’s most enduring solo songs (“Suedehead”, “Everyday Is Like Sunday”) | Patchy second side—“The Ordinary Boys”, “Bengali in Platforms” feel under-written or clumsy | | Street/Reilly sound is unique in the Morrissey catalogue—lush yet brittle | Drum-machine stiffness on several tracks already sounded dated in 1989 | | Lyrics balance camp humour with genuine ache; still quotable 35 years on | Recurrent accusations of racism/xenophobia around “Bengali…” taint the project | | “Late Night, Maudlin Street” invents the *seven-minute miserablist epic* | Over-long running time (near 50 min) for what was meant to be a brisk comeback | | Emotional *catharsis*—the only Morrissey LP many fans still play front-to-back when depressed | Morrissey’s non-musician status shows—when the melody is weak, the song collapses | --- ## Verdict *Viva Hate* is *neither* the masterpiece its most devout fans proclaim nor the botched footnote its detractors insist on. It is a *transitional artifact*: the moment when one of British pop’s great voices had to decide whether to mature or simply keep stamping his foot. The answer, characteristically, was both at once. The album’s best cuts remain unmatched in Morrissey’s solo catalogue for melodic sparkle and lyrical bite, while its failures are at least *interesting*—the sound of a man learning how to be alone in public.
3.5
Suedehead by far the best track on the album.
Viva Hate is one of those albums where i just don't have much to say about it. This was apparently Morrissey's first album since Strangeways Here We Come and this album does feel like a continuation of that one just minus the other Smiths musicians. With an album like this, this is just a case where it doesn't do anything egregiously bad but doesn't really do anything all that noteworthy in a good way either. The music is fine, Morrissey's songwriting here is interesting but not all that memorable and this album just went by at an alright pace. I don't dislike this album, not by a longshot but i just really can't find much to say about it. Best Song: I Don't Mind If You Forget Me Worst Song: Bengali in Platforms
Favorite Track: Treat Me Like A Human Being
Great voice but a little too theatrical. No especially memorable songs.
i don’t know why we hate Morrissey but i’m okay with it, i guess. this album had some good vibes, and the song titles kept getting funnier but i kept getting bored, and im sorry.
Not bad, still fun