This whole controversy is so damn depressing. I've barely read anything where anyone is talking about this record in intelligent terms, either here, on reddit, or on any message board. (Certainly not in any music writing.) This is an uncompromising album by songwriter that has always dared to be himself. Even if one disagrees with Morrissey now, but has appreciated his work in the past, there are so many intelligent conversations that this record could provoke.
1. Is it right to hold those that actually commit acts of violence in the name of a nation state accountable?
2. Should the people of a nation be held to account for the actions of their government?
3. What artistic sources, either musically or lyrically, has Morrissey used for this release?
4. Israel, whatever you think of the song, is not a straight politically topical song. Some of the lines seem to be about his own struggle with Catholicism. How do you think this song can be interpreted?
5. Should one confuse the art and the artist?
I mean those are just five things off the top of my head. I do realize that some here are debating some those things, and sometimes intelligently, but mostly people are just jumping to conclusions based on headlines, etc.
Has Morrissey not always been a complicated person and artist? It's not that Morrissey has gotten more controversial, but that we seem to have less stomach for the outrageous and controversial as a society. If you read Conversations with Morrissey, he hasn't changed as much as people think.
I can't remember the last time I bought a record, before this one, that actually made me think and questions myself. (Maybe the last Leonard Cohen record?) We're lucky to have him and will miss him when gone. Look at the top 40. It's a f***ing wasteland. Many artists through the years have been very complicated people. If we banish artists just because of their opinions, we will be all the poorer for it. Thank heavens he is out there, a mutant in our time...