you were good in your time and we thank you
ahh mrkmzo,your first post and hopefully the last.what a load of dung.So why do people still show up to his concerts? Is it nostalgia and the closest they'll ever come to seeing The Smiths live? I don't get it. He's been coasting for over 30 years now and is living proof that all you really need is 5 good years to have a career for life.
Yep, the quality dips. Dial a Cliché is a beauty though as is Margaret.Viva Hate isn't very good after Suedehead finishes.
There has just been more time gone along and why I think Morrissey solo ever gets mentioned as better.
I have seen him more times than I can count and I saw him live last year.. He keeps putting out a lot of excellent songs.So why do people still show up to his concerts? Is it nostalgia and the closest they'll ever come to seeing The Smiths live? I don't get it. He's been coasting for over 30 years now and is living proof that all you really need is 5 good years to have a career for life.
Even people that have strong dislike for him have said his latest record is one of his best. You can't really argue that a record is incredible or not but the critics mostly seem to like it and it's gotten some rave reviews from people that are not part of the cult.The majority of Morrissey fans could probably name several other Morrissey albums which they feel are just as good (or better) than Viva Hate.
For me, the last genuinely good Morrissey album was Years of Refusal. I haven't hated what he's done since, but it just isn't particularly good. If he was a relatively young artist and had only released World, High School and Dog, I wouldn't be a fan.
So putting it like that, we're talking about the last 11 years since YoR in which for me Morrissey hasn't released a good album. That's literally one third of his solo career. So, racism controversy aside, I can see why some fans might have given up on him now.
Look at the previous 11 year time frame, 1998-2009. Pre-Quarry he didn't have a record deal but he was still touring with great set lists. Then came the monster that was Quarry and those top 10 singles. Then Ringleader, a UK #1 album and Refusal at #3. Backed with more extensive touring.
1987-1998 Morrissey was still a young artist and highly prolific. Viva Hate is a masterpiece, then you had the Bona Drag singles which are regarded as some of his best solo work. Kill Uncle wasn't great, but then you had him working with Boz and Alain and going on tour for the first time since The Smiths. Your Arsenal and Vauxhall and I are probably most fans' top 2 Morrissey albums. I'm not so keen on Southpaw or Maladjusted but they're decent enough efforts.
But even in the mid 90s when Morrissey was beginning to make albums I wasn't that enthusiastic about, he was still only in his 30s. There was still time for him to return to form, which he did with Quarry. But now? He'll be 61 next month. How many artists make incredible albums at that stage of life?
Yep, the quality dips. Dial a Cliché is a beauty though as is Margaret.
I'd still take the other songs over the blandness of the 4 or 5 duff Vauxhall tracks.
Break Up the Family is one of his best songs.No. I completely disagree with this. The only reasonable song on the second half of Viva Hate to me is I Don't Mind..., and that's a throwaway pop song.
I can't even begin to imagine what you'd consider a duff Vauxhall track to be. Lifeguard, perhaps, but that would be it. 4 or 5? Bloody hell.
I’m not sure what you’re saying. But, IANADOAC is justifiably being well received by many, even by those here that have kept their legs closed for so long.
Spring Heeled Jim's a great song, lyrics about a cocky criminal, dark sinister tune plus the background cockney voices, love it!It's his only great album but others are pretty good.
The songs are so sharp and melodic, and brilliantly arranged.
Never understood why Vauxhall commonly considered his best.
Yes, some great songs on it but several bland so-so songs like Hated for Loving, Spring Heeled Jim and the silly one about the sunbathers.