Morrissey "I Am Not a Dog on a Chain" (2020)

I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
release date: Mar. 20, 2020
format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Joe Chiccarelli
label: Étienne / BMG - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Jim Jim Falls" - 2. "Love Is on Its Way Out" - 3. "Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?" - 5. "What Kind of People Live in These Houses?" (4 / 5) - 6. "Knockabout World" - 9. "The Truth About Ruth" - 11. "The Secret of Music"

13th studio album by Morrissey is the collection of eleven tracks with a duration at just below 50 mins, and it follows less than a year after his so far least favourable studio release, the covers' album California Son (2019) - and once again with producer Joe Chiccarelli.

Musically, it's a return to form with songs written and composed with either guitarist Jesse Tobias or multi-instrumentalist Gustavo Manzur, and the compositions are in the traditional pop / rock / indie pop style that is associated with his music as solo artist. Sometimes he adds elements from alt. rock, chamber pop or synthpop, and it's the small stylistic differences that mark each of his so far thirteen studio albums. As usual, there's also room for sing-a-long pop songs - here, the fine "What Kind of People Live in These Houses" and pompous ballads like "The Truth About Ruth".

The album falls closely in the neighbourhood of the fine World Peace Is None of Your Business (2014) and distances itself from his most recent album of own material, the lesser Low in High School (2017). Basically, it's surprising how relevant the lyrics appear and the general quality he throws at us - also seen in the light of his last two albums proved, and which, to me, signalled he had come to the end of his musical career - but here he once again demonstrates his ability to return with significant music.

Personally, I must confess that I thought he had passed into anonymity - especially after tasteless political statements, but this is a rather fine collection of songs.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, NME 3 / 5, The Telegraph 4 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "California Son" (2019)

California Son
release date: May 24, 2019
format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,82]
producer: Joe Chiccarelli
label: Étienne / BMG - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Morning Starship" - 5. "Days of Decision" - 6. "It's Over" - 7. "Wedding Bell Blues" (live) - 9. "Lady Willpower"

12th studio album by Morrissey is his second on his own label and his third consecutive album to be produced by Joe Chiccarelli. Perhaps Morrissey's interest and acclaim for covering other artists - a lovable trait he often exercises at live concerts - made him decide to record an album entirely made up of covers. Fact is, this new album is just that, and perhaps not exactly in the way fans have come to really enjoy his choice of covers, because playing live, he has often showed his affection for energetic punk rock and new wave familiar songs from his youth, which is to say from late 1970s to early 1980s, covering artists like Ramones, The Pretenders, and Magazine - and a bit contrary to that, he has selected more obscure songs from artists primarily of the 1960s. In chronological order the songs have originally been released by Jobriath, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Phil Ochs, Roy Orbison, Laura Nyro, Dionne Warwick, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Carly Simon, Tim Hardin, and Melanie, all of which very likely could be sources of inspiration to the music by Morrissey's former band, The Smiths.
The promotional single "It's Over" (Roy Orbison) was released in February and "Wedding Bell Blues" (Laura Nyro) was released in April, and the album has fared quite well peaking at number #4 in the UK; however, critics have been less positive about the album, and I really do understand that. I simply find California Son his least enjoyable album ever released - even "under-passing" his most recent low point, Low in High School from 2017. It has been labelled a collection of protest / anti-war songs, but that's really a rather forced opinion. It's basically a bunch of highly different songs varying from political protest songs, songs about identity and pure love songs, and the arrangements reflect the same sort of diversity as some have been recorded as if made in the Phil Spector heydays with multi-layers of violins and horns, whereas others are cut to fit a contemporary production state of the art with no obvious bonds to the 60s.
Perhaps his ever more bizarre statements in recent years have a say in my conclusion about his music in recent years. In 2010 he allegedly called Chinese people a 'sub-species', and in the last few years he has been the explicit supporter of right-wing politicians, e.g. Nigel Farrage (of the Brexit Party) and a certain Anne Marie Waters (of For Britain) who speaks against Islam and who is for British / English sovereignty (generally speaking). Morrissey is in this regard cited for stating that "all people like their own race the most"... - and other [extremely] stupid right-wing stuff that alienates him from his audience. Of course it makes you take a stand as to whether it's not possible to distinguish the artist from the person - as in the case of Michael Jackson, who undoubtedly made truly great music. On the other hand we do not really mind what political preferences Da Vinci, Wagner or Lord Byron shared, and instead we look at what they wrote and composed of artistic value, but it does seem to be a difficult, if not impossible process when speaking of contemporary active artists.
As Helen Brown of The Independent concludes: "I could have forgiven this album its missteps if I could dissociate the music from the man. It’s really not bad. But I can’t. Alright, mum. I’m turning it off now." Morrissey's low point is not a recommended listen, although, you cannot take away from him that he is still a mighty fine modern crooner.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👍Mojo 3 / 5, NME, The Independent 2 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Low in High School" (2017)

Low in High School
release date: Nov. 17, 2017
format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,02]
producer: Joe Chiccarelli
label: Étienne / BMG - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 3. "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage" - 4. "Home Is a Question Mark" - 5. "Spent the Day in Bed" - 6. "I Bury the Living" - 10. "When You Open Your Legs"

11th studio album by Morrissey and his first on his newly-established label Étienne, and as the previous album, World Peace Is None of Your Business from 2014 the album is produced by Joe Chiccarelli.
Stylistically, Morrissey doesn't challenge his audience with new moves or surprises in his search of an overall genre. He may not need to, you may argue, as he has found his original expression long ago; however, what people do expect is new strong songs wrapped up utilising wit, sense of humour, and to some extent: A purpose of some sort; and frankly [Mr. Shankly] these elements are very much absent on this album. Some compositions contain fine structures - surely - like the first single "Spent the Day in Bed" and "I Bury the Living" but quite sadly they also lack in terms of being great songs altogether as whole compositions. Actually, I only find that one track stand out here with the rest being at best interesting or just: So-so, and then some even turn out as mediocre fillers, eg. "In Your Lap", "The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel" and "Israel".
Low in High School turns out to be Morrissey's least favourable album ever. It's quite disappointing and not really recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo, The Guardian, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, NME 2 / 5, The Times 2 / 6 stars ]

Morrissey "World Peace Is None of Your Business" (2014)

World Peace Is None of Your Business
release date: Jul. 15, 2014
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]
producer: Joe Chiccarelli
label: Harvest Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "World Peace Is None of Your Business" - 3. "I'm Not a Man" - 4. "Istanbul" (4 / 5) - 5. "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet" - 6. "Staircase at the University" - 7. "The Bullfighter Dies" - 8. "Kiss Me Alot" - 10. "Kick the Bride Down the Aisle" (4 / 5) - 11. "Mountjoy"

10th studio album by Morrissey and his first for Harvest as he had signed a two-record deal with mother company Capitol Records who had just acquired EMI's catalogue [this remains his only for Harvest, as he was released from the contract with Capitol in 2015].
The album features a new producer and the songs are primarily written together with Morrissey's old musical associates Boz Boorer (who has written 5 out of 12 songs) and Jessie Tobias (who has written 5 out of 12 songs), with two tracks co-written with new multi-instrumentalist Gustavo Manzur. The musicians on the album are Boz Boorer on guitar, clarinet and saxophone, Jesse Tobias on guitar, Solomon Walker on bass, Matt(hew) Walker on drums and percussion, and with Gustavo Manzur playing piano, organ, synths, trumpet, accordion, guitar, didgeridoo and q-chord.
The album slowly opens up, and my initial luke-warm feelings to it slowly vanished and soon it has become a delightful experience. It comes out pretty much on par with Years of Refusal (2009), and is therefore also tightly bonded to his strong comeback album You Are the Quarry from 2004. Like many recent Morrissey albums it contains music that needs attention to grow, and if first granted, it reveals subtle, strong, and very fine songwriting beneath... a waterline, or perhaps just to over-rule a first verdict. Nevertheless, it surely contains music for precocious ears.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, The Guardian, Mojo, 4 / 5, NME 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Swords" (2009)

Swords (compilation)
release date: Oct. 26, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Tony Visconti, Gustavo Santaolalla, Jerry Finn
label: Polydor - nationality: England, UK

Compilation album by Morrissey featuring B-sides to single releases from his last 3 albums: You Are the Quarry (2004), Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006), and Years of Refusal (2009). The album is actually pretty decent and Morrissey just really (again) documents his songwriting capabilities. The regular album consists of 18 tracks, whereas a Deluxe Edition contains an 8 tracks live bonus disc from a concert in Warsaw.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Drowned in Music 3,5 / 5, MusicOMH 4 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Years of Refusal" (2009)

Years of Refusal
release date: Feb. 16, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Jerry Finn
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" - 2. "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed" (4 / 5) - 4. "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" - 7. "That's How People Grow Up" (4 / 5) - 8. "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell"

9th studio album by Morrissey released by Polydor Records. After his years touring from 1998-2003, and in search for a record company, he signed with the small Independent label, Sanctuary Records where he released through the sub-label Attack. Ringleader of the Tormentors from 2006 was his last on Attack, and the follow-up was scheduled for release in 2008, but apparently Morrissey was looking for the right contract. He finally signed with the established umbrella label, Universal Music Group, where he was assigned to the sub-division Decca Records in the UK (Polydor in Europe and Asia).
Morrissey again proves he has found the formula and does more than well on this 12-track album, I think. Nearly half of the song are co-written with Alain Whyte, who doesn't participate on the album, instead Jesse Tobias, with whom Morrissey wrote 3 of the tracks, plays "the second lead" guitar alongside old associate, Boz Boorer. Compared to the critically acclaimed Ringleader... (2006), the album feels lighter and more in sync with his better albums, and it sounds much like a natural follow-up to You Are the Quarry (2004), which also had Jerry Finn in the producer seat. There's left more room for ballads and chorus-based pop songs, but it's simply better balanced than his 2006 album. On the national albums chart list it reached number #3, and peaking at #11 in the US, it equals his so far best-selling album on the American market, You Are the Quarry.
I don't find it quite up there alongside his 2004 album but it's definitely a fine collection of songs and as such a recommendable listen.
[ allmusic.com, Spin, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "The Youngest Was The Most Loved" (2006), single

The Youngest Was the Most Loved, single
release date: Jun. 27, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Attack Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "The Youngest Was the Most Loved" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "A Song From Under the Floorboards" (4 / 5) - 4. "Ganglord" (3 / 5)

CD single by Morrissey from his most recent album Ringleader of the Tormentors (Mar. 2006) with enhanced track list (for the American market), as the ordinary single (cd and vinyl) just contains the first two tracks.
The single peaked at number #14 on the national singles chart list. The standard single is somewhat superfluous once you have the album as only track #2 is new but rather anonymous; however, the US version is a fine bargain, especially for the cover song "A Song From Under the Floorboards" originally written by (Manchester-based) post-punk band Magazine and included on its album The Correct Use of Soap from 1980.

Morrissey "Ringleader of the Tormentors" (2006)

Ringleader of the Tormentors
release date: Mar. 20, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Attack Records - nationality: UK

Track highlights: 2. "Dear God Please Help Me" - 3. "You Have Killed Me" - 4. "The Youngest Was the Most Loved" - 8. "I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now" - 10. "To Me You Are a Work of Art" - 11. "I Just Want to See the Boy Happy"

8th studio album by Morrissey released on Attack, a sub-label of Sanctuary Records. It features 1970s legendary (Bowie) producer Tony Visconti, and Morrissey's co-writers Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte are both back on the majority of the tracks, but the album is also the last studio album featuring longtime co-writer Alain Whyte, who has been writing music with Morrissey ever since 1990, and who has written music for 6 of the tracks on this album. Five of the tracks were co-written with guitarist Jesse Tobias who would eventually replace Whyte as regular part of Morrissey's backing band.
The style is not that different from his previous albums, although, it may be slightly more orchestrated, which in my mind isn't really an improvement. Morrissey's fragile lyrical output sometimes sounds like a small boat caught in a storm at open sea. The album was Morrissey's third album to top the albums chart list in the UK.
[ allmusic.com, 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Blender 4 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Live at Earls Court" (2005) (live)

Live at Earls Court (live)
release date: Apr. 4, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Peter Asher
label: Attack Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "First of the Gang to Die" - 3. "November Spawned a Monster" - 5. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" - 6. "I Like You" - 8. "Let Me Kiss You" - 10. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - 11. "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" - 13. "I Have Forgiven Jesus" - 15. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" - 18. "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"

2nd live album by Morrissey released on Attack and recorded at Earls Court, London on Dec. 18, 2004. The album is exclusively reserved to his material since the last live album, Beethoven Was Deaf (1993), or at least the majority of the tracks, and those that are not recent compositions are five tracks written together with Johnny Marr for The Smiths and one track taken from Kill Uncle (1991). The entire album consists of 18 tracks with a total running time of about 75 minutes. Like the front cover, the album tells the story of how Morrissey has succeeded in turning himself into a contemporary 'crooner', and what's specifically enjoyable about it is how it only adds new dimensions to his live repertoire without repeating what worked on his first live album.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "You Are the Quarry" (2004)

You Are the Quarry
release date: May 17, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]
producer: Jerry Finn
label: Attack Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Irish Blood, English Heart" - 3. "I Have Forgiven Jesus" (4 / 5) - 4. "Come Back to Camden" (4 / 5) - 5. "I'm Not Sorry" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 8. "First of the Gang to Die" (4 / 5) - 9. "Let Me Kiss You" (4,5 / 5) - 11. "I Like You" (4 / 5) - 12. "You Know I Couldn't Last" (4 / 5)

7th studio album by Morrissey is by many considered his comeback album in more than one sense. It was released 7 years after his previous studio album Maladjusted (1997), which had been released after a tiresome trial with his former band members of The Smiths, and after a period where he stood without a record deal and just toured around the world for several years until he signed with the small label Attack Records in 2003. He continued his work (both live as well as for this album) with Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer. The style is not that far from his previous album but may feel closer to Vauxhall and I (1994) than any of his succeeding albums, and it was generally well-received by critics and fans. In the UK it peaked at #2 on the album chart list and in the US, the album was his so far most successful album peaking at #11, and Morrissey was awarded the Mojo Icon Award in 2004. I perfectly understand why this album was met with fine reviews, and think of it as one of his absolute best solo albums placing it on par with his '94 album.
[ allmusic.com, Blender, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Show lyrics <- click...

~ ~ ~
"I'm Not Sorry"

"On returning
I can't believe this world is still turning
The pressure's on
Because the pleasure hasn't gone
And I'm
Not sorry for
For the things I've done
And I'm
Not looking for
Just anyone

On competing
Oh, when will this tired heart stop beating?
It's all a game
Existence is only a game
And I'm
Not sorry for
For the things I've done
And I'm
Not looking for
Just anyone

I'm
Slipping below the water line
I'm
Slipping below the water line
Reach for my hand
And, and the race is won
Reject my hand
And the damage is done

I'm
Slipping below the water line
I'm
Slipping below the water line

The woman of my dreams
She, she never came along
The woman of my dreams
Well, there never was one

And I'm
Not sorry for
For the things I've said
There's a wild man in my head
There's a wild man
In my head"

~ ~ ~
"I Like You"

"Something in you caused me to
take a new tack with you
You were going through something
I had just about scraped through
Why do you think I let you get away
with the things you say to me?

Could it be I like you?
It's so shameful of me - I like you

No one I ever knew
or have spoken to resembles you
This is good or bad
all depending on my general mood
Why do you think I let you get away
with all the things you say to me?

Could it be I like you?
It's so shameful of me - I like you

Magistrates who spend their lives
hiding their mistakes
They look at you and I
and envy makes them cry
Envy makes them cry

Forces of containment
They shove their fat faces into mine
You and I just smile
because we're thinking the same line
Why do you think I let you get away
with all the things you say to me?

Could it be I like you?
It's so shameful of me - I like you

::You're not right in the head
and nor am I, and this is why

::This is why I like you, I like you, I like you
Because you're not right in the head,
and nor am I, and this is why
You're not right in the head,
and nor am I, and this is why
This is why I like you, I like you, I like you..."

~ ~ ~

Morrissey "Maladjusted" (1997)

Maladjusted
release date: Aug. 11, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Maladjusted" - 2. "Alma Matters" (4 / 5) - 6. "Ammunition" - 11. "Satan Rejected My Soul"

6th studio album by Morrissey who is now enrolled with Island Records after only one album with RCA, but he still makes use of producer Steve Lillywhite. The album would be his last in 7 years, and it was recorded during and shortly in the aftermath of a long law suit with his former band mates from The Smiths. Mike Joyce, former drummer of the band, had sued Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr for not paying him and bassist Andy Rourke an equal share of royalties earned on their back catalog. Morrissey had lost the initial case but he the appealed - twice, and lost all cases.
Stylistically, the album appears like a clone of his albums Vauxhall and I (1994) with its grand ballads and Your Arsenal (1992) and its electrified indie rock tunes, or at least so it appears. The combination only succeeds to some degree. Now, "Maladjusted" does contain both the fine ballads and the alt. rock guitar-driven tracks but where Lillywhite on Morrissey's '94 album made sure that the compositions were nicely balanced, that part of the project doesn't really succeed here. My guess is that a stronger chamber pop element on some of the tracks with bold use of strings and horns mix only little with the soaring electric guitars of Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte. So, the result is that the single tracks in essence are better than the whole. For some reason, Island Records reissued the album in 2009 in a remastered and much altered release with 5 bonus tracks, including one track replacement and a completely new track order.
I have never liked this album much and consider it alongside the predecessor Southpaw Grammar (1995) Morrissey's least attractive studio albums.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Q Magazine 2 / 5, and Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

2009 Remaster

Morrissey "Southpaw Grammar" (1995)

Southpaw Grammar
release date: Aug. 28, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: RCA Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Reader Meet Author" - 3. "The Boy Racer" - 5. "Dagenham Dave" - 7. "Best Friend on the Payroll" (4 / 5) (live on BBC)

5th studio album by Morrissey is his first after leaving EMI and signing with RCA Records. The album is like the predecessor produced by Steve Lillywhite; however it represents another change of style by Morrissey who hasn't released similar albums after launching his solo career. Naturally, he's very dependent on musical collaboration work when writing new songs as his strengths are not in the musical composition chair. He writes lyrics and sings songs and very much rely on other peoples contributions when it comes to arrangements and the final musical output. On the debut album he was brought together with longtime The Smiths producer Stephen Street, which secured a recognisable sound, but already on his follow-up album, he had turned to Mark E. Nevin (of Fairground Attractions) and Clive Langer, which completely altered his style into more mainstream pop / rock, and on his 3rd solo album he mostly worked with guitarist and composer Alain Whyte, and together with producer Mick Ronson they assisted and collaborated in giving birth to his so far best rocking album. On his 4th solo album it was both Whyte and (new) guitarist Boz Boorer, but also Steve Lillywhite who, again in a collaboration work, made a new style shine through, which perhaps was the album that is closest to his solo debut.
Now although, both Whyte, Boorer and Lillywhite also has worked with Morrissey on this album, the style is much more experimental, progressive and introvert, and altogether strangely makes a rather big step away from Vauxhall and I. Some tracks like "Reader Meet Author", "The Boy Racer", "Dagenham Dave", and "Best Friend on the Payroll" are stylistically close to the predecessor but it also contains two tracks of more than 10 minutes playing time and "The Operation" (6:53 min.), which has a drum intro of more than 2 minutes, an outtro of approx. 2 min. (and a great middle part of almost 3 minutes) consisting of mostly noise rock and all three being tracks where Morrissey [?] experiments with a progressive alt. rock, which is completely new and ultimately less successful.
The front cover is rather different from all of his solo albums as they all feature a photo of himself. Here it's a photo of American "southpaw" [left-handed] boxer Kenny Lane (from 1963) that underlines an overall theme about boxing. In 2009 the album was reissued (and remastered) with 4 bonus tracks (and a different track list), which was released with a b/w front cover of... Morrissey.
All in all, I'm not particular fond of this album that I suspect of being a bit of record label manoeuvre. With a new artist under its roof, the management could use something to be remembered by. Sadly, the result is not one for the better.
[ allmusic.com 2,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

The Smiths "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" (1995) (single)

Sweet and Tender Hooligan, single
release date: May 23, 1995
format: digital
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: John Porter
label: Sire Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" - 2. "I Keep Mine Hidden" - 3. "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" - 4. "What's the World?" (Live)

Single release by The Smiths issued in May 1995 by Sire to promote the reissue of the compilation album Singles. The track was recorded back in 1986 and may be regarded as an outtake from the 1987 final studio album Strangeways, Here We Come. The single was issued with a sticker claiming it as "Previously unreleased"; however, the title track is found on the compilation album Louder Than Bombs from 1987, and the two following tracks are found on the 12'' single version of "Girlfriend in a Coma" (1987), and the live-recording "What's the World?" was previously released as B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (1987).
The single cover features a still of boxer Cornelius Carr from the music video for Morrissey's single "Boxers", as directed by James O'Brien in 1995.

The Smiths "Singles" (1995)

Singles (compilation)

release date: Feb. 20, 1995
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: WEA / Warner Music Group - nationality: England, UK

Compilation album by The Smiths with 18 tracks. This is a pretty decent attempt to make a best of collection with all The Smiths' A-side singles. It's a very nice thing the way the single tracks are listed in accordance to the date of release of each single. The only thing missing here are the B-sides, as it's commonly known that they very often were on par with the A-sides and not seldom weren't album tracks.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Now My Heart Is Full" (1994) (single)

Now My Heart Is Full, single
release date: Aug. 23, 1994
format: digital
[single rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Sire Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Now My Heart Is Full" (4 / 5) - 2. "Moonriver [Extended version]" - 3. "Jack the Ripper (live)" (5 / 5)

Single release by Morrissey released by Sire and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The title track is from his most recent studio album Vauxhall and I (Mar. 1994). The end track is enlisted as recorded live in Paris on Dec. 12, 1992, but to me it's identical to the version one will find on the live album Beethoven Was Deaf (1993), which was recorded Dec. 22, 1992.

Morrissey & Siouxsie "Interlude" (1994) (single)

Interlude, single

release date: Aug. 8, 1994

format: digital

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]

producer: Boz Boorer

label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Interlude" - 2. "Interlude (Extended)" - 3. "Interlude (Instrumental"

Single release by Morrissey and Siouxsie Sioux released under the name 'Morrissey & Siouxsie' as a standalone duo project. The song is a cover a song with lyrics by Hal Shaper and music by George Delerue for a 1968 British film of the same name directed by Kevin Billington. The song for the film was originally performed by Timi Yuro.

Morrissey had reportedly made several attempts in arranging a duet project with Sioux, and finally she accepted the song here after Morrissey's many suggestions for possible cover songs.

The song is a chamber pop-styled ballad and it was met by some appraisal landing at number #25 on the UK singles chart. The song is quite nicely arranged and performed, but is still mostly a collector's item without the most evident qualities.

Morrissey "Vauxhall and I" (1994)

Vauxhall and I
release date: Mar. 14, 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Sire Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Now My Heart Is Full" (4 / 5) - 2. "Spring-Heeled Jim" (4 / 5) - 5. "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" (5 / 5) - 6. "Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself" (4 / 5) - 7. "I Am Hated for Loving" (4 / 5) - 9. "Used to Be a Sweet Boy" (4 / 5) - 10. "The Lazy Sunbathers" (4 / 5) - 11. "Speedway"

4th studio album by Morrissey released on Sire and produced by Lillywhite is Morrissey's second with guitarist Alain Whyte and his first with Boz Boorer. The two guitarists and composers here launch a longtime collaboration work with Morrissey as his first choices in composer partners. Steve Lillywhite seems like another good choice (like Stephen Street, and Mick Ronson), and he makes sure the sound and style has both the energetic output, and a distinct, yet never boring feel. Your Arsenal (1992) was seen as an artistic and productional success, so for this album Morrissey would most likely have wanted Ronson in the producer seat again if he had not died in 1993 at the age of 46. Anyway, Lillywhite does a great job as substitute, although, the album came out while grunge dominated the world of music and maybe therefore it seemed more polished than it actually is. I remember, thinking how smooth and pop-oriented it was - and with some disappointment. Fact is, it's really one of his better albums. Like its predecessor Your Arsenal the album succeeds in the US, this time reaching #18 on the album chart list there, but it was only his second album so far to top the chart list in the UK, and the single "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" reached number #8 in the UK but it was his only single making it to the Billboard Hot 100 in the US where it peaked at number #48, however, topping the Hot Modern Rock Tracks list. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Blender 5 / 5 stars ]

Morrissey "Beethoven Was Deaf" (1993) (live)

Beethoven Was Deaf (live)
release date: May 10, 1993
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
label: HMV - nationality: England, UK

Track highlight: 5. "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" - (5 / 5) - 6. "November Spawned a Monster" (5 / 5) - 8. "Jack the Ripper" (5 / 5)
[ full album ]

1st live album by Morrissey with all tracks recorded on two occasions: 7 tracks are taken from a concert in London on Dec. 20, whereas the remaining 9 tracks were recorded live on Dec. 22 at Zenith in Paris.
Apart from Morrissey on vocals, the personnel consists of the two guitarists and musical composers, Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer, bassist Gary Day and drummer Spencer Cobrin.
This is a rather fine album showing how well Morrissey performs live. Like was the case with The Smiths, the live performances with Morrissey are often more rock-styled in respect to his normal studio releases and what they may imply.
I have really enjoyed this album a great deal because of its straight-forward aggressiveness and several great live versions such as "November Spawned a Monster", and "Jack the Ripper".

Morrissey "Certain People I Know" (1992) (single)

Certain People I Know, single
release date: Dec. 7, 1992
format: digital
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Mick Ronson
label: HMV - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Certain People I Know" - 2. "You've Had Her" - 3. "Jack the Ripper"

Single release taken from the album Your Arsenal (Jul.) with only the title track from the album. Track #3 is also included as B-side to the single "Now My Heart Is Full" from 1994 but on that it's identical to the live version on Beethoven Was Deaf from '93, and here it's the studio version.
What I really like about single releases by Morrissey is how he is still capable of making good B-sides like in the tradition of The Smiths. "Jack the Ripper" is a great composition but it really shines the brightest in the live version.

BEST OF 1992:Morrissey "Your Arsenal" (1992)

Your Arsenal
release date: Jul. 27, 1992
format: cd (2014 remaster)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Mick Ronson
label: HMV - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 3. "We'll Let You Know" - 4. "The National Front Disco" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 5. "Certain People I Know" - 6. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "You're the One for Me, Fatty" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" (5 / 5) (live) - 9. "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" - 10. "Tomorrow"
[ full album ]

3rd studio album by Morrissey is indeed a strong return to form. Initially, I recall the album as weaker than his debut but more interesting than Kill Uncle (1991), but soon I found that it was actually much better and not just on par with his solo debut but I have come to see it as a more homogeneous album, and ultimately making it Morrissey's best album ever. Stylistically, he has returned to a more rocking output, which balances his softer and melancholic vocal very nicely. Producer and guitarist Mick Ronson, who among other things produced Lou Reed's perhaps most legendary album, Transformer (1972), probably should be credited for bringing Morrissey back on track. The album more or less opened the door to the American market. The Smiths had always had an enthusiastic but small crowd of fans in the US and Morrissey's previous two solo albums didn't sell anywhere close to top 10 as they peaked at number #48 and #52 on the American albums chart list, but with Your Arsenal Morrissey reached position #21 and it was also nominated as Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammy Awards (won by Tom Waits for Bone Machine).
The more guitar-based energetic tracks are not the only forces as the album also contains some of Morrissey's best ballads, like "We'll Let You Know", "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday", and the absolute wonderful track "Seasick, Yet Still Docked". This album would be my first choice, If I was to pick one of his solo albums. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

1992 Favourite releases: 1. Morrissey Your Arsenal - 2. 10.000 Maniacs Our Time in Eden - 3. Adrian Borland Brittle Heaven