The Best of Morrissey

Morrissey

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Original Release Date: November 6, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00005R1QH
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,767 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Morrissey hasn't released a new album in several years, but that hasn't put a damper on the willful eccentricity of his discography. "Best," in this instance, means not most popular but most characteristic. This American greatest-hits set is very different from its British equivalent, Suedehead, omitting half of his U.K. chart singles in favor of a curious lineup of high-aesthetic album tracks and B-sides, reportedly picked by the Moz himself. The original idea of Morrissey's solo career was to reach beyond the stylistic confines of the Smiths, but these songs are in basically the same line of work, with first Stephen Street and later Alain Whyte and others playing the Johnny Marr role of guitarist and musical foil. Generally, they're overmatched: "Interesting Drug" and "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" still have a wry buzz to them, but a lot of these songs are little more than vehicles for the star's lyrics and unstoppable vocal presence. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate collection, November 27, 2001

By	Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I am not all that familiar with Morrissey's music except for hearing an occasional song on the radio but not knowing the title of the song. I thought I would get myself a little more acquainted with his music by picking up this album. Needless to say it didn't require much for me to fall in love with his wonderfully witty and sarcastic lyrics, and the addictively infectious pop/rock melodies. All the songs amazingly catchy. I automatically fell in love with Morrissey's crooning. His voice is reminds me a bit of Chris Isaak, Elvis Presley and Raul Maolo (the ex-lead singer of The Mavericks). For once I can't say what songs are my favorites because all of them are incredibly melodic with some of the most superb songwriting skills ever. Picking a particular favorite song out of this excellent collection of some of Morrissey's best work is like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Some of my favorite songs include "Certain people I Know", "Hairdresser On Fire", and "Suedehead". After hearing this album I definitely know for sure that I need to start checking out Morrissey's other albums like "Viva Hate" and "Your Arsenal". "The Best of!" for me was a just a sample of the greatness that is Morrissey.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars With Morrissey's Stamp of Approval, November 7, 2001

By	Steven Cacciaroni (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

The man who once sang "Best of, most of, satiate the need..." gave his personal blessing to Rhino records to release this hits collection. It is a very good collection, but where's "Jack The Ripper" and "You're The One For Me, Fatty"? It's a great companion for Americans to "My Early Burglary Years", for those only who have NO access to imports. And, regarding "...Fatty", it's a crime to not have "YOUR ARSENAL" in your collection anyway.

While a few tracks are missing, I applaud Rhino for including songs from all of Morrissey's record companies (That's a tough one in the U.S. because of copyright laws) and also for their precise, well-researched liner notes.

The cheap, angst-ridden Morrissey fans who think they associate with him will continue to whine about this CD and dismiss it as a "money-making scheme". However, us who identify with him, but realize he is already a very rich man and just live by his music will love this CD from front to back. (...)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make No Mistake, My Friend...A Great Collection, May 26, 2004

By A Customer

Morrissey seems to have a hard time pleasing anyone: fanatics are upset because this is not new material or doesn't include all their favourites; Smiths fans are upset because the music doesn't come up to Johnny Marr's best moments (as poor Morrissey sings knowingly on "Do Your Best and Don't Worry": "Compare the best of their days / With the worst of your days / You won't win"). Personally I'm somewhere in between, so this compilation suits me perfectly. The music is infectious and often quite inventive ("Suedehead"? "November Spawned a Monster"?
"Interesting Drug"?), the lyrics are quirky, funny, touching, and often insightful, the voice unique and (if it happens to capture you) addictive. Don't believe those who say that all Morrissey sounds alike, either, there's a lot of musical variety
here, from the trademark Smiths jingle-jangle guitars to bizarre dance music ("November Spawned a Monster"), glam rock ("Glamorous Glue"), some funky moments ("Sister I'm a Poet," "Interesting Drug"), 50s sock-hop pop ("Sing Your Life"), and torch ("I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"). Also don't believe those who say he's "miserable"--these tunes are upbeat and the lyrics by and large hopeful and uplifting, though always wittily realistic. Right for Morrissey fans who are less than fanatics and as an introduction to the King of Alternative Rock.