Kill Uncle

Morrissey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 1991)
• Original Release Date: March 5, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002LOM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,612 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Out-of-print in the US. The 1987 break-up of the Smiths saddened legions of fans, but it led to a fruitful solo career for lead singer and lyricist Morrissey. The Smiths were very much a singles band, and VIVA HATE, Morrissey's first record, continued in the Smiths vein with the gloriously sad singles "Suedehead" and "Every Day Is Like Sunday". As Morrissey soldiered on, he began to develop more of an individual style, although he never lost the elements of high drama and challenging pop that came together in the Smiths. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare gem still celebrated, November 3, 2005

By 

Bob Stei (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kill Uncle (Audio CD)

Spring of 1991: I am a 20-year-old student a Manhattan College in the Bronx. I remember traveling the 1/9 train subway with my friend and college radio partner to Tower Records downtown. Remember: There was no web, no leaks, and no previews. I remember it was chilly, and I was still getting over being dumped by my first college girlfriend. All I wanted was to hear this cd. I bought it and read the lyrics on the subway heading back to my dorm room.

"So how did I end up so deeply involved with the very existence I planned on avoiding?" is staring at me. Almost a paraphrase of what this girl had just told me before kicking me out of her dorm room a month ago! The chilling lyrics come from Kill Uncle's "Driving Your Girlfriend Home" which remains one of his best songs to date- a beautiful poem featuring honest lyrics repeated by a chilling base line.

For weeks I was glued to "Uncle" and 14 years later it remains on my all time favorites. A collection of rock, jazz and opera type songs, a collage of feelings and ideas.

"Our Frank" is a clever pop song mocking someone who takes him or herself too seriously. "Our frank and open deep conversations, they get me nowhere, they just bring me down" kicks off this brilliant album. "Asian Rut" is a brilliant opera duet including a violin crying about prejudice in the English school system. "Sing Your Life" is a fun, rockabilly style piece offering people 15 seconds of fame, years before the reality craze took over. "King Leer" is a jazzy selection mocking him and a love affair gone bound. Other favorites include "Found Found Found" "(I'm) The End Of The Family Line" and "There's A Place In hell For Me And My Friends."

Maybe the critics in 1991 were confused by the deepness of the context both lyrically and musically of "Kill Uncle." It's a must for any cd collection.

Bob Stei
WZZO
Allentown, PA

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What The Hell?!?, April 11, 2006

By 

K. Davis "music junkie" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kill Uncle (Audio CD)

I started reading these reviews expecting to find other Moz fans raving about what a great record this is. Imagine my surprise to find most people thoroughly trashing it!

"Your Arsenal" is excellent as is "Vauxhall and I". "Bona Drag" is also awesome, but.. I have to say.. "Kill Uncle" is the disc of his that I find myself returning to.

Yeah it's got some clunkers, but the good tracks here are outstanding. They have a laid-back style with songwriting and musicianship that perfectly complements Moz's one of a kind voice and wry wit.

Our Frank, Sing Your Life, King Leer, Driving Your Girlfriend Home, The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surely not his best, but.........., December 26, 2004

By 

Stalwart Kreinblaster "SK2008" (Xanadu) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kill Uncle (Audio CD)

This album is not bad at all! 'Sing Your Life' is a classic, 'Driving Your Girlfriend Home' is pretty good, and the controversial(?!) 'Asian Boy' is one of my favorites. All in all this is a pretty good album - with one of Morrissey's best album covers (Maladjusted and Southpaw suffer from bad covers). I like this one - while it surely is not his best or his most career defining album.