Customer Reviews

Morrissey: Under the Influence

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This compilation is a wonderful, eclectic collection of interesting music. It's a shame the previous reviewer didn't take the time to realize what the album is, instead of slagging it off immediately...oh well serves him right!
If you are a fan of Morrissey, you are certainly aware of his influences, and early music interests, but what's unique about this compilation is that it includes not only early influences, but also current groups that must be in Moz's collection today.
There's also some great rockabilly cuts, certainly tipping the hat a bit to Moz's current back up group. It's kind of nice to be in on it a bit!

A must for Morrissey fans because it shows where Moz came from musically. I do admit that the packaging is deceptive. The cover features a pondering Morrissey with his name underneath and the album title, but nowhere on the front or back cover does it state it's a comp of songs picked by Moz and sung by the original artists. No, he does NOT sing a note on any of these song...but has written some extensive liner notes inside! For those of us who haven't read reviews or whatnot prior to this release, how are we to know that Morrissey's singing talents are not actually featured anywhere on this album? A trick by the record label, but still it's a nice compilation which every die-hard Morrissey fan should check out.

I haven't even listened to this CD, and won't it goes back to Amazon on Monday. I put it in my computers DVD drive to listen to it, computer froze up. I didn't know it was the CD, so rebooted, computer wouldn't reboot. Wouldn't boot in safe mode. Booted with last known good config, it booted, as soon as you try to access the CD, explorer crashes. Computer won't boot with CD in drive, if you put the CD in the drive your computer hangs.

Not only am I owed a refund, but compensation for the time I wasted with this CD. In FINE print, and I mean 6 point font on the back of the inside cover, it says "This CD will not play on PC's or Macs." Tell us that up front so we can save some bother.

I was really pleased with the music--once I was able to listen to it. I originally tried it on my laptop and then the computer at my office. I thought that it might be a bad CD. When I tried it in my car, it worked. I read the very fine print and found a notice that says that the CD is copy protected and won't play on a computer. I wish Amazon had told me this, because I wouldn't have bought it. I don't actually own a CD player and I listen to all my music in iTunes.

The music is eye-opening and fantastic... too bad I can't ever listen to it.

I love Moz. As many people have pointed out, under the influence is not his new cd of solo work (that would be 'you are the quarry'), but rather a compilation of artists who influenced his own work. I don't the packaging is really deceptive, but I knew what it was before I bought it. If you really like Morrissey, or want to be exposed to some interesting music, go ahead and buy it. I got it used, and I don't think I'd pay full price for it.

Sundown Playboys, New York Dolls, Nat County, Diana Dors, Ludus, Charlie Feathers, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Jimmy Radcliffe, Jaybee, Ramones, Sparks, The Cats, Nico, Patti Smith, Klaus Nomi.

Perhaps some confusion could have been avoided if Amazon had listed the names of the artists alongside the track titles.

I really enjoy this collection. It features some artists I've known by name for ten years or more (via Moz interviews) but would never have heard without this CD. The sequencing is terrible: I don't think Stephen Patrick Morrissey will ever join Andy Rourke on the DJ circuit, but it isn't a big distraction. And all I can say about supporting militant animal rights groups is: "Hell, yeah!"

Well done Morrissey; a collection of songs designed to give tantalising tasters of approximately what was in that bedroom in Stretford of a wet tuesday afternoon.
As usual just enough to scratch the surface, yet not nearly enough for anyone to come close to 'getting' what it actually means to be Morrissey. And thats the way he likes it!!
It's not enough to like Moz, if you do, you miss the point. Morrissey has given his happiness for our loyalty and I am truly grateful. Time will eventually acknowledge Morrissey as the Last True Star, who sacrificed himself for our saviour.

And I can hear his superior laughter now, scorning those above who seriously thought they were buying a Morrissey album! To listen to these songs is to be transported back to a time when 'pop stars' were not people, they were special- yet they were ours. See you on MAY 22nd...

This is a must for any true Smiths/Morrissey fan to understand every phase of Morrissey's musical taste. Every Morrissey solo album throws reference to these artist's musical style:"Your Arsenal"=T Rex, The New York Dolls, The Sundown Playboys, Nat Couty; "Viva Hate"=Jimmy Radcliff, Ludus, "Kill Uncle"= Charlie Feathers, Sparks; "Vauxhall and I"= Diana Dors, Klaus Nomi; "Southpaw Grammar"= The Ramones; "Maladjusted"=Nico, Patti Smith; "You Are The Quarry"= Jaybee Wasden. The majority of these artist were from the early 70's and thus had a huge influence on Morrissey's dissaffected youth. Standout tracks are "Trash","So little time", "(There Goes)The Forgotten Man" and "Judy Is A Punk". If you want to know a little bit about Morrissey's musical genius, then you must get this album.

Paid 2.79.. My blank Cd's are worth more.. which I had to waste one just so I could get this stuff onto my Computer and thus my Ipod.. Like other reviewers I was caught unaware that this was Copy Protected and wasted my good time trying to get it to play on my PC.. If you own a stand alone cd-recorder.. the copy protection doesn't work and you can then rip it to Itunes and ipod... I'll regret it someday.. when CDR's are no longer available.. The music is interesting.. strange but interesting..

A collection of Morrissey's favorites would have to be tough to narrow down to 15 tracks. As thoughtful a process it must have been, most of the songs might have ended up on the album by chance. Morrissey is an avid music listener; he was writing record reviews for a local paper before he began writing his own music. This album has an eclectic theme while maintaining a strong continuity throughout. It is intriguing to link Nico with the likes of "woodpecker rock," yet this stylistic clash of sounds provides for an enjoyable contrast and entertaining unpredictability. Morrissey is a genius of a human being. He means everything to his fans. Anything he touches is collected as relics. "Under the Influence" has all the guise of Morrissey's persona- and is supported by an all-star cast of music greats.