Customer Reviews

You Are the Quarry (Bonus Dvd) (Dlx)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before Irish Blood I knew nothing about Morrissey. I first heard Irish Blood from the soundtrack of FIFA 2005 games. Well that's enough to make me a big fans already. Bought the deluxe album and I think every single song in the album is a masterpiece. I strongly suggest to get the deluxe version, because the extra tracks are real quality tracks not some crappy throw away.

OK OK, I dig Morrissey just like the next guy, but this is getting a bit ridiculous...Moz releases his BEST album in over a decade, but then...first it was the "gatefold" LP version, then it was the standard CD version, then it was the bonus DVD version...NOW it's 9 "exclusive" B-sides (that you can find if you spend at least $50 in various U.S. and UK singles!) plus a new DVD of Kilborn live takes - OF COURSE I BOUGHT IT the day it came out, just like all the rest of Moz's fans, but isn't a bit much to expect die-hard, loyal fans to pay for essentially the SAME album three times, granted you get these great B-sides, but...well, on second thought, if you compiled just the B-sides and called it a NEW Morrissey album/CD, IT would be hailed as one of the best albums of the year - Moz is BACK and hasn't been this consistently brilliant since his "Suedehead" days - and I've seen him around LA and he still looks HOT in that sexy, brainy, well-read British way.

"'Best of..' 'Most of...' Satiate the need! Slip them into different sleeves.
Buy both and feel decieved..."

"Re-issue ! Re-package ! Re-package !
Re-evaluate the songs
Double-pack with a photograph
Extra Track (and a tacky badge)"

Moz's words, back in the day... Seems he's learned a thing or two over the years, and now he's doing the very thing he used to hate... Don't get me wrong, I'll buy it, just like all other fans. It'll go on my iPod, right next to my 2 or 3 "Best of..." Moz albums and rare tracks, and import singles and collections...

Looks like we've all changed a bit over the years...

Morrissey. There are two kinds of people in the world. You either love or hate Morrissey, and I am in the "love" camp. If you don't like him, there's a laundry list of complaints: moody, grating, depressed-in fact, I have to make deals with some family members to play his songs in the car! To sum up his appeal: Impeccable pop music sensibilities with literate lyrics that are stories in and of themselves, the whole package anchored by incredibly moving and diverse musical vocal instrumentation. As a moody, disaffected teenage girl living in a backward outpost, I had a WOW moment when I heard my first Smiths song at a friend's house. Obsession as only a teenage girl can manage it began. I still have all my Smiths tapes, LP's, and the first two Morrissey solo efforts, schlepped around with me no matter what (I did recycle the scrapbook because it seemed scarily Shawn Cassidy-ish). Life got in the way and I didn't keep up with new releases or much of anything in pop culture for the past decade due to what I'll euphemistically call "life circumstances". Now I'm rediscovering Morrissey's solo efforts and am in awe. He has evolved musically and lyrically and in my opinion has left the Smiths in the dust. "You Are The Quarry" is a must for a new or old fan. His smashing comeback after a series of setbacks, Morrissey is back with his characteristic sarcasm, angst, and rage, with a little tenderness and longing thrown in to balance it out. Start the journey with the biting "America Is Not The World" written in the haze of George W.'s era. It's a warning love song for his adopted country. "Irish Blood, English Heart" attacks entrenched politics of Great Britain. "I Have Forgiven Jesus" is a powerful and not sacrilegious song, written from a perspective that brings to mind the laments of Job. "Come Back To Camden" is a hauntingly beautiful song... "I'm not Sorry" is a defiant power ballad with the lines ...."I'm not sorry for the things I've done...I'm slipping below the water line...I'm not sorry for the things I've said, there's a wild man in my head". "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores" is possibly the best titled song in history and it doesn't disappoint. "The First of The Gang To Die" is a saga about a gangster's death that simply and powerfully sums up gangland life and death in an unsentimental, non-judgemental way. I could go on and on, but I have to add that "The Never Played Symphonies", "Friday Mourning", "My Life Is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye", and "I Am Two People" are such outstanding songs that they would be worth the price alone. After a long absence, I am benefitting from the beautiful melodies, flashes of anger with perseverance, wrenching confessions and laments from this artist. Singing along at the top of my voice is better than all the therapy in the world. It's rare to be able to see an artist evolve like Morrissey has, and if someone can speak to such extreme spectrums in our world and lives, he has a true gift. Thank you.

I have been into BritPop for over a decade and am a fanatic for Oasis and Pulp (and, once in a great while, Blur). After watching the movie "Live Forever" and reading some reviews, I heard many clamor that Morrissey should have been added to the DVD. While I can see while he was not, since his heyday with the Smiths and his early solo career was just before the height of the second British Invasion, I was still interested.
After a while, I picked up the "Best of Morrissey" (I know there are about three dozen, but you get the idea) and was pleasantly surprised. At first, the songs seemed a little to quirky. The titles were extremely long and some of the tracks, like "Hairdresser on Fire" and "Sing Your Live" made me wonder (no offense) if this guy was being serious or not.
However, after a few listens I fell in love with "...International Playboys", "Now My Heart Is Full" and "Hold On to Your Friends." They were moving and clearly deep, meaningful outlets for Morrissey. Wanting to branch out, I grabbed "Quarry" as everyone was talking about it so much in the press.
At first, again, didn't really like it. Some of the songs were grating and seemed to lack the lyrical wit I heard on the "Best of..." So, I shelved it for a week or so.
However, I forced myself back to it, and while I still couldn't stand some tracks, i.e. "...Crashing Bores" and "...How I Feel" (which seem a bit childish and whiney, respectively) I found some moments of brilliance. "Come Back to Camden" is sweeping and gorgeously layered, "Let Me Kiss You" has a wicked guitar riff around the choruses and "You Know..." ends the album in a wonderful hook-filled style.
...Or it would have had I not bought the deluxe version. Thank goodness, since I find the B-sides (much like with Oasis and, in some cases, Pulp), to hold the true brilliance of the album. "Teenage Dad..." is a great song, with wonderfully honest lyrics. "I Am Two People" has a very genuinely sweet sound to it; I always end my listenings on this track. However, in my opinion, the gem of the entire album is "Friday Mourning." One of the most moving and powerful songs I have heard in a long time, it booms with passion, lyrics of struggle and a magnificent use of echo to give the track an even greater intensity.
While at first I wondered whether Morrissey was the guy I thought I knew off the "Best of..." CD, I have come to find he isn't; rather, he is so much more. I plan to buy "V&I" soon. Hopefully, the journey through that CD will be as rewarding as this one.

yes yes yes..it had been quite a long time since Morrissey had released a new album before Quarry...but he had never gone away. there were still numerous tours and plenty of new songs being aired in his live shows...but there simply was no record deal. so this album is a "comeback" of sorts if it's viewed in terms of popularity...seeeing as how this album ranked really high when it was first released and all of us Moz fans were dizzy with excitement for months and months. some were shouting "best Morrissey album ever!" and while that's a bit of a exageration; there is plenty to be excited about here. and there are a few surprises that left many fans cold. the production, for instance, is staunch and punchy and sounds polished to a glistening bright sound. it sounds good...but maybe not the best sound for Morrissey. there are some moments of brilliance on this album, as with the standout single "First Of The Gang To Die" and the beautiful "Come Back To Camden." those two tracks are my favorite songs on Quarry and (in my opinion) they best represent the Morrissey that most of his fans know and love. having said that, the remainder of the songs here are good...really good. a few painful lyrics pop up here and there (i cringe with uncomfort every time i hear that "hamburger" line in "America Is Not The World"). one more thing i do not appreciate about this album are the goofy electronic stuff that blips and bleeps in some of the songs. most notably in the song "All The Lazy Dykes." this song carries a wonderful melody and has a pleasant dreaminess to it (actually, i was surprised at how much that song was maligned by fans; considering how much of a Vauxhall And I feeling i associate with it...despite the interruptive synthesizer stuff). so...overall, i'd give You Are The Quarry a 3.5 as a single album. but tacking on all of these extra b-sides ups the quality a great deal! every one of the bonus songs here are the real meat of the Quarry recording sessions. it makes me feel a bit like the tracklisting of the original Quarry album should have been replanned and reconsidered. but so much for complaining now...since this handy disc is here with the original Quarry album and all the great b-sides! it's the difference between a good solid record and an absolutely amazing collection of songs worth every penny!

this is worth it for the b-sides alone, Friday Mourning is incredible. 99% of the tracks on here are fantastic. Have been listening to it for the last month. The best Morrissey release ever, in my opinion, so solid, and excellent music finally to go along with his genius lyrics. Hope there is more new Morrissey music to follow!!

I was a big Smiths fan back through the late '80s, and for some reason never really got into Morrissey's solo work (I was more interested in Johnny Marr's guitar work than Morrissey's vocal work at the time). Fast forward to 2005 and I happen to see the Morrissey concert on one of my HD channels (the shortened version of "Who put the M in Manchester"). I was real impressed, so I bought this super-deluxe-ultra-special version of You Are The Quarry, and so it goes....

This is probably the best cd I have bought in over a year. It is a great mix of rock, pop, and classic alternative. Morrissey's voice is excellent, and (considering his age) hasn't lost any of the dynamics that have been his signature. The music is absolutely great - Boz and Alain never cease to amaze me with their ability to place guitars perfectly in the mix. I'm equally impressed with Roger's keyboard performance, and Gary and Dean are great as well. The overall production on the cd is top-notch - other bands need to take notes from this cd on how to properly produce and mix an album.

Like most everyone else who have posted reviews for this cd, I can't believe some of these "B-side" songs were left off the original pressing. "Friday Mourning", "MY Life Is A Succession of People Saying Goodbye", and "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice" are wonderful songs that should have been on the original cd. Those songs alone are worth the extra cost of this deluxe version of this cd. I could live without "I Like You" and "The World is Full of Crashing Bores", but they are still good songs.

Overall, this is a great cd that should impress anyone who is not stuck in 1988.

Yes, I am guilty of purchasing the other CDs of this release as well. If you are a fan, you will get over it, as Im sure you are the one who wouldnt mind buying it again. It is worth it for the DVD and B-Sides.

I had to listen to this album a few times in order for it to grow on me, just like most of them. Not that they suck, I am a huge Morrissey fan. But once you hear it a few times, you catch yourself singing the songs. Next thing you know, you're hooked.

It is a great relief that Morrissey has released this wonderful music compilation once again. I was left a bit disappointed by 'Maladjusted'. Its great to see him at it again, I have been following him since 1985. I got to see The Smiths in concert out here in Southern California back then and became a follower of his music. Of course, as you age life goes on but you still have that little part of you which makes room in your heart for his music. I couldnt imagine my life without it.

I dont care much for these new fans that follow him much nowadays, but then again, I knew what that feeling was at one time. Theres more to it than propping your hair up in the front and wearing a 'kill uncle' shirt, but it is hard to explain. Perhaps its simply unexplainable.

I got the album when it came out and I think is the best work by Morrissey as a solist artist. This new Deluxe Edition is worth every penny. I understand people purchasing the original release dissapointed about buying the album again but it has 9 extra songs plus, this limited edition with 21 songs is available at Apple's iTunes for 9.99. Get it digital.