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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Morrissey lays down the law, May 24, 2004
Seven years on the sidelines must have given Morrissey plenty of time to think about where his music has been, gone and will go, because when he finely sat down and recorded a new album, he sounded like Morrissey again. Like most of the reviewers here, I feel like this is his strongest work since those first couple of solo albums, filled with dour smiles and crusty observations. To wit, the state of pop music from singers "so scared to show intelligence, it might smear their lovely career." ("The World is Full Of Crashing Bores," which is a Moz title if ever there was.)While songs like "Bores," "First Of The Gang to Die" and "Come Back to Camden" sure taste like Smiths/Morrissey of old, there are a couple of slam dunks that show an older and wizened Mo, in particular "America is Not The World" and "Irish Blood, English Heart." A stinging indictment of Bush politics and Prime Minister Tony Blair's willful lap dogging, it begs for understanding from a heart which "you say you don't need." Even with that kind of roiling discontent, "America" wouldn't be a Moz song without the get-out-clause, and here Morrissey ends the rant with the frustration of a patriot who tells his country and countrymen, "haven't you me with you now? I love you." It's a moment worthy of "The Queen Is Dead." Even better is the album's first single, "Irish Blood English Heart," which compound those feelings. In lyrics that echo U2, Morrissey struggles with the love of homeland and the contorting dismay of, as he puts it, dreaming of being an Englishman who longs "...not to be baneful,
to be standing by the flag
not feeling shameful, racist or partial." It's enough to make you wish you were in college again, ready to get you're mope on. The musicians here aid in delivering on those old emotions. Despite what some may be saying, Blink 182 producer Jerry Finn does little to mess with Moz' general sound other than add a few electronic effects and making keyboardist Roger Manning a little more prominent. But it sure is nice to hear that a grown-up Morrissey can now project some grand old adult angst in the same tones delivered during his twenties.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
There's a wild man in my head..., June 3, 2004
I discovered The Smiths in the 80's and then when I heard "Viva Hate", I fell in love with that album just about as much as The Smith albums. Morrissey levels you out when you are depressed, and he does a service to his fans by his lyrics which I have always identified with.
I loved "Your Arsenal", but by the time I heard "Malajusted", I had realized that like all my other heroes...his time was over.
I am so happy about this album...Morrissey really is back. This album has touched me more than any Morrissey album since "Your Arsenal" and I was about to write him off and just enjoy his past work.
I'm not going to go into detail about all the songs except "I'm not Sorry." This song hit me the first time and continues to, and in a way Morrissey used to in his/my younger days.
His band has now played with him for 13 years, and it shows in that they are a better, tighter band now then back in 1991.
Morrissey's voice does indeed sound as good as ever if not the best it's been. His lyrics are some of his best ever as well, and I am happy that he really takes a shot this time around, meaning, you can tell that he gave everything he has in terms of really SAYING something...You can tell that all around everyone that worked on this album really worked as hard as possible to make the best album they could make.
I can honestly say there are no bad songs on the album.
Is this as great as The Smiths or "Viva Hate"? Not quite, but it's close and believe me, I do not say that lightly. I love Morrissey but I am not the kind of fanatic who would say everything he does is great no matter what. I would have said how dissapointing this album was if that was the case and I'm so happy that I'm not. I'm glad that sometimes heroes can surprise you with great work, when you are pretty sure that that time is over.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
could it be i like you?, May 31, 2006
for some unspeakable reason, i didn't buy this album when it was released. actually i didn't buy it until after buying and devouring "the ringleader of the tormentors." i enjoyed that one so much that i backed up to this one. i played it until i thought i should give it a rest. the rest period lasted about two weeks. i had to get it back out. i'll just buy another one if it begins to wear out.
to be honest, i don't really understand my obsession with it. i utterly despise greatest hits collections...and, though this isn't one, it could be. there is not one weak song; not one weak moment. his voice is in excellent form. his wit is still peerless. the writing is flawless. i find myself dancing through the house when it's on; i find myself singing along in the car.
it's not the smiths, but it doesn't try to be. these are the insights of our morrissey with some years under his belt. those years haven't tarnished his ability to speak his truths, which apparently encompass some truths of my own.
thanks to this work, i have been driven to re-experience all of morrissey's work...from "viva hate" all the way to the present. he has created an awesome body of work.
anyone who enjoys this album should pick up "who put the m in manchester." having never had the privilege of seeing morrissey live, it's fun to watch him bring many of the songs on this album to life on the stage. our morrissey is a real character.
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