So, I've generally seen Morrissey CD's on shelves my whole life, and know that he was frontman of The Smiths, but can someone just..try to define just who or what Morrissey is?

I remember when "You are the Quarry" dropped, I judged from the song titles that he was some angry ageing hermit trying to sell some angsty rock on today's youth, but now, a few years later, I actually heard my first full track, "I Have Forgiven Jesus", and fell in love with it immediately.

I recently downloaded "Ringleader of the Tormentors" and listened to it through. I noticed some reviews praised it, and some said it was half-baked or a cash-in on 'Quarry', but I know how THAT goes with old fans and new CDs.


Anyway, when I once imagined it to be angsty surf-rock, I found the music of his past two new releases tender and soulful. A childrens' chorus? Weeping ballads?

But I still don't know how to perceive Morrissey. Is he a crooner? A softy? Full of himself? Genuine? What's with the almost intentionally comically bleak song titles? ('The World is Full of Crashing Bores', 'No One Will Ever Understand How I Feel') And blatantly whimsical lyrics sung in a dire manner ("I have explosive kegs between my legs")

Someone help.

Here my view on Morrissey:

He's a good singer but I don't dig his stuff!

I loves Cilla Black and forced the smiths to perform covers of her tunes!

He says he doesn't need sex...

He's gay!

And very weird!

Try Siobhan Fahey instead!

Wistfully acerbic musings of the human condition with an existential, quasi-asexual bent.

pseudo sucidal woe is me bullshit..

Mara said:

WOW!

That's incredible!

Get his earlier albums. They are far better than his recent output IMO.

Bona Drag, Viva Hate, and Your Arsenal are wonderful, and sometimes I find myself liking his solo work better than his work w/ The Smiths. And then I start missing Johnny Marr. It all depends on the mood you're in I guess. Check out the song "Yes, I Am Blind" off Bona Drag. It truly is one of the most beautiful songs ever.

As for how to perceive him....I have no clue. You either like him or you don't and he is what he is. One thing is certain though, and that is he's definitely one of a kind.

Why I love Morrissey and perhaps more to the point, why Morrissey matters is in that he makes those who care to listen to his music believe that pop music matters. For me and others, he managed to convince me that his listeners matter as individuals and that fitting in is over-rated. He touches you in that he instructs you to believe in yourself, to 'throw life's instructions away' and understand shyness.

The Smiths were never just an '80s band. Both the lyrics and the music of the band are effortlessly timeless. The same can be said for Viva Hate, Morrissey's first and in my opinion still greatest solo record although Your Arsenal is also worh a listen. I don't think that no one has before or since written so convincingly and so plaintively about the despair of youth, the horror of having to conform. All of The Smiths' records and quite a few Morrissey songs deserve the immortality they've attained.

Morrissey explained is difficult- depends on who is explaining.
I got into the Smiths in my youth when I was trying to figure out myself and the world around me-
Morrisseys lyrics helped my situation- the words and images related to my background and surroundings. Someone understood and shared.
I also found the words sometimes very funny- that also helped me through my teenage years.
Now I have grown up with the Smiths, and with Morrissey as a solo artist and in my opinion I relate more to Morrissey now later in his career.
If you liked what you heard then start from the beginning-
try the Smiths stuff first, it's sort of like telling someone who wants to get into Prince to start with the "Come" album first, you sort of need that debut introduction.
Then move through the albums- Smiths in it's self is rewarding- move to the solo stuff; Viva Hate, Your Arsenal, Vauxhall And I- fantastic albums.
Just sit with the lyrics and try to see the honesty and sensitive nature.
Have to agree with another post- Morrissey is one of a kind, I'm glad that I got into him- plus there's more to come....

God...or rather he thinks..

EcstaticFanatic said:

especially on his latest discs

And how!

Yes

He's all of those things and more. His lyrics are brilliant sharp, witty, hilarious, depressing...and I think he's managed to avoid becoming a parody of himself, thankfully. Musically he's obviously not really able to compete with his former self with Marr, but he's not bad.

i believe his recent work isn't as good because he is actually having sex now....or at least i read that somewhere

Finess said:

Thank you all for your feedback and information.

But I have one more question, I'm afraid.

Can someone explain Morrissey's hair to me?

EcstaticFanatic said:

thats simple..

ROCKABILLY!

EcstaticFanatic said:

Cant stand him - he had his time a sucked then...now he's jumping on the coat tails of bands like Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Cheif etc for a second stab at gloomy cack.

stevenpottle said:

hello husband

I still owe you a reply

I don't get Morrissey either. Never did and probably never will

EcstaticFanatic said:

He loves the Rockabilly scene, Elvis, Billy Fury and James Dean- it's got thinner and greyer, but still stylish.
Did you ever see his video for Alma Matters- he actually had a sort of comb over and no quiff- he looked good, so a skinhead is on the cards if the quiff gets too much!!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Hey Wife!
Where have you been- your dinner has been in the oven for 14 weeks now!
You better be hiding in that box- I'm coming to get you!
Seriously, hope all is going well- got any tales to tell?

I'll send you a Morrissey compilation of his B-sides etc. You'll love it!
Steven.

stevenpottle said:

I love B side projects!!! Sorry about dinner. I promise to eat it cold since you made it for me

I have mega major stories. I put you on the calendar of to dos

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

YAY!!!- I'm finally on someone's 'to do' list- c'mon then- do me!
You've got my e-mail address haven't you? Give me a bell when you get the chance. I wanna hear stories....
Morrissey's B-sides are better than most of his A-sides, so I think you'll enjoy it.
Speak soon....

purpledoveuk said:

Morrissey doesn't even need to jump on the coat tails of ANYONE. Especially not bands like those. He's always had a large fan-base, and always WILL have loyal fans who will buy his music.

Sort of like a certain someone who this very site is dedicated to.

I wouldn't exactly descibe myself as a 'fan' but,
I looooove his latest album....

I guess everybody is a closed Morrissey fan..,