It's leaked out on to the net apparently - anyone heard it? Any good?

I was listening earlier today. It is an improvement on his last album which allows it to slither into the category of appalling. Like the output of so many middle aged rock stars with an inability/fear of reinventing themselves his music sounds like the product of a correspondence course in how to write songs that sound a bit like their former glories.

To be honest I really don't know why I retain any faith but I guess there is still a young Smiths fan lurking under this paunch hoping for a startling return to form from the once great man. But it never happens and now I resent him the 30 mins I wasted listening to more of his dross and wish he'd fuck off basically.

.

I really like it. :P

What is it that you like about it? I'd like to think that I'm missing something and someone will come along and point out it's obvious (but unspotted by me) qualities. It simply made me go all maudlin and grumpy and drink too much too much last night.

Well, first of all, I get really fed up with a lot of what Moz has done since '97, myself, so I understand fans getting pissed off with his recent output.
What I love about YOR is the sound. Morrissey's voice is great on a lot of tracks -- okay, not in comparison to former glories, but still he sounds in fine form -- mostly though, the music is what stands out. It's not groundbreaking and some of the tracks may be treading over-familiar musical ground ("When Last I Spoke To Susan" sounds like it was put in to please his Mexican fanbase), but they're good songs... or good-enough, anyway.

I know it sounds like I'm a Moz fan who is just defending him for the sake of it and he can do no wrong, but I only think that's half-true in my case. I've never been a rabid or obssessive fan of him or The Smiths.
I've slagged off his last two albums on here too at various times and YOR is in many ways a continuation of the sort of thing I disliked on those two. But this just strikes me as more fulfilling a listening experience.

Having said all that, I do think it's a little sad that the best thing about a Morrissey album is the music/voice, rather than the lyrics; but his days of writing great/clever lyrics seem to be over -- he seems intent on writing in this more simpler, general (generic?) style, but when the music's this good, it doesn't matter so much to me. The lyrics do have some depth, though; I think (just not much :D ).

Also, I don't think it's a "stayer", ie. I'll get fed up with it in a few weeks and won't listen to it again for about a year (as with the last two), so you may be closer to the mark than me on this.

I really do like it, though....

i hear its a great album cant wait to hear it

new album preview here

You, sir, are an evil man.

hopefully a copy is coming my way soon, very excited about all this, cant wait to see him in concert

It can't be worse than his last album, it was terrible

Yes,it is. Check yer "inbox".

i am eating a lot in anticipating of this album that and i am bored today

I'm surprised nobody's started a review thread for this, yet. Anyhoo, it's a corker. I didn't like either of the last two in any way, shape or form - but this, well after a few listenings I'd say it's his best since Southpaw Grammar, it might even be better. It rocks heavily, pretty much all the way through. On the downside, his singing is beginning to show his age. Hard to pick a stand-out track but certainly the closer "I'm OK By Myself" is a beut. For those who hanker for Moz's return to loudness - give thanks.

You'd be surprised.

Agreed. It's another swaggering, confident release. It sounds marvellous with a live vibe: energetic and immediate. At least half the tracks have the wit, drive and charm of the best of SPM's work. I've only heard it twice but it unquestionably continues his recent vein of form. One track "When Last I Spoke To Carol" is sublime. The acoustic riffery at the beginning evokes the theme music to The Flight Of The Conchords, we're then treated to just under three and half minutes of pop brilliance - yodelling, mariachi horns, and flamenco guitar (did this all come about following the recent collaboration with Ennio Morricone?). It's blimming great.

See end - as Mozz might say.
x


http://z1.invisionfree.com/forums/thefall/...?showtopic=1659

Pitchfork gives it the all important critical thumbs up....

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/reco...ears-of-refusal

Apparently, the Carol song is about that girl he had on tour and then dropped, then re-instated again. Then Grow Up is an ironic response to that song which precedes it.
Is he saying he's not into women?
Who can say?

:zzzz:

Who can say?
He truly is a racist, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
Oops! Meant riddle.
Sorry.

To my enduring shame, i've had a copy for a month but not given it a spin yet.

Nice cover though. :rollover:

This is devotion indeed.
Bon apetit!

I've been thinking of getting this album on vinyl. Would I like it?

I think it's a decent album, no more no less.

Some great tunes, some decent ones, some shapeless, boring ones.
Very 'muscular' arrangements, the album pretty much rocks hard all the way through and there's hardly any dynamics.

I'm a bit disappointed with the lyrics, it's as if Moz is too much 'in character' and not really coming up with anything new. He was always (kinda) believable, now it sounds a bit like he's catering to his audience' stereotypical image of him.

It's a pretty likeable, 'solid' record though - 6/10

The vinyl is very nice. Beautiful matte finish, with a lovely painting of fruit on the inside sleeve. Its a single disc, no gatefold, selling for around $(US)10. And the inside of the sleeve, in the pocket, is colored a light blue. With a retro "Attack" label.

The music itself is rather appalling. The best tracks are the ones that have been previously released as singles. Not a single compelling lyric. And his voice has been studio-tweaked to the point that at times it doesn't sound anything like him.

you can get new vinyl for $10? where from?!

Insound has it for $9.99.

Is this a bad thing?
I think most of the Morrissey solo output has been pretty weak, but this album is fine, in my opinion.

If it doesn't sound anything like Morrisey then I might like it :)

:D

Tried again with this album last night. Bobbins.

I finally got around to spending some time with this album over weekend. And I think its mighty fine. There are a couple of killer tracks and the rest is just OK - and even that is better than most people's career peak.

In particular I love the last track "I'm OK by myself", which he manages to spit the words out with much gusto and venom. I love the sentiment too - and how, after nearly a whole album of self pity, he swaggers and proudly outs himself as being just fine, thank you very much. Quite uplifting I thought.

Quite a lot of yodelling on the album too which is nice.

Be nice to Morrissey everyone. I haven't always been in the past but I'm warming to him again. And he's quite old now so we should show some respect.

I agree - and All You Need is Me is definitely one of his top 10 moments.

I concur. People are too hard on the closeted racist.

Ah well, we all have our foibles.

Sounded like 'Morrissey by Numbers' to me.

I agree, Years Of Refusal is excellent, 'It's Not Your Birthday Anymore', 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull' and 'Carol' are all sublime...

Still got that bloody annoying drummer and Boz Boorers lumpen chords, but very listenable.

Great for in the car, I wouldn't be surprised if a track turned up on "Top Gear Driving Anthems 7"

I think of Morrissey as two distinct people. The one who made everything up to Maladjusted and the one who made everything afterwards.

The quality of his post-97 albums is as much of a decline from his 90s work as the quality of his 90s work is from The Smiths. :(

I *strongly* disagree with you, BK. I think Morrissey is putting out his definitive solo work this decade. I mean, the man is on *fire*, and artists aren't supposed to be so relevant when they're 50. I don't know his status in the UK but over here he's taken his place as a rightful elder statesman of indie rock, and man, does he *rock* now. "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" is a total juggernaut. "Don't gimmanymore... don't gimmanymore..." Love it. :applaud:

I liked them at the time, but Maladjusted and Southpaw Grammar are both weak to me now, weak and directionless.

How could he go anywhere but up after 'Maladjusted'? :unsure: