MORRISSEY AGAIN
Mon. May 17, 2004Categories: Abstract Dynamics
Geeta responds with a well-reasoned piece on Morrissey. I haven’t heard You are the Quarry but I’d trust Geeta’s opinion of it over the ‘return to form’ consensus that seems to be coalescing in most other quarters. I write as someone who admired and appreciated The Smiths, not as an in any sense an obsessive. (The Smiths don’t exactly fit squarely into the k-punk aesthetic, for reasons that are readily apparent. This from way back more or less summarises my views on the Moz.) But yes, my current appreciation of Morrissey is based on his music not at all and entirely on his persona. I would question, though, whether Morrissey’s album is any worse than that by such feted luminaries as Franz Ferdinand (whose dull sludge was hailed, incredibly, as ‘revolutionary’ on the front of that Word magazine, I noticed), or Keane, or The Coral. Morrissey isn’t the problem; the fact that the paucity of contemporary indie makes us still need him, that’s the problem.
You are right – Moz is no worse than those bands. I agree that he’s a handsome fellow who carries himself very well, too.
“Everyday Is Like Sunday” is a love song, I think.
Doesn’t Morrissey get away with blinkin murder? His music since the Smiths has been frankly piss, with listeners fond memories of his former band clouding their judgement. His racist/nationalisitc pronouncements are analysed like gnostic poetry when in fact hes a sad has been, reactionary old get. When was the last time he said anything interesting, beautiful or unique? Or his music was any *good*, on any scale?
Too much mypoic sentimentality for another time and place is displaced onto this chap, when he doesn’t deserve it. I would appreciate his relocation to LA if it had 1) altered his muse (ie himself) at all but it hasnt and 2) his music had improved (but it hasn’t).
He may cut a dash in his suit and chiselled chin but so……what?
they love him in america.
Morrissey is despicable. He is the worst kind of wank. And until he actually comes out with some kind of proper statement/apology/explanation for everything from Bengali in Platforms to that flag-waving debacle, he is (to these eyes) an unabashed racist. Being coy and having a feeble way with a pun does not excuse you from your moral obligations. Does he think he’s above such things; that he’s so superior he doesn’t have to explain himself? If so, QED: he’s lower than shit.
Of course, the very fact he still merits discussion in 2004 is proof that pop has not only eaten itself; it’s choking on its own intestines. Let’s face it: the Smiths were OK when you were 16, but anyone over the age of 21 who still listens to them should be taken outside and shot in the face, simply to preserve the gene pool.
Lurker, I think you’re being a little quick… To both you and Baal, I would say at least Morrissey dramatizes his reactionary tendencies, whereas Keane and Franz Ferdinand merely exemplify them.
Baal, yr overstating the case with saying how bad his music has been since The Smiths; ‘Suedehead’ , ‘Every Day is Like Sunday’ and ‘More You Ignore Me’ are very good….
Lurker, I must admit that I preferred The Smiths when I was twenty-one to when I was sixteen. Many Smiths’ tracks easily transcend adolescence; only the most anthemically maudlin songs (‘Boy with the thorn in his side’, ‘There is a light’ etc) are mired in it, and I never really liked those much meself.
Actually I dont mind Every Day…thats true 😉
Yeh, ‘Every Day’ is kinda Erase the Worldesque ain’t it? (Tho to be fair to yr original point that must be like over fifteen years ago right?)
having listened to just about every radio review of moz’s new album on bbc.co.uk archive, I actually think it’s pretty good. He makes statements, he says something, it’s art really. But I’d still like to see Marr join him on stage at Meltdown…
My opinions of the new album have veered from total embarassment and disdain to admiration and appreciation during the first four listens of it (when the barometer settles I’ll attempt a review, along with The Streets’ new one) – Current opinion = some of it really is as bad as Geeta says, one song in particular is the worst Moz song I remember hearing. But there is some good stuff on there, and there’s more complexity in there than geeta’s giving him credit for -it definitely takes a few listens though. Having said that, there’s definitely some weird subterranean marketing shit happening, nothing else can really explain why the press would just suddenly choose to resurrect him in such a big way.
incidentally (rereading your old post, Mark) when are you going to launch the ‘anti-Lad mag, a SAD mag’ ?
or….is this it ? 😉