... His new album "You Are The Quarry" is fantastic, but "Viva Hate is where it all began as a soloist in 1988.
Alsation Cousin
----------------------
A big, dramatic opener asking over and over again: "where you an he lovers?" My favourite non-single track on the album and the nearest ... Read review
Viva Hate - CD
Alsatian Cousin Little Man What Now? Everyday Is Like Sunday Bengali In Platforms ... more
Angel Angel Down We Go Together Late Night Maudlin Street Suedehead Break Up The Family Hairdresser On Fire The Ordinary Boys I Don't Mind If You Forget Me D...
A review by waynehorrigan on Viva Hate [Remastered] - Morrissey May 23rd, 2004
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Advantages:
Every original track a corker
Disadvantages:
Reissued version's bonus tracks are a bit duff
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Ah, Morrissey. No interviews or promotional work for 17 years and now suddenly, in May 2004, he's appeared on Jonathan Ross, on the cover of Mojo and shared billing with Frankee and Anastasia on Top Of The Pops. His new album "You Are The Quarry" is fantastic, but "Viva Hate is where it all began as a soloist in 1988.
Alsation Cousin ----------------------
A big, dramatic opener asking over and over again: "where you an he lovers?" My favourite non-single track on the album and the nearest to The Smiths should you be looking for that from a Morrissey track.
Little Man, What Now? ------------------------------
With typical Mozza discretion, a song about a faded TV star resorting to appearance on nostalgia shows on daytime TV. A clue to what Mozza was obviously up to after the Smiths' demise.
Everyday Is Like Sunday ---------------------------------
Tell me about it! "Trudging slowly over wet sand back to the bench where your clothes were stolen" - beat that for an opening line. A song about the decline of the great British seaside resort and my favourite Morrissey track. I love the swirling strings that build up to the chorus.
Bengali In Platforms ---------------------------
Bit of a damp squib after the opening bluster of greatness. A song daring immigrants to fit in more with British culture and possibly the song that started all those racism accusations of the mid 90's which led to Mozza going away for a while.
Angel, Angel Down We Go Together -------------------------------------------------
A short ethereal piece in the middle of the album to slow the pace down. Can't understand the lyrics, so I always put the kettle on at this point.
Late Night Maudlin Street ----------------------------------
The most depressing tack on the album: I LOVE IT! Ghostly vocals and snatched lyrics, it almost a horror film script set to music. Scary music at that.
Suedehead ----------------
His first solo single and quite Smith's-like lyrically: "you had to sneak into my room just to read my diary" etc. There's a lovely, floaty guitar intro that most people miss and you never hear when it's played on the radio.
Break Up The Family ----------------------------
Brilliant song, Mozza-lite lyrics and rivals "Alsation Cousin" as the non-single standout on the album. A buzz from start to finish.
Ordinary Boys -------------------
Ordinary song in comparison to the rest of the album. A weak link.
I Don't Mind If You Forget Me ---------------------------------------
The "feeling sorry for myself" Morrissey (last heard on The Smiths' "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me") resurfaces on this excellent track. The strings alone make me wanna cry, so imagine how Mozza's voice affects me when it kicks in.
Dial A Cliche and Margaret On The Guillotine -------------------------------------------------------------
These last two tracks highlight all that's good about Morrissey: his sarcastic humour. Yes the Margaret in question is Thatcher and both songs reek of the positive, lovely cynicism that graced the Smiths' "The Queen Is Dead" album from 1986. He really doesn't like the establishment, does he?
If you've heard "Irish Blood, English Heart", his current single and are a bit curious as to how Morrissey sounded 16 years ago, get this album. Suedehead and Everyday Is Like Sunday alone make it worth purchasing.
Non-Smiths fans will hate it because there's nothing here for you. Me? I grew up listening to his lyrics and they still hold poignancy and hope for the less strong amongst us.
Album Notes: Personnel: Morrissey (vocals); Vini Reilly (guitar, keyboards); Stephen Street (guitar, bass); Fenella Barton, Richard Koster (violin); John Metcalfe (viola); Mark Davies, Robert Woollard, Rachel Maguire (cello); Andrew Paresi (drums). Recorded at Wool Hall Studios, England in 1987. Remastered British release includes nine extra songs. One of pop's most eagerly awaited albums, VIVA HATE followed the demise of the Smiths with little delay. Produced and composed by Stephen Street (who also worked on the Smiths' last album), VIVA HATE was a sure-footed rebuttal to a world of critics who couldn't imagine Morrissey without guitar deity Johnny Marr. VIVA HATE contains far more sonic experimentation than most of the Smiths' work. Guitar duties are notably assumed by Durutti Column's sonic mastermind Vini Reilly, who fills the album with his trademark brand of expressive, intertwining lead lines. VIVA HATE proved a victory of many sorts for Morrissey--the anthemic "Everyday Is Like Sunday" provided another hit song, as well as proving that his lyrical powers were far from ebbing. One real stunner, "Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together" is just vocal and strings; a suicide reference as gripping and dramatic as The Smiths' "Asleep," it is nothing short of transcendent. On tunes like the bizarre opener, "Alsatian Cousins," Reilly's guitars rage and storm like fiery ghosts, while on "Late Night, Maudlin Street," they provide echoing atmospherics, leaving the real storytelling to the album's star, who more than rises to the occasion.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Very good Q (3/02, p.138) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Contains his career-high singles, the fractious 'Suedehead' and steam-age melancholia of 'Everyday Is Like Sunday'..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Alsatian Cousin
2.: Little Man What Now
3.: Everyday Is Like Sunday
4.: Bengali In Platforms
5.: Angel Angel Down We Go Together
6.: Late Night Maudlin Street
7.: Suedehead
8.: Break Up The Family
9.: Ordinary Boys
10.: I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
11.: Dial A Cliche
12.: Margaret On The Guillotine
13.: Let The Right One Slip (bonus track)
14.: Pashernate Love (bonus track)
15.: At Amber (bonus track)
16.: Disappointed (live/bonus track)
17.: Girl Least Likely To (bonus track)
18.: I'd Love To (bonus track)
19.: Michael's Bones (bonus track)
20.: I've Changed My Plea To Guilty (bonus track)
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since : 23/05/2004
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