Your Arsenal - Morrissey > Reviews > Guns the opposition out of the water

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Seasick, Yet Still Docked; We Hate It When; You're The One For Me
Disadvantages:	No bad tracks to name

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

In my view Your Arsenal is one of Morrissey's finest albums and ranks second, behind Vauxhall And I, of all his albums. The album covers ground over a multitude of styles all done to perfection and in the traditional Morrissey style. The album ranges from deep and quite heavy for Morrissey tracks to Smiths style jangle pop to the slower ballads. You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side is a lively, quite heavy opener to the album and sets the tone for the rest of the album. This is followed by Glamourous Glue and We'll Let You Know, neither of which are anything special. The album kicks into live on the next track with the fantastic National Front Disco, although often misconstrued as supporting the group the song portrays them as a simple group having little disco to try and gain support. This is a lively tune with a catchy chorus. Morrissey's Smith's style returns on Certain People I Know with a jangly tune that is infectious. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful is another great track and again is extremely infectious and one of the album's highlights. At the strongest section of the album Your Arsenal follows on with Your The One For Me, Fatty, this is a big chorused track and another highlight. After the higher energy of the middle of the album it calms down on Seasick, Yet Still Docked, however this is easily one of the best songs on the album with the lyrics sung in a pained style the emotion of the song is portrayed effortlessly. The album ends with I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday, another slower, but powerful song and Tomorrow, a lively finish to the album which ends the experience on a high.

As a whole the album fits together very well and is a collection of some of Morrissey's best work. It does not rank as a highly as Vauxhall And I in my book, but this is well worth listening to for any Morrissey or Smiths fan or anyone who likes rock music with more emotion than average.

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