You Are the Quarry

Vauxhall and I	Your Arsenal His fourth and finest solo album is, as the cover shot suggests, Morrisey's idea of hard rock. There's a gritty, glam feel to Mick Ronson's production (check the Ziggy Stardust cop on "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"), while the loud'n'rude riffs of new guitarist Boz Boorer ba...	Ringleader of the Tormentors If you don't get your hopes up too high, you'll be pleased enough with Morrissey's eighth studio effort. This is not an easy thing to do, of course, even for the casual fan. After all, not only was the Moz's 2004 You Are the Quarry a total return to form after enough of an absenc...	My Early Burglary Years Reissue, repackage, repackage. The Morrissey melodrama continues on My Early Burglary Years, the ex-Smiths frontman's third U.S. compilation of previously released material. So what do we get for our trouble and pain? This time around the prince of loneliness offers a handpicked ...	Southpaw Grammar Pop stars who last more than a decade often survive but change: U2 goes from righteous to cartoonish, Sting from new wave to adult contemporary, Prince from purple to nameless. Morrissey, though, survives by staying the same, by pushing the flashing-red alienation buttons of each...
Kill Uncle	Viva Hate	Ringleader Of The Tormentors (Deluxe Edition CD & DVD) This deluxe edition contains a bonus DVD with video footage of "You Have Killed Me", "The Youngest Was The Most Loved", "In The Future When All Is Well" plus behind the scenes footage.	Maladjusted The critics have turned on the graying Master of Mope and the early reviews were unusually savage. Perhaps that's because after 1995's inventive and rockin' Southpaw Grammar, the man has run out of steam--an idea underlined by the ho-hum lead track, "Alma Matters." Let's hope rum...	World of Morrissey

A starter for the new Morrissey fan
Yes, I have heard of Morrissey's both famous and infamous self-loathing lycrical expression in the past many years through various medias covering today's Alternative era. When this original "pink" version of YOU ARE THE QUARRY made its first appearance in the local record stores, the carrier instantly edited it as a private release under its own distribution - as if Morrissey is not infamous enough to make his way through the local music business. In spite of the much appraised reviews and a few moderately publicised critics, I was determined to grab this Special Enhanced Quarry online. And I am happy I did it. The Quarry is not just as adaptable for a new Morrissey experience but is as sentimental to be empathised with one's own life and facts (any Morrissey record could be). Try AMERICA IS NOT THE WORLD, I HAVE FORGIVEN JESUS (no wonder Craig Kilborn requested it for his The Late Late Show), I LIKE YOU, and MY LIFE IS A SUCCESSION OF PEOPLE SAYING GOODBYE (possibly B-side's most outstanding track, both lyrically and musically). What else is good if not worth two cents for a new fan, catch a few glimpses of Morrissey agonising and kicking through the video of IRISH BLOOD ENGLISH HEART in a lovely, orche tinted wallpapered living hall.

A Good Second Impression
I have been into BritPop for over a decade and am a fanatic for Oasis and Pulp (and, once in a great while, Blur). After watching the movie "Live Forever" and reading some reviews, I heard many clamor that Morrissey should have been added to the DVD. While I can see while he was not, since his heyday with the Smiths and his early solo career was just before the height of the second British Invasion, I was still interested. After a while, I picked up the "Best of Morrissey" (I know there are about three dozen, but you get the idea) and was pleasantly surprised. At first, the songs seemed a little to quirky. The titles were extremely long and some of the tracks, like "Hairdresser on Fire" and "Sing Your Live" made me wonder (no offense) if this guy was being serious or not. However, after a few listens I fell in love with "...International Playboys", "Now My Heart Is Full" and "Hold On to Your Friends." They were moving and clearly deep, meaningful outlets for Morrissey. Wanting to branch out, I grabbed "Quarry" as everyone was talking about it so much in the press. At first, again, didn't really like it. Some of the songs were grating and seemed to lack the lyrical wit I heard on the "Best of..." So, I shelved it for a week or so. However, I forced myself back to it, and while I still couldn't stand some tracks, i.e. "...Crashing Bores" and "...How I Feel" (which seem a bit childish and whiney, respectively) I found some moments of brilliance. "Come Back to Camden" is sweeping and gorgeously layered, "Let Me Kiss You" has a wicked guitar riff around the choruses and "You Know..." ends the album in a wonderful hook-filled style. ...Or it would have had I not bought the deluxe version. Thank goodness, since I find the B-sides (much like with Oasis and, in some cases, Pulp), to hold the true brilliance of the album. "Teenage Dad..." is a great song, with wonderfully honest lyrics. "I Am Two People" has a very genuinely sweet sound to it; I always end my listenings on this track. However, in my opinion, the gem of the entire album is "Friday Mourning." One of the most moving and powerful songs I have heard in a long time, it booms with passion, lyrics of struggle and a magnificent use of echo to give the track an even greater intensity. While at first I wondered whether Morrissey was the guy I thought I knew off the "Best of..." CD, I have come to find he isn't; rather, he is so much more. I plan to buy "V&I" soon. Hopefully, the journey through that CD will be as rewarding as this one.

A MUST FOR YOUR COLLECTION
Morrisey has done it-- made a come back after all these years. This album is simply stated , beautiful , and reflects a more mature side of Morrisey while allowing him to hold on to his past as well. Truly a masterpeice.

YOU ARE THE QUARRY : the one to get
yes yes yes..it had been quite a long time since Morrissey had released a new album before Quarry...but he had never gone away. there were still numerous tours and plenty of new songs being aired in his live shows...but there simply was no record deal. so this album is a "comeback" of sorts if it's viewed in terms of popularity...seeeing as how this album ranked really high when it was first released and all of us Moz fans were dizzy with excitement for months and months. some were shouting "best Morrissey album ever!" and while that's a bit of a exageration; there is plenty to be excited about here. and there are a few surprises that left many fans cold. the production, for instance, is staunch and punchy and sounds polished to a glistening bright sound. it sounds good...but maybe not the best sound for Morrissey. there are some moments of brilliance on this album, as with the standout single "First Of The Gang To Die" and the beautiful "Come Back To Camden." those two tracks are my favorite songs on Quarry and (in my opinion) they best represent the Morrissey that most of his fans know and love. having said that, the remainder of the songs here are good...really good. a few painful lyrics pop up here and there (i cringe with uncomfort every time i hear that "hamburger" line in "America Is Not The World"). one more thing i do not appreciate about this album are the goofy electronic stuff that blips and bleeps in some of the songs. most notably in the song "All The Lazy Dykes." this song carries a wonderful melody and has a pleasant dreaminess to it (actually, i was surprised at how much that song was maligned by fans; considering how much of a Vauxhall And I feeling i associate with it...despite the interruptive synthesizer stuff). so...overall, i'd give You Are The Quarry a 3.5 as a single album. but tacking on all of these extra b-sides ups the quality a great deal! every one of the bonus songs here are the real meat of the Quarry recording sessions. it makes me feel a bit like the tracklisting of the original Quarry album should have been replanned and reconsidered. but so much for complaining now...since this handy disc is here with the original Quarry album and all the great b-sides! it's the difference between a good solid record and an absolutely amazing collection of songs worth every penny!

Same Ol' Morrissey!
From a long-time Morrissey/Smiths fan, here's the deal: If you were into his stuff back in the day, then I think you'll be fully pleased and satisfied by this new offering. Some have complained that he's gotten political (the first song trashes America, and the second one trashes his native Britain, both deservedly so, in my humble opinion), but how can one NOT be political in these crazy times? Humorous self-loathing is one thing, but apathy is surely quite another, and the two should never be confused! However, for all you old-schoolers out there, fear not, there's plenty of the self-flagellation and grand, sweeping, pop melodies that we all expect and crave. For those of you unfamiliar with this guy and his contributions to the field, then, boy, have you missed out on a big part of your modern music education! I advise you to check this out and discover one of the great, meloncholy, pop crooners of all time. Also, be warned that there are at least 3 (that I know of) versions of this album floating around, but this is definitely the one to get. It has 9 (!) additional tracks beyond the original release, most of which are up to the level of the original tracks, as well as 5 videos (3 of which are from the old Craig Kilborn Late Late Show). I originally bought another "deluxe" version, but it didn't have the bonus tracks and only came with the "Irish Blood, English Heart" video. This version is definitely worth the extra money! Hooray for Morrissey's misery - long may it last!