Ad Absurdum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ad00absurdum) wrote2014-09-07 01:53 pm
ad00absurdum) wrote2014-09-07 01:53 pm
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Morrissey – World Peace Is None of Your Business
Well, what a singularly unmoving experience listening to that album was. It was definitely better back in The Smiths days when Morrissey kept to 10-track album format. Ten songs would be just enough here, twelve tips listening to WPINOYB (as the fans have already nick-named it) over the edge of this side of interesting to the other side of weary boredom.
Bad metaphors aside, though, there are two or three songs that are not entirely forgettable. "Istanbul" and "I Am Not a Man" come to mind first, but musically the album offers nothing new, nothing breathtaking. Let's face it, if it wasn't for Morrissey's name on the cover, the album would be forgettable.
Lyrically, it's no masterpiece either. I do worry (but only a little bit) that Morrissey has no idea what taxes are for. No NHS glasses for him (oh how quickly they forget).
And for the life of me, I can't understand what is the point in writing a song like "Staircase at the University" when all of this has been said before more eloquently and less heartlessly too. Well, at least it's catchy. Good luck with getting it on the daytime radio.
Funny thing about this song, though, it does remind one of The Smiths days or at least the better Morrissey-solo years. But back then the lyrics would have been better too.
"Kick the Bride Down the Aisle" makes even less sense. Moreover, it's not even musically strong enough to justify its existence in Mozzer's catalogue at all. I guess with such composers as Boz Boorer and co. some standards had to go. Pity that, really.
But wait. Wait a second. "Oboe Concerto" – does the bass (or everything else in that song) remind you of anything? It bloody well should because the bass is lifted almost directly from live intro to "Unloveable" and the whole song is a not-so-distant cousin of "Death of a Disco Dancer". I would almost call it a rip-off if I were feeling less charitable. Even the uncoordinated drum solo towards the end is the answer to Mozzer's piano tinkling back then. Jesus, for a bloke constantly saying that The Smiths are dead and well and truly buried under piles of resentment and corpses of NME journalists, Morrissey sure clings to that band. Oops sorry, group.
Anyway, apart from that brief spot of excitement, the songs are dreadfully sleep-inducing. I've never made it a secret that I don't like Morrissey's solo work and the further into his solo career the worse it was, so WPINOYB didn't disappoint me in the slightest. It's not entirely horrible, but it's not all that good. It's mediocre, lukewarm and not at all what a Morrissey album should be. Maybe he really should retire from music and start his career as a writer. Judging by his Autobiography he's at least good at it.
P.S. I have not listened to Johnny Marr's new solo work yet, but I'm sure it will be as unimaginative in the lyrics department and where-have-I-heard-this-before when it comes to music as The Messenger. I'm going back to Kajagoogoo.
Bad metaphors aside, though, there are two or three songs that are not entirely forgettable. "Istanbul" and "I Am Not a Man" come to mind first, but musically the album offers nothing new, nothing breathtaking. Let's face it, if it wasn't for Morrissey's name on the cover, the album would be forgettable.
Lyrically, it's no masterpiece either. I do worry (but only a little bit) that Morrissey has no idea what taxes are for. No NHS glasses for him (oh how quickly they forget).
And for the life of me, I can't understand what is the point in writing a song like "Staircase at the University" when all of this has been said before more eloquently and less heartlessly too. Well, at least it's catchy. Good luck with getting it on the daytime radio.
Funny thing about this song, though, it does remind one of The Smiths days or at least the better Morrissey-solo years. But back then the lyrics would have been better too.
"Kick the Bride Down the Aisle" makes even less sense. Moreover, it's not even musically strong enough to justify its existence in Mozzer's catalogue at all. I guess with such composers as Boz Boorer and co. some standards had to go. Pity that, really.
But wait. Wait a second. "Oboe Concerto" – does the bass (or everything else in that song) remind you of anything? It bloody well should because the bass is lifted almost directly from live intro to "Unloveable" and the whole song is a not-so-distant cousin of "Death of a Disco Dancer". I would almost call it a rip-off if I were feeling less charitable. Even the uncoordinated drum solo towards the end is the answer to Mozzer's piano tinkling back then. Jesus, for a bloke constantly saying that The Smiths are dead and well and truly buried under piles of resentment and corpses of NME journalists, Morrissey sure clings to that band. Oops sorry, group.
Anyway, apart from that brief spot of excitement, the songs are dreadfully sleep-inducing. I've never made it a secret that I don't like Morrissey's solo work and the further into his solo career the worse it was, so WPINOYB didn't disappoint me in the slightest. It's not entirely horrible, but it's not all that good. It's mediocre, lukewarm and not at all what a Morrissey album should be. Maybe he really should retire from music and start his career as a writer. Judging by his Autobiography he's at least good at it.
P.S. I have not listened to Johnny Marr's new solo work yet, but I'm sure it will be as unimaginative in the lyrics department and where-have-I-heard-this-before when it comes to music as The Messenger. I'm going back to Kajagoogoo.