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4.2
Average of 21 reviews
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Morrissey's first solo record, while not his finest work. The tracks are mostly well-crafted and polished, yet aside from standouts like Everyday Is Like Sunday, Suedehead, and Late Night, Maudlin Street, the music often falls short of the depth found in the lyrics, leaving the whole album feeling strangely weak and unengaging. Did he, perhaps, follow Paul McCartney's 1970 misstep and release this album hastily to outdo his former bandmates? Thankfully, things took a sharp turn for the better starting with Bona Drag, and Morrissey's work remained consistently outstanding up until Maladjusted (and its fantastic B-sides) in 1997 (and let's not forget Irish Blood, English Heart and Come Back to Camden from You Are the Quarry, which are also noteworthy).
I'm not sure if it's from a digital source or a remaster, but my copy sounds incredible. The highs are crisp, and the bass is deep and punchy. It's just perfect.
This edition's demo track is truly dreadful and shouldn't be the sole reason for your purchase. The back cover photo seems to be from the "Boxers" single time, whereas the centerfold appears to be from the Your Arsenal period. They inexplicably kept the troublesome "Bengali In Platforms" but removed the harmless "The Ordinary Boys." The outro of "Late Night, Maudlin Street" is cut, so you miss out on the beautiful line "Wherever you are, I hope you're singing now." The average dynamic range has dropped by 4-5 points to 8, making it way too loud for side-by-side comparisons, but that's par for the course with any reissue. The only mildly intriguing aspect for me is the Liberty label design on the CD.
Be honest, you're either a Morrissey fan or you're not. I bought this album when it dropped. As a Smiths enthusiast, I was initially underwhelmed...at first...by the guitar parts. I'd anticipated something else. But...if you shift your focus from The Smiths to Morrissey, it's a must-have. Standout tracks: Every day is like Sunday/Bengali in platforms/Suedehead/Hairdresser on fire/I dont mind if you forget me...pretty much the entire album..LOL... IMHO.
As a huge admirer of The Smiths and their enchanting melancholic tunes, I have to say "break up the family" stands out as Morrissey’s crowning achievement! Right from the start, Andrew Paresi's bongo drums and that clock-like rhythm that echoes throughout the three minutes and fifty-three seconds captivate you. Vini Reilly's slide guitar is pure perfection, complementing the straightforward yet powerful drum beat and Stephen Street's bass, along with that unforgettable guitar riff. Then Morrissey's lyrics—"I want to see all my friends tonight," "Home late full of hate despise the ties that bind," and "captain of games solid frames as I stood on the touchline"—just blow my mind and touch my heart. It's a track of sheer genius in production that any true music enthusiast would adore. Though I'm curious, who was Morrissey referring to in this masterpiece?
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| 31 Jul 2025 | £19.99 | £19.99 |
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| 30 Sept 2025 | £19.99 | £24.99 |
| 31 Oct 2025 | £20.49 | £25.24 |
| 30 Nov 2025 | £19.99 | £24.99 |
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| 31 Jan 2026 | £19.99 | £24.18 |
| 28 Feb 2026 | £20.49 | £24.31 |
| 26 Mar 2026 | £19.99 | £24.14 |