Morrissey - Low In High School

Morrissey is a dude that really doesn't need an introduction.  Since his legendary run with The Smiths throughout the 80's and entirely throughout his solo career, Morrissey has always been a very controversial dude.  And it all started with his 1988 debut "Viva Hate".  This album was pretty by-the-books for Morrissey, and is a pretty important album for him.  Gigantic singles like "Suedehead", "Hairdresser On Fire", and "Everyday is Like Sunday" have become concert staples for Morrissey (when he isn't cancelling them that is).  But it's also an oddly experimental album for him.  Tracks like "Bengali In Platforms" and "Break Up The Family" have some weird world music influences that just don't work well for him, and certainly haven't aged well.  But overall, "Viva Hate" worked for Morrissey.  Now, Morrissey was still clearing some of the kinks out of his solo sound, as evident with his 1991 album "Kill Uncle".  This album had some amazing moments like "Pashernate Love".  But other tracks on here, while they were written rather well, were absolutely awfully produced.  There would be bizarre abrasive and experimental moments that came seemingly out of nowhere that just didn't work for Morrissey at all.  The result just sort of seemed underwhelming.  Thankfully, Morrissey really started sounding like himself on his 1992 release "Your Arsenal".  The material on this album was the jolly sort of Jangle-Pop that landed on the final Smiths album, but of course with tons of wit and tongue-in-cheek humor.  But more than anything, it just sort of sounded like Morrissey was totally comfortable with what he was recording.  On his next album, Morrissey got bigger, bolder, and darker with 1994's "Vauxhall and I".  It's an artsy album that starts off a little slow.  But by the end of it, I really feel like some of Morrissey's best tracks are on here.  From fan favorites like "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", to personal favorites of mine like "Speedway" (Which may be my favorite Morrissey track ever), there's something on here for everyone.  But towards the Mid 90's, Morrissey started to enter his weakest period.  "Southpaw Grammar" was the first time I was left completely lost for words after listening to a Morrissey album, and not in the good way.  This album was absolutely full of itself in the worst way.  The songs here were often ridiculously long for Morrissey, and overstayed their welcome quick;y.  Now, there were a few really solid moments, like "Reader Meet Author".  But outside of that, there was nothing here that really made me desperate to hear more.  Morrissey's bland years continued with "Maladjusted", which honest to God I couldn't tell you a single track from.  Thankfully, Morrissey in the 2000's seemed to be so much more interesting than any of his material in the 90's.  2004's "You Are The Quarry" was much heavier and more Alternative sounding for Morrissey, compared to his usual Jangle Pop.  But the result was Morrissey coming off super refreshed and sounding more in your face than ever.  Tracks like "Irish Blood, English Heart" and "First Of The Gang To Die" were just so well done, and Morrissey just sounded like he was really comfortable in his new sound.  Morrissey continued to expand his sound with one of my favorite album's of his, "Ringleader of The Tormentors".  This album had such a massive sound to it, with both controversial and catchy tunes like "I Will See You In Far Off Places" and "You Have Killed Me".  But at the end of the day, this album was just more proof that Morrissey was and remains one of Indie's finest songwriters.  Morrissey continued his 2000's hot-streak with 2009's "Years of Refusal".  This album had a seriously great chunk of tunes on it, from fan favorites like "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris", to more solid deep cuts like "When I Last Spoke To Carol" and "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell".  Now, some of the slower, more ballad-like tunes here didn't really hit me nearly as hard, but still, this album showed than Morrissey had tons in the tank left.  But of course, during all of this, Morrissey has always been a very polarizing public figure, and it was just a matter of time before his music got overly-political and preachy.  That's what happened with his "World Peace is None Of Your Business".  I just was so underwhelmed by this album, and too many lines had me shaking my head.  Now, say what you will about these new singles from Morrissey, but I think that they really aren't THAT bad.  Let's talk about this new Morrissey album.

(Easily my favorite Morrissey Tune)

    This album starts off with “My Love, I’d Do Anything For You”.  Now, for an opening track I actually think this works out seriously well.  I love the sort of glitzy production, and for the most part Morrissey does indeed sound like he’s on his best behavior.  The instrumentals are punchy, and in a way this is the sort of gloomy downtrodden love song that he originally made waves with.  In a lot of ways, this actually comes off like a classic Smiths song, maybe something from their “Strangeways, Here We Come” album.  It is a little sluggish, but Morrissey makes up for that with very glamorous production and one-liners that only he can come up with.  As a Morrissey tune, this is actually well done. Then we have “I Wish You Lonely”, and the sort of slow, glitzy vibe of this album marches on.  This is the sort of Gloomy, Snarky Pop tune that Morrissey won my heart over with years ago.  It’s got plenty of attitude packed into an off-kilter love tune, which is really all I can ask for.  It’s moments like this that really stop me in my tracks, and make me think that Morrissey has plenty of gas left in his tank.  I love the whimsical production and Morrissey’s very haunting vocals.  But deep down, we’re slowly getting into some more Political under-themes, which is something I was really hoping that Morrissey would stay away from.  But have we talked about this cover art?  Clearly, that’s not going to happen.  But for now, I’m happy with “I Wish You Lonely”.  This album continues with “Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage”.  Now, so far this have obviously been a very flashy album.  But some of Morrissey’s best music has been so damn pristine.  This is actually another really solid tune overall.  I actually love when Morrissey does these sort of biographical, grim tunes.  It works wonderfully for Morrissey, and I love the very cinematic vibe to all of this.  I feel like as each track rolls on though, Morrissey gets closer and closer to breaking out into political rants.  But so far, this is working just fine for my liking.  While I do wish some of these tracks were maybe a little punchier, this is far from bad.  Then we have “Home Is A Question Mark”, which is just so much drearier and hazier.  It almost has a weird Psychedelic vibe.  if it wasn’t for those Sleigh Bells in the background, this would be completely a foreign sound for Morrissey.  When it comes to these sort of gloomy, downtrodden tracks, Morrissey still has a ton in the tank.  This one is all about him not knowing what a “home” is because he hasn’t met anyone that makes him feel like where he lives is a “home”, which is a really interesting concept.  So far, so good.  But, it sure would be a real shame if Morrissey’s ego took over…..

“Spent The Day In Bed” is the first track here that quite frankly sticks out horribly.  The production on this track is just so wonky and not nearly as graceful.  Then we have Morrissey’s lyrics which have taken the biggest U-Turn imaginable.  They’ve gone sweet and endearing to quite frankly full of themselves.  I just really don’t want to hear any of this.  The melody to “Spent The Day In Bed” is certainly fine and jolly, and the snarky attitude of this one is totally fine.  I think this is a decent tune, but it really should have been approached very differently.  This is the first real slip up here, but this album is about to get so much worse.  Now, I really have no idea what he was going for with the extended intro on “I Bury The Living”.  But then this seriously obnoxious beat comes in and everything turns ugly.  Morrissey has done plenty of brooding, dark tuns before.  But this is just so incredibly ugly sounding, and that’s before these incredibly awful and stuck up lyrics pop in.  Morrissey has a lot of balls, that’s something we’ve known for years.  But trust me that doesn’t make this any easier.  All of this was imagery, and all of these statements that really make you questions just how much of a dick Morrissey really is, make this track seriously appalling.  Did I mention “I Bury The Living” is 8 minutes long?  Moments like this quite frankly don’t just make it hard to love Morrissey, but really make it sort of embarrassing to be a fan of his.  This track is everything I’ve hated about protest music in 2017.   Now, there was a time where a ballad like “In Your Lap” would have been really gigantic and welcomed.  But at this point in an album that’s quickly spiraling out of control quickly, this isn’t doing him any favors.  With each passing moment, this is quickly becoming an album completely about Morrissey’s ego.  His political views are coming into each lyric one way or another.  It’s just so exhausting to hear this, it’s literally sucking the life out of me.  The instrumental to “In Your Lap” is just so bare, and Morrissey’s performance isn’t at its finest. This album’s downward spiral continues, and it’s really tough to watch.  By the time we get to “The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel”, I feel like I’m really running out of things to say.  I mean yea, the instrumental is is much peppier and classier.  Spanish music has always, especially in the last few years, been a real strong influence on Morrissey.  But lyrically, this is becoming more laughable by the minute.  Letting us into your life is one thing, but making an album 100& about yourself is something completely different.  I do other like the instrumental, I honestly think he could have done something seriously cool with this.  But it’s just becoming so evident very fast that Morrissey really doesn’t have any interest in returning to the tunes he once so easily crafted. 

    Now, “All The Young People Must Fall In Love” actually doesn’t start off too bad with a pretty slick instrumental.  But, I feel like we should play a game called “How can Morrissey take a sweet track and turn it into something else entirely”.  How in the world Morrissey took a sweet track about teenagers falling in love and managed to bring in Global Politics, is both confusing and seriously hilarious.  This could have been something special, honestly a track that really got him back on track.  Hell, this whole album could have been something special, but Morrissey just has his head so far up his own ass.  Up next is “When You Open Up Your Legs”, and the award for the most awkwardly cheery instrumental of the year goes to……this!  It’s gotten to the point where I would go down a list of things that are wrong with this one, but what’s the point?  It’s the same thing that’s been wrong with the last 4 tracks.  It’s just so blatantly political to the point where Morrissey really is shoving it down our throats.  And it’s a shame because this instrumental is something Morrissey could have worked wonders with.  Once again, this album could have easily been special, but Morrissey just can’t keep his mouth shut.  “Who Will Protect Us From The Police?” is up next, and I really haven’t talked about the production in a while.  But seriously, the production here has taken a ridiculous nosedive along with the lyrics.  The weird, electronic rock vibe that Morrissey is going for here is quite frankly laughably awkward.  Lyrically, with a song title like this, you’re damn right this is hard to stomach.  Morrissey isn’t on the far left or the far right or whatever, he’s in his own little terrifying world.  This album ends off with “Israel”, and right off the bat, the production is mighty questionable.  This very “epic” introduction just ends up sounding ridiculously muddy.  Ironically, I think this is actually one of the better songs on here, just because of how dramatic and passionate Morrissey’s performance is.  But hey, what do you know, the lyrics have me looking for a garbage to throw up in.  As this one goes on for almost 6 minutes, Morrissey adds nothing new of interest, and really ends up wrapping up this album horribly. 

Rating: 5.4/10

Give A Listen To: "My Love, I’d Do Anything for You", "I Wish You Lonely", "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up On The Stage", "Home Is A Question Mark" 

Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative Rock

Overall Thoughts: This album is absolutely the worst thing Morrissey has ever done, by far.  The first few tracks here really give you some hope, showing that Morrissey can still really write a downtrodden, gloomy Love tune.  But the final 2/3's of the album brings in a combination of Morrissey's gigantic ego and even more gigantic political views, and mashes themall togetherr with some seriously messy production.  There are tracks here that could have been something special if Morrissey didn't make it about himself.  But he did, and it's truly a shame.