Morrissey - New Single Review

As I said in the beginning on this year, Morrissey is set to release a new album with 11 new original songs. The album will be called "I Am Not A Dog On A Chain".

The first single is "Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?"

Morrissey is a legendary artist. Yes, with a lot of political (terrible) opinions but I'm not here for that. I'm here to talk about music, and that's what we should talk right now.

Morrissey has stabilised his own style, I don't believe he will, ever gain, write a turning point album. He is what he is, and his music sounds like that. Exactly the same way some legendary artists like Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode, Rolling Stones, U2, etc. They will continue to write marvellous songs but will never re-invent themselves again, and that's fine and good!

So, this songs has of course a lot of typical Moz here, the lyrics are, most of it very abstracts and non-sense at first reading (like most of the poetry) but actually, I have the feeling that he might be talking about himself. He is like describing someone that, in the eyes of others did a bad thing but "ah the pleasure you bring for us, ah whenever you sing for us". Morrissey is very criticised in press, so he could be Bobby, the man who did the horrendous thing, but, whenever he sings, his forever full audience will come and enjoy the concerts. Of course I may be completely wrong. The sing could not be actually sing, could be a charm for being forgiven. But I think I did had a point.

Melodically, dispute what I said in the beginning of this article, he does gives a step forward, in a not so comfortable jazz trait. He has the help of the amazing Thelma Houston who gives a really big flow and chill to the song, but also the instrumental is amazing. The hard saxophones in the background and the twisted piano riffs give a really big soul to the song. Makes the difference. And the length of the song (almost 6 minutes) gives space and time for everyone have their moment and for the listener to internalize with the music.

In the middle of all of this jazzy world, then comes up that typical and characteristic voice, that pushes you away from the little bit 60's jazz groove, which makes it a pop and commercial song.  

It's a great song, I'm looking forward the album.

I know most people don't like Morrissey, me, also don't agree with his political views and I found terrible and wrong his comments, but I also think that he is a depressing difficult person, that can't handle life very well. And the music press seems to focus only on that.

The NME wrote a terrible non-sense review of this song. It's bad that they can be impartial and talk about the music, and only the music itself. I don't agree with that and I honestly think it is bad journalism. 

People that don't agree with Morrissey political views, be superior, be diplomatic, and don't be the person that you are trying to fight, be better, and give people a chance to release their work and for it to be appreciated it, musically is good. Fight with peace.

Here's Moz's new single:

Low In High School By Morrissey

Before I listened to the album, I read the review on NME.

I, mainly, like NME, they are a good website with current news, and, they usually have some good reviews of albums. However, they got "seriously wrong" on their review of Low In High School by Morrissey. 

First, Morrissey was always very critical to the press. Actually, he was in the correct side on this war. Since his earlier days, his relationship with the press was harsh. 

Even this year, he claimed: ""I did an interview a couple of weeks ago for a German newspaper and, of course, let me just say this: That was the last print interview I will ever do. Unless you see the words form in my mouth and then you see or hear the words come out of my mouth… please, if you don’t see that, I didn’t say them."

So, we can see that Morrissey and the press don't like each other, and I really think that the press will do their "moral" job to try to get Morrissey out of the business. And that's exactly what NME tried to do with their review of the new album.

Low In High School is a masterpiece. Again! Morrissey has his correct formula of writing songs and that's effective and fine, and very much enjoyable. All of his songs are brilliant, some better than others, but they all have a degree of quality far above the general music business.

The album begins with frenetic and frontal rock song. "My Love, I'd Do Anything For You" is a good presentation for the album, a loud fast track. Then it's the second single "I Wish You Lonely". People say that Moz only writes very pressing songs but actually, I think that he has some depressive, but funny, lyrics with joyful melodies, and this one is a great example. "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage" is a sexy cabaret song, obscure melodies and lyrics, with a big hard ending about "Everbody's heading for the Exit". "Home Is A Question Mark" is one of the best songs with one of the most deep and beautiful lyrics. Again, it is among the best songs Morrissey ever write, and I can't understand how the music business can ignore such a beautiful and well done song. It is so beautiful that you can't stop singing the chorus as loud as you can. And the lyrics, almost everyone on this planet suffered a little bit about the dilemma of where is our place on earth and it is what this song is about. Where do we belong really?

"Spent The Day In Bed" is the main single. A catchy song, that, although it doesn't stuck on your mind on the first time that you listen to it, it really gets you singing along. It's about the manipulation of the press (he's right, and that's why the press doesn't like Morrissey) and the joyful of doing nothing. 

"I Bury The Living" it's the best track of the album, and should be among the best songs of this year. a 7-minute track that blames, in a ironic way, the men who actually, commits war, the soldiers. The lyrics are so brilliant that you can't stop thinking about it: "Call me brave, call me a peacemaking hero Call me anything, except what I am", "When I lose mine, my mother will say: 'He died doing the job he loved" But I died with a bullet to the forehead That wasn't the job I loved'". It's brilliant and truth, although the big leaders command and led the soldiers to the extermination, it's actually the soldiers that kill the other people,. They need to have responsibility also. 

"In Your Lap" is a sweet melancholic piano song. "The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel" is a latin dance-able song, with a huge political message of support is the Israeli innocent people. "All The Young People Must Fall In Love" it's a joyful song about freedom, it's probably my less favourite song of the album but it's quite good! "When You Open Your Legs" is a romantic song, with a nice theatrical riff. "Who Will Protect Us From The Police" is a rock/punk song, also about a topic that Moz really likes, the opposition of the Police force. 

To end the album, NME wrote that Morrissey composed a "least listenable track", but, in fact he wrote a super epic album closing anthem. "Israel" is dramatic, beautiful, hard, emotional song. About a very controversial theme. Again, I think the press will do anything they can to stop Morrissey of spreading poems like this one, because, everyone who supports Israel is against them. 

As a resume, maybe, Low In High School, is not Morrissey's best work, but, undoubtedly is among their best. I would say that, lyrically, it's his best album. 

It's sad that professional music journalists don't see the importance of it, and the beauty in it. 

We, fans, see it, and we listen to it, and we thank you, Morrissey, for a piece of work like this.

Thank you.       

Spent The Day In Bed

Morrissey's new single already has an official video!
The video for Spent The Day In Bed is a full song film (not like the lyric-films from World Peace Is None Of Your Business) and features a very familiar face if you are a football fan: the problematic English player Joey Barton, which retired not long ago. Barton is a well-know Smiths fan.
The video also features, Morrissey, his band and David Hoyle. It was directed by Sophie Muller.
Check it right here.

Morrissey Unveil New Song And New Album

Morrissey, the legendary British artists released a new single and a new album is coming up!
The new song is called "Spent The Day In Bed" and it's available on YouTube through a lyrics video.
Well, the song didn't catch my attention during the first take.
The "Spent The Day In Bed" lyrics is catchy and it really gets inside your mind.
The instrumental is a little bit disappointing for me. The keyboards sound a little bit like a really from Falco or something like that form the 80's. The lyrics are fine, typical Moz style. Hopefully the song will sound better with time. The chorus is fine, the middle eight is also good, the surrounding keyboard sound is great, but the main synth riff isn't really my type.
The melody is great, the instrumental is just average.

The new album is called "Low In High School" and it's going to be released on the 17th of November. The tracklist is:

01 My Love, I’d Do Anything for You
02 I Wish You Lonely
03 Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage
04 Home Is a Question Mark
05 Spent the Day in Bed
06 I Bury the Living
07 In Your Lap
08 The Girl from Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel
09 All the Young People Must Fall in Love
10 When You Open Up Your Legs
11 Who Will Protect Us From the Police?
12 Israel

Some really interesting titles. Really hoping for a #1 album. Morrissey deserves it, cares about it, and then he would have a number 1 album in 4 different decades.

Listen to the new single here:

10 Not-Famous Great Songs For The Morning

Listening to music while going to work or to school is something vital, but, as you agree, there are some songs that lift your spirit up more than others, so, let's say happy songs for the morning, to help you to face the terrible day that is coming.
There are a lot of great examples, famous happy pop songs, but I picked 10 non-famous songs to be a different selection.
And, what I mean for "not-famous songs", are songs that are not hit singles or worldwide success.
So, take a quick listen to these songs that lift me up in the morning:

1 - Suede - Sound Of The Streets
Well, I am a fanatic, so I had to start with Suede. So, for a sunny morning, when you are walking in the streets of your own city, nothing better than incorporate Sadie, a girl that knows the sound of the streets of London. Amazing b-side from the Coming Up era with one of the best Oakes' solos ever.


2 - Johnny Marr - The Crack Up
Found this one recently. A song from Marr's debut solo album, The Messenger. Something typical for the ex-Smiths musician, fast guitar riffs, and a "bad-ass" way of singing the chorus, something like if you were walking with long steps without giving a shit to anybody else around you.


3- The Horrors - Primary Colors
This is the song that gives the title of their second LP, the first to be acclaimed worldwide.  Fast song, with a fantastic guitar intro. When I start to listen to it I just want to move my arms all around like a monkey. Simply great!


4 - Patrick Duff - Wake Up Richard
This song was my alarm clock for a long time. So happy, simple and pure. The first lines of the song are "Wake up Richard, it's your birthday, let's go dancing, there's a place I know where the bright lights are always shinning we'll go flying over Tokyo". Isn't that amazing? Just live your life happy and be free!


5 - George Harrison - If Not For You
George's version of Bob Dylan's track is so sunny and beautiful that just brings peaceful and lovely thoughts to your mind. A classic!


6 - John Lennon - Crippled Inside
The most upbeated song from the "Imagine" album. The intro and the slide guitar really gives a joyful feeling to the entire song. Also, the piano solo is incredibly funny.


7 - The Whip - Keep Or Delete
The opening track of their second album, this is more a electronic song, and the most different from this list. What really gives me energy in this song is the way it grows and grows during the 4 minutes. As it flows, it gets more and more intense and complexed.


8 - Violent Femmes - Dance Motherfucker Dance
Well, I guess the titles says it all. Pure energy.


9 - Morrissey - America Is Not The World
Although this could be a sad song, I think that the way Morrissey sings it, almost without interruptions, and the connection with the acoustic and electric guitar, really makes it a sunny song, with good vibrations. One of my favourite Moz's songs


10 - Devendra Banhart - Carmensita
Ok, this is the only song on the list that is actually a single, but I think is not a worldwide hit, as Devendra Banhart is not a very very popular artist (unfortunately). But, listening to this song, it is so funny, positive, free and sunny that it had so be here. Pure happiness! And you can even find Natalie Portman on the video

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

One day after Morrissey started his world tour to promote "World Peace Is None Of Your Business", his most recent solo album that reached #2 in the British Charts, he declared that he received medicine's attention for cancer treatment. If he has or not the disease, is something still unclear. While the international press is saying that he has been receiving treatments during the last 18 months, Morrissey says that he did some analysis to his body but that everything was OK.
He said:
"They have scraped cancerous tissues four times already, but whatever," he said. "If I die, then I die. And if I don't, then I don't. Right now I feel good. I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that’s what illness can do. I’m not going to worry about that, I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
But also:
"I made four analysis to cancer but everything was good. Everytime we heard the word "cancer" we assume that everything is ending. [...] As things are today, I can say that time belongs to me"
This is really sad news. Morrissey is 55, and still one of the best artists around. His new solo album is amazing and it's a shame if he will pass away so early, because, a man with his talent has a lot more to offer to this world.
As you said Moz, there is a light that never goes out.

It's a Classic!

Sometimes, not very often, when you heard for the first time a song you have that feeling "Damn, this song is an instant classic!". I can't remember when it was the last time it happened to me, probably one and half years ago when I heard "Where Are We Now?" from David Bowie (unfortunately, I didn't feel it with "Barriers" from Suede, although I consider it a classic now).
Well, it happened again last week, this time with Morrissey's new single "Would Peace Is None Of Your Business".
This is completely a traditional Moz song. The political lyrics, the slow way of pronouncing the words, the melancholic guitar lines, the irony, everything. Instant Classic! The interlude "Each time you vote, you support the process", is genial, so brutal. Incredible really.
Can't wait to listen to the rest of the album.

Autobiography by Morrissey

Some months ago I finished reading Morrissey's Autobiography.
I admit that, for a non-native English speaker, it was a hard read, the book is full of small ironies and typical English expressions. But, in the end, it was a very interesting read.
I will not resume or tell stories from the book, I will just point two or three things and I particularly enjoyed in the reading.
- Morrissey is very honest in what concerns success in the music industry. Some bands say "I don't care if my album makes the top 10 or not, what it really matters is the message and the music". Well, we all know that this is not really true and everyone cares about the sales, it is good to see your work appreciated and reaching people all over the world. So, Morrissey was, and still is nowadays, euphoric whenever his albums reached the top of the charts in the UK and disappointed when they didn't.
- Morrissey leaves very nice and good words about his ex-Smiths and ex-musical partners musical skills. Although, talking about their personal and social behaving he leaves some critics and sometimes he even destroys them. As I said, very honest, the book is as it should be and it shows completely the world through Morrissey's eyes. As he wrote "How could anybody possibly know how I feel when they are they and only I am I?".
- Morrissey wrote really big part of his life there and this is the closest thing we will ever get to Morrissey's mind but (amazingly) he left a lot of small secrets and mysteries to himself, which is more than understandable.
- Morrissey's depression during his Smiths years was big and it is amazing how he, today, is a very happy man. I completely agree and understand when he says that a Smiths reunion makes him laugh. I don't see (musically) any point for a Smiths reunion and, if Moz is much happier and successful now, why should really be a reunion like that? I still think that "You Are The Quarry" is the singer's best work to date. Better than "Strangeways, Here We Come" and "The Queen Is Dead".
- Moz must be someone really difficult to deal with. His strong an inflexible opinions makes me think that it is really rare when something makes change his mind. I think he know that and he is actually proud of it.
- As a personal view, it was very pleasing to read the book while I am in London. When he writes things like (example) "The concert I gave in Finsbury Park" or "I was walking in South Kensington" and me thinking "Fuck, I was there in the other day" is something special.
Great reading, I recommend it.

The Queen Is Dead Considered Best Album Of All Time By NME

NME has made a countdown of the 500 best albums of all time. The albums were selected by previous and current journalist of this magazine. Each journalist had to make a list of their own top 50 best albums of all time. I don't know yet the rest of the list but the number 1 is The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths. I wouldn't select it for sure, I don't even think it is the best work from Morrissey, and, in previous interviews both Moz and Johnny Marr stated Strangeways, Here We Come as they favourite Smiths album.

Although, this is an amazing week for the emblematic English singer. Besides this conquest, his new Autobiography book is on the top of the most sold books last week.

Morrissey's Autobiography Out Now

Morrissey's Autobiography was officially release yesterday (17 of October).
The long awaited book covers the ex-Smiths singers life from his childhood until today. As I've been reading on the internet, the book is being a success and is on the top of Amazon's most required items.
I'm planning to buy it soon and after reading I'll make a personal review but, there's no doubts that it is going to be a fascinating reading, as Morrissey's career and life was and still is.

The Smiths "Reunion"

Everyday I see a lot of news talking about the "Smiths Reunion". The press is always very excited about this topic, always asking Morrissey and Marr what would they think about it, and they are always saying that the band will never ever reunite again. So, I really think this is a dead topic. Both of the artists must be very tired of these speculations and I don't really see the point of a Smiths reunion now... They made together 4 great albums, albums that marked a generation in british music, influenced most of the artists that I adore and we can say that they were pioneers on the late 80 and beginning 90 Britpop or Indie Rock music in the UK. But after that Morrissey release 9 great and successful albums and he is now seen as a "living legend". His solo works are great, and he has is own sound and style. For the Smiths fans, he still plays some songs from his former band live. As for Marr he was involved in many projects, maybe the most notable is Modest Mouse but I personally think that he is not in the same mood as Morrissey. Moz has a really establish career and there is no point of returning to the band. It would be better for Marr than Morrissey to reunite the band but I think there's really no sense in it.
This is me talking and I'm not that fan of Smiths as I am from Suede for example and I always saw Suede reunion has one of the best things ever happened but this is my thoughts.

Morrissey Cancels Concert In Cascais

Morrissey, ex-vocalist of The Smiths and now, one of the best solo artists from the United Kingdom, has cancelled his show in Cascais, Portugal, due to the illness of his bass player, Soloman Walker. The gig was supposed to be today.
Morrissey asks for apologies and promises a return to Portugal soon.

Hoje Comprei...

Um single do Morrissey de 2004, o grandioso Irish Blood, English Heart (CD2)

You Are The Quarry: Um Clássico

Mantendo-me longe dos recentes comentários polémicos de Morrissey sobre o ataque à Noruega só quero afirmar que o 7º álbum de estúdio deste artista é genial e um dos melhores alguma vez lançados.
Eu acho que Morrissey depois de ter lançado o seu Best Of de 2007 (Suedehead) pensou seriamente que rumo deveria ter a sua carreira e qual o regresso, depois de Maladjusted, o seu último CD de originais antes de You Are The Quarry.
E esse seu regresso resultou num LP de 12 músicas geniais.
Hoje eu não passo sem este álbum e, desculpem-me fanáticos de Smiths, gosto bastante mais deste CD do que qualquer outro da antiga banda do artista.
Lembro-me em 2004 ainda estar a escrever e atento ao fórum dos Suede (que tinham acabado no ano anterior) e todos os fãs ficarem excitados com o nº 3 de Irish Blood, English Heart e eu, não conhecer nada significante de Morrissey a solo, decidi explorar. Ouvi o single e adorei. Mais tarde, depois de ter comprado Suedehead, numa boa promoção da FNAC iluminei-me e comprei You Are The Quarry.
Sinceramente, da primeira à última música (talvez a última devesse ser um real hino o que não é...) adorei o álbum. Letras fortes, malhas de guitarra modernas e directas e, músicas mesmo "catchy", que ficam mesmo no ouvido!
Depois de o ter milhares de vezes apetece-me fazer uma apreciação (pessoal) de música a música.

01-America Is Not The World
Sem palavras, é a minha música preferida do CD e está perfeita! Suave, letras fortes e acima de tudo, Jerry Finn (o produtor) sabe mesmo onde utilizar cada som. Mais concretamente refiro-me aos teclados na parte final da canção completamente geniais. Um Clássico

02- Irish Blood, English Heart
O melhor single que poderia ter aparecido do CD! Representa a grande força do álbum, um indie-rock bastante activo e uma letra agressiva mas que faz acreditar os seus ideais a quem o ouve! As guitarras estão perfeitas!

03- I Have Forgiven Jesus
Outra grande música que prima tanto pelas letras assim como a suavidade. Suavidade que, quando é necessário se transforma numa confissão desesperada sobre algo que não tem solução "And why did you give me so much love in a loveless world ehen there's no one I can turn to to unlock all this love"

04- Come Back to Camden
Das músicas que menos aprecio no álbum mas que, mesmo assim traz um grande "ponto de respiração" na audição do álbum por completo. Momento para descansar um pouco depois de 3 músicas tão rompentes como as primeiras.

05- I'm Not Sorry
Um momento bastante romântico e pausado que continua com as boas baladas que Come Back To Camden tinha começado. Uma confissão de Morrissey bastante comovente mas, ao mesmo tempo, vingativa

06- The World Is Full of Crashing Bores
Um regresso às músicas mais comerciais no álbum e que entram mais no ouvido (sem exagerar) mas ao mesmo tempo (nisto este artista é mestre) a juntar o sentimento de pena, de melancolia, de desespero

07- The World Is Full of Crashing Bores
A par da primeira e da seguinte, a melhor música do álbum. Esta música tem tudo, questiona tudo aquilo que nós sentimos, "como pode alguém saber como nos sentimos?" quando essas pessoas nos tentos subestimar? A resposta é simples "But even I, As sick as I am, I would never be you" e Morrissey diz-lo no melhor estilo! Os teclados no fim são, novamente geniais!

08- First Of The Gand To Die
Irish Blood, English Heart representa melhor You Are The Quarry mas se fossemos escolher o single perfeitos seria este. A letra é óptima, simples, o "riff" de guitarra é (estupidamente) perfeito, o refrão (super) catchy, o solo de teclados emocional e o final da música nada repetitiva (a sério), apesar de repetir algumas vezes "you stole your hearts away" nada na música se pareceu com isto até agora. Grande momento.

09- Let Me Kiss You
Se a música anterior era o perfeito single este é a perfeita balada. Muito sentimental, o piano "fala" por si, letras coerente com o LP e, o mais importante, que ainda não tinha havido no CD até agora é o solo final de teclado que é belíssimo ou melhor, mesmo belíssimo

10- All The Lazy Dykes
Bela balada, boa para começar a anunciar o fim de You Are The Quarry, simples mas super eficaz! Não é um dos melhores momentos mas frases como "Free yourself, Be yourself, Come to the Palms and see yourself" ficam no pensamento.

11- I Like You
Um potencial single revelando uma música emocional mas ao mesmo tempo, um "hit" e, como já referi, Morrissey sabe bem misturar estas doses e fornecer algo fascinante e que nos prende de grande maneira. Uma pessoa não fica indiferente a isto.

12- You Know I Couldn't Last
Uma pessoa podia esperar para finalizar este grande CD um hino à música mas Morrissey faz antes um hino a si mesmo abrindo algumas feridas e relevando alguns dos seus próprios problemas e preocupações. Mais sincero que isto era possível? Talvez, mas assim já está óptimo!

Se desse uma nota seria 10 em 10...

Este Fim De Semana Ouvi...

Depois de ter estado a escrever aqui e a ouvir um pouco de Morrissey fiz duas pequenas viagens de carro este fim de semana e este foi o álbum que me acompanhou.
Foi óptimo ouvir os primeiros êxitos a solo do Morrissey dos anos 90.
A alegria e a vontade de acompanhar o música esteve bem presente do princípio ao fim das viagens principalmente em músicas como "Sunny", "You're The One For Me Fatty", "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys".
Para quem não conhece a carreira a solo do ex-vocalista dos Smiths aconselho a iniciarem-se por aqui.
Grande compilação

Cima e Baixo

Morrissey é de longe um dos meus músicos preferidos.
Acho que tem uma capacidade descomunal de tanto fazer músicas que nos deixam alegres e vivos (como This Charming Man, The More You Ignore Me ou You're The One For Me Fatty) como músicas tristes que nos enchem de nostalgia (como Life Is A Pigsty, I Know It's Over ou Boxers).
Recentemente comprei o "Ringleader of The Tormentors" e é um excelente albúm. A música que me cativa mais é de longe "Life Is A Pigsty" uma música triste que é, ouvi dizer, dedicada a um amigo do cantor que faleceu.
Deixo-vos essa música, uma grande obra de arte, pena a qualidade desta versão não ser a melhor.
Ainda estou arrependido de não o ter ido ver a Paredes de Coura à uns anitos atrás.