OK, I really don't understand why so many people like Morrissey. I am honestly not trying to provoke any fans or start any arguments, this is just my flea-bitten opinion, but I just can't see how any male can dig his music. It's just so whiney and....well, I'll say it.....feminine. Again, just my opinion. The thing is, a lot of my friends who have otherwise excellent taste in music like him. I just don't understand it. Can someone please enlighten me? I am really trying to have an open mind, but it just ain't workin' for me.
When it comes to The Smiths, you cannot deny such pop gems like "Cemetry Gates" and "This Charming Man". Too me, the whole attraction to The Smiths is Johnny Marr's brilliant work. Morrissey's solo work was really good at the beginning with "Every day is like Sunday" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys". It kinda tapered off for me after that...
he bangs more chicks than i do. I like him/the smiths. dude is whiney though. I guess that's why i like him/them.
bro, dude, man, thats one of my favorite songs. infact, i think thats my favorite song from him. That, and Ask.
The Smiths/Morrisey were 2 Gen X'ers what Coldplay is 2 Gen Y'ers. That said, I once wore my older bros Morrisey concert shirt so I could get in this Goth chicks pants. Turned out she liked Bauhaus instead.
no way - morrisey is the end of the family line i actually heard his first solo record (viva hate) before i ever heard the smiths. i guess that was around 88 or so. the first morrisey related thing i bought was the "interesting drug" cassette single, which i still have. for me, viva hate is the best thing morrisey has ever done, even counting his work with the smiths. i cant explain the appeal for me - its just good pop music and yes, johnny marr's guitar work is great. its very british sounding music so i could see that being a turn-off for some. yes, it is whimpy and totally gay, but that doesnt mean it isnt great. i always thought of the smiths as the brit counterpart to rem. meat is murder = murmer
It's not very easly explained, Ima Drummer... Back when they first started I too felt they were too fey, but then 'How Soon is Now' Came out and the brilliance of that song crosses all boundries - punk, rock, pop, gay disco, psychedelia, etc. That made me go and by 'Meat is Murder'. Now, I don't even sypathise with 'meat being murder', but after a few spins I got used to Morrisseys falsetto and bought Hatful of Hollow. On that albulm I started listening closely to Johnny Marr, and dude is a brilliant guitarist. Well, the more I listened, the more I started to appreciate Morrissys over the top lyrics and I kind of enjoyed flaunting it in front of my fellow musician friends. Next thing you know, one of them is pulling me aside and pointing out some of Marrs subtle but very cool guitar riffs. It really was heady stuff for the times. Morrissy continued at a very high level thru My Arsenal and then began the inevitable decline. How often can one sing about a 'girlfriend in a coma'? But that was not the real problem, the all important melodies fell off too. Alas, the Smiths/Morrissy truly are an aquired taste and it has nothing to do with your sexual leaning. If you really wanna know, go get 'Hatfull of Hollow' or 'The Queen is Dead' or 'Bona Drag' and give it at least four complete run thrus over a months time. If you still don't like it, then keep trying
dear diary, youre the only one who understands me theres a difference between emo and shi**y emo. my older sister used to play morrissey when she wasnt old. it doesn't suck. just listen to a lot of top 40 radio these days and experience the joke that is shi**y emo.
People like Morrissey because the lyrics are agonizing. He was emo before it ever became popular. Ever been to a Morrissey concert. These are some of the most dramatic people I've ever met. People literally crying over songs. Morrissey is the man. He's coming out with a new album soon. "I have forgiven Jesus" was one of the best songs of his last album.
"Is evil just something you are or something you do?" Morrissey is one of the best live performers I've ever seen. You probably have to get into The Smiths/Morrissey at just the right time in your life to really have them grow on you. I can see how it might be hard to just pick up one of their records and enjoy it immediately.
I remember that...the lines stretched for blocks and blocks. The Smiths/Morrissey are cool because the songs were so good and he wrote hilarious lyrics.
Pretty much what Win said. I remember when my sister was in high school - she ABSOLUTELY worshipped the ground this dude walked on. She still likes him somewhat but nowhere near like she used to. Of course, I used to make fun of her for liking him and Robert Smith (The Cure) and here it is, 20 years later, I like both of their bands very much (The Cure moreso than The Smiths). I knew that Morrissey's lyrics were pretty out there but with the exception of Leonard Cohen and some Dylan, I have never really bought music because of lyrics. Johnny Marr was and still is such an underrated guitarist!! He with Morrissey was absolute magic - it really is hard to explain to someone who is not a fan. It is like for me, it took like about 3 or 4 listens before the light went off in my head that this was good stuff. Not only is "How Soon Is Now?" one of the greatest '80s songs ever, but songs like "Ask", "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", and "Shoplifters of the World Unite" (Marr's solo is I think the best one he ever did) are not too far behind. But what made those songs so good, IMO, was the whole sound (Morrissey's voice, Marr's guitar heroics, the underrated rhythm section, etc.). I read somewhere that The Smiths were considered to be the best indie band of the '80s - definitely the best from England. I got 2 solo Morrissey albums but I have never found them capturing my attention like The Smiths albums (the albums I have are "Viva Hate" and "Your Arsenal"). Whether the Mozzer wants to admit it or not, I think he really misses Marr at least his SOUND misses him. ima - buy "Singles" by The Smiths. This compilation has like 17 of their best known songs. Listen to it, all the way through, at least 3 times before giving up on it. That light may go off for you after the 3rd listen or maybe it won't.
So true. Plus its 7 minutes of a great song. I've been listening to it all week on the subway, I forgot how much I love this band.
