Morrissey, ex-frontman of The Smiths, returns for his first
album in seven years with impeccable timing – all the
hottest new bands express their admiration, and the critical
retrospectives of The Smiths are as universally positive as they
are ubiquitous. And finally, Morrissey, so long without a deal,
has found a record company prepared to push his product to the
masses. With the stage set for a triumphal comeback, the
Mozfather gives his performance – and few will be
disappointed. This is unashamedly a pop-rock record. Producer Jerry Finn
(Blink- 182, Green Day) adds multi-layered production to every
track, plus occasional interesting departures from classic indie
sounds – electronic swooshes, largely tasteful doses of
synths, and even some drum and (subtle) dance beat programming. The tracks on the whole are slightly laid back. However there
are enough rockers to please fans of a heavier sound, making for
a pleasing diversity, from the Didoesque ‘I’m Not
Sorry’ to the storming, euphoric, ‘First Of The Gang To
Die’. While some may yearn for the yelp of his early years,
with his voice now fully mature Morrissey is a joy to listen to,
handling the aching falsetti and forceful choruses with equal
ease. Lyrically, most songs are not up with his best, but then we
are talking about one of the finest lyricists ever. Themes are
diverse, from outward looking ‘America Is Not The
World’, a criticism of US cultural Imperialism, and
‘Irish Blood, English Heart’, a lament about the shame
of being English, to the introspective ‘How Can Anybody
Possibly Know How I Feel’ and the crisis of faith that is
‘I Have Forgiven Jesus’. All are seen through the Pope
of Mope’s cynicsm (let’s face it – it’s
Morrissey, something wouldn’t be quite right if he went all
‘Shiny Happy People’ on us), and accompanied by his
barbed wit. Not for him the banality of “lockjaw popstars /
so scared to show intelligence”. “You Know I
Couldn’t Last”, he laments on the album’s epic
closer. The irony of course is that Morrissey has now been plying
us with the finest Indie for 20 years. Whilst he can still manage
albums as good as You Are The Quarry, long may it continue.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004
Pope of Mope Returns
