Formerly the lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey (Steven Patrick, also known as Moz or Mozza to fans,) went solo in 1987 after the group parted ways. He released a number of albums in subsequent years but it would be a long seven between the previous one and 2004's You Are The Quarry. Was it worth the wait? Upon my first listen I was a little ambivalent... I had expected to be blown away but that didn't happen (sorry.) Then, after a couple more listens and a read of the included lyrics (yay!) I found myself loving this album. Part critical social statement, part heartbreakingly sad, part sarcasm and part hilarious wry humour, it is brilliant and minimalist. There are no rock anthems, no orchestral interludes and no over-production so you won't realize the artist has little talent; there is only Morrissey's voice highlighted against guitars, drums and keyboards that, at times, I almost forget are there, so intriguing is what he's saying. The man is a poet, plain and simple, (reminding me often of Leonard Cohen,) unafraid to speak his mind no matter how controversial or unpopular those views may be. Take for example, the first track America is Not the World, where even the title may cause some to blink. Even though he now lives in Los Angeles (having moved there from England in the late 90's) Morrissey points a finger at his new homeland. "In America, the land of the Free they said, and of opportunity. In a Just and Truthful way but where the President is never black, female or gay. And until that day you've got nothing to say to me, to help me believe in America." The almost pop-tinged track is catchy with Morrissey's unspectacular vocals giving it a happy feel until you take notice of the condemning words. However, much like a parent might hate what their child has done, but still loves the child, he ends on a bittersweet note, "I have got nothing to offer you, just this heart deep and true, which you say you don't need. See with your eyes, touch with your hands - please, know in your soul, hear through your ears - please, for haven't you me with you now? And I love you, I love you, I love you."

Turning his unflinching gaze eastward, across the United States, across the ocean, Morrissey doesn't spare England, the land of his birth. The punk-like Irish Blood, English Heart is a rocker that I love the sound of, even as part of me cringes (for, you see, I too was born there and even though it's almost thirty years since I left, the deepest part of me will always be English.) "I've been dreaming of a time, when the English are sick to death of Labour and Tories, and spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell, and denounce the royal line that still salute him and will salute him forever." Sexual orientation is completely irrelevant to music and, normally, would have no place in a review, but it appears to form the basis for the next track. In the controversially named Jesus I Have Forgiven You, Mozza questions why he was made the way he was. Whether it refers to his ambiguous sexuality (which, to my knowledge, he has never confirmed,) to his declared celibacy or just to a general love for the world that is not returned, is unclear. However, what is crystal clear is the pain, anguish and perhaps anger as he sings, "Why did you give me so much desire? When there is nowhere I can go, to offload this desire. Why did you give me so much love, in a loveless world, when there is no one I can turn to, to unlock all this love. Why did you stick me in self-deprecating bones and skin. Jesus - why do you hate me?" The lyrics read as terribly sad and hopeless but are set to music that is upbeat and happy and I wonder, not for the last time on this album, if it's done deliberately to shake us up a little.

At first glance I thought Come Back to Camden described memories. However, Morrissey grew up in Manchester, so if they are memories, they couldn't have been from childhood (Camden is in London) and, since they're pretty dreary, I wouldn't want them to be. Then I think perhaps he's lost in reminiscing about a past love, then suddenly comes back to his present reality and sees the drabness of it all. "There's something I wanted to tell you, so funny you'll kill yourself laughing. But then I look around and I remember, that I am alone, alone, forevermore." The slow keyboard and strings (? -- none are credited) reflect the melancholy feeling of the words. Sound sad? It is. Heartbreakingly so. We are quickly rescued from those feelings with the upbeat sounding I'm Not Sorry which could be about his return to recording after a seven year absence and his refusal to compromise for the music industry.... or it could be about a zillion other things... Morrissey's lyrics are often difficult to interpret. This is one of the lesser tracks, the drums are a tad monotonous and even though the introduction of what sounds like a flute late in the track makes it more interesting, it's too little, too late. Redemption comes swiftly however, in one of my favourite tracks, The World is Full of Crashing Bores. Not only is it one of the most perfect song titles ever, it's hilarious and a rebuke against such things as the two-dimensional pop-stars we clamour to fill our lives with. "It's just more lock-jawed pop-stars, thicker than pig-shit. Nothing to convey, so scared to show intelligence, it might smear their lovely career." Spunky and light-hearted in tone, this track is both fun and scathing, but is he really criticizing the pop-stars or the public that idolizes them?

The punk rock-tinged How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? is an eloquent and arrogant way of telling people to not assume anything. Definitely one of the stand-out tracks, along with the next one. Since moving to L.A., Morrissey has connected with the hispanic community there and the poppy First of the Gang To Die appears to be a tribute of sorts to them. His self-deprecating nature comes to the forefront in Let Me Kiss You where Moz thinks the object of his affection does not return those feelings. "Close your eyes and think of someone you physically admire. And let me kiss you, let me kiss you. But then you open your eyes and you see someone you physically despise. But my heart is open, my heart is open to you." It's a nice, sweet, unspectacular song that makes me want to give him a hug, poor guy. The politically incorrectly titled All The Lazy Dykes is a hilarious ode to unfulfilled housewives. "All the lazy dykes, they pity how you live. 'Just somebody's wife,' you give, and you give and you give." I see it as a metaphor to not allow ourselves to "settle." "Free yourself, be yourself, come to the Palms and see yourself. And at last your life begins." I Like You has pop-rock elements, is fairly fast paced and highly enjoyable. The lyrics make me smile and think of a few people I know: "I like you, because you're not right in the head, and nor am I."

The final song on the album, You Know I Couldn't Last seems to be a statement about the dangers of stardom and why, perhaps, it was seven years between You Are the Quarry and Morrissey's previous one. Beginning with a few seconds of driving rock, the track then becomes quiet and reflective as he begins to sing. This abrupt changing of sounds continues throughout but it works amazingly well as a blend between sadness, defiance and warning. "Then in the end, your royalties bring you luxuries, your royalties bring you luxuries. But oh - the squalor of your mind, the squalor of your mind, the squalor of your mind."

When asked, my good buddy David (who has excellent taste in music) described Morrissey as, "wry, sarcastic" and "romantic." I would soon find those words to be incredibly accurate descriptors. You will find all three of these elements in You Are the Quarry and more. There are no tracks I dislike, only ones I enjoy more than others. A solid, challenging album filled with intelligent lyrics that has found it's way onto more than one top ten list of 2004. Perhaps you, like I, have made a grave error in not discovering Morrissey sooner. If so, that is something we should both correct immediately.

Great Music to Play While: Trying not to be a crashing bore.

Morrissey - You Are the Quarry - 4.75 out of 5
Attack Records - 2004

Tracks:
America is Not the World
Irish Blood, English Heart
I Have Forgiven Jesus
Come Back to Camden
I'm Not Sorry
The World is Full of Crashing Bores
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?
First of the Gang to Die
Let Me Kiss You
All the Lazy Dykes
I Like You
You Know I Couldn't Last

Morrissey - vocals
Boz Boorer - guitars
Alain Whyte - guitars
Gary Day - bass guitar
Dean Butterworth - drums

http://www.morrisseymusic.com/

* Quoted lyrics copyright Morrissey/Whyte, Morrissey/Boorer or Morrissey/Whyte/Day

Recommended:
Yes