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Morrissey vs The Smiths
11:30 AM GMT 08/02/2008
Can the solo Moz live with the reputation of his former band? Danny Eccleston reckons so...
This blog emerges from a typical office challenge. Can any Morrissey solo record be rated alongside albums by The Smiths? Actually, the question was put rather more stingingly by our editor, with some gratuitous Moz-baiting thrown in for good measure, but I digress.
Precipitately, I volunteered the opinion that Vauxhall & I, Morrissey’s 1994 meisterwerk, could get in the ring with any Smiths album except The Queen Is Dead (divvn’t mess with the best rock album of the ’80s) and vies blow-for-blow with Hatful Of Hollow for the title of second-best record in the Moz-related pantheon.
Am I mad? Perhaps. But let me show my working. The other Smiths albums are brilliant but not faultless. Meat Is Murder is a collection of “positions held” rather than emotional connections, and in retrospect reminds me what a self-righteous prick I was in 1985. The first one is a tad amorphous without the masterful singles – William, Heaven Knows, How Soon Is Now? that make Hatful… essential. Strangeways Here We Come is their most ingenious but least resonant rock record.
By contrast, Vauxhall & I sounds torn from a human soul, Morrissey’s equivalent of Kenneth Williams’s famous last diary entry: “Oh, what’s the bloody point?”. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get sounds the single note of petulant defiance (always Morrissey’s least attractive posture); the rest has a glorious, hazy, stately resignation. The world was always going to destroy him, and now it has. Oh well…
After the power of this statement, subsequent Morrissey records – even the decent ones – rather pale, like zombies obliged to “live on”, looking miffed and a bit charred, after a glorious self-immolation.
Listening to Vauxhall & I is like falling into a swoon. Now My Heart Is Full, Why Don’t You Find Out For Yourself, I Am Hated For Loving, Used To Be A Sweet Boy: these are Morrissey’s most graceful songs, and beautifully sung, miles away from the affected yodelling of, say, a Last Of The Famous International Playboys.
The notion of a “mature Morrissey” is oxymoronic. He is a generational product of a society that drove his like into seclusion then complains when he/they seem self-absorbed or unsociable. “Gay?” – how Morrissey must hate that word, with its unfortunate connotation of happiness.
Even so, Vauxhall & I could have been a leg-up to an adult stage in his art. Farewell rock preening with bad rock musicians, ad nauseam. Imagine Morrissey and orchestra, making the equivalent of Sinatra’s No One Cares. And another! Morrissey could do more of the photographic storytelling he does in Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning. A new Brel, no less. And he could do that, with no particular loss of dignity, until he retired.
Perhaps I should write to Morrissey, suggesting these things. Would he read my note? Would the idea appeal? ’Course not.
What’s the bloody point…?
Danny Eccleston
Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 11:30 AM GMT 08/02/2008
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Comments
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I have to say I agree with you. Vauxhall & I is fantastic! I'd say his 3rd best album EVER - after The queen is dead and Hatful of hollow.
Posted by Alex at 7:12 PM GMT 15/02/2008 Report Abuse
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Do write to him. Do.
Posted by Quentin S. Crisp at 10:23 PM GMT 15/02/2008 Report Abuse
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You did not mention Speedway - one of the highlights of the album in my opinion.
Posted by anastas at 11:13 AM GMT 16/02/2008 Report Abuse
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No WAY! What about The Smiths "The Smiths". How can you left behind songs like Still Ill, This Charming man, I don't owe you anything and the list goes and on. Dont get me wrong Vauxhall and I is Moz's at best, but The Smiths is just CLASSICS!!!!
Posted by E at 6:51 PM GMT 17/02/2008 Report Abuse
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Vauxhall and I is a stupendous accomplishment, but is not better then viva hate or bona drag in my humble most opinion. The feeling of completion that is presented within every single Smiths album could never be presented by any other musicians then the Smiths. Those three (Bona Drag being a comp.) Morrissey releases are the only albums that I feel are worthy of comparison to any Smiths album, and are beautiful pieces of work, but without the gang (Johnny Marr and co.) a sense of perfection lacks.
Posted by Chris at 8:53 PM GMT 17/02/2008 Report Abuse
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"You did not mention Speedway - one of the highlights of the album in my opinion."
Got to agree, in my opinion one of the best/if not the best song on the album.
I find Vauxhall and I a deep and very raw affair, full of emotion and excellent lyrics, yet i don't think it can compare to strangeways, the queen is dead or the self titled album or indeed 'Viva Hate' or 'Bona Drag,' (My favourite albums.)
There lies more energy, humour and wit I think in these previous Smiths/Moz albums.
But on to the point, I think it's harder to compare The Smiths and Moz, purely on musical distinction. I think the comparability lies within the accessibility of the music and maybe the lyrical content.
Feel free to disagree.
Posted by Josh at 3:32 PM GMT 18/02/2008 Report Abuse
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