Among the bands you often see referenced as important influences on Morrissey pre-Smiths are The Fall and Magazine. I like both of these bands immensely, but I have to admit I don't find it all that easy to make the connection to Morrissey or The Smiths when I listen to them. Magazine perhaps occasionally (such as Song From Under the Floorboards, which Morrissey has covered), and all three bands thrived on a somewhat funky bass, but generally no.
But I have started to think perhaps the influence resides rather in the personalities of Mark E. Smith (The Fall) and Howard Devoto (Magazine) - specifically, what one for want of a better word could call "attitude"? They both unabashedly approach their music and lyrics from the point of view of an acerbic and intelligent observer.
Smith's famously in-your-face vocal delivery (The Fall being, in my opinion, a musical evolutionary cul-de-sac that shows us that indie rock could have usurped rap music's call to speak on behalf of aggression-driven rebellion, and done so with considerably more wit and intelligence), uncompromising lyrics and playfully witty complete-bastard approach to interviews seems to presage Morrissey's utter refusal to be apologetic about anything.
The slightly androgynous figure of Devoto is of course in a more direct way reminiscent of Morrrissey, but there too there is that thing about unapologetic intelligence. As Garry Mulholland memorably put it, " Their favorite subjects were fear, paranoia and an overwhelming suspicion that people were more stupid than they could possibly imagine". There's a dark undercurrent of violent misanthropy and self-loathing that seems also to have become more pronounced in Morrissey's case over time, and which at times assumes downright frightening form. Anyone who's listened to "Permafrost" (from Secondhand daylight) will know what I'm talking about. But mainly, Devoto is defined by a capacity for ruthless observation - more distanced perhaps than Morrisseys, but nevertheless of like ilk.
I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of others out there who share a taste for these bands, and if and how they relate to the Smiths and Morrissey in your subjective experience?
cheers
But I have started to think perhaps the influence resides rather in the personalities of Mark E. Smith (The Fall) and Howard Devoto (Magazine) - specifically, what one for want of a better word could call "attitude"? They both unabashedly approach their music and lyrics from the point of view of an acerbic and intelligent observer.
Smith's famously in-your-face vocal delivery (The Fall being, in my opinion, a musical evolutionary cul-de-sac that shows us that indie rock could have usurped rap music's call to speak on behalf of aggression-driven rebellion, and done so with considerably more wit and intelligence), uncompromising lyrics and playfully witty complete-bastard approach to interviews seems to presage Morrissey's utter refusal to be apologetic about anything.
The slightly androgynous figure of Devoto is of course in a more direct way reminiscent of Morrrissey, but there too there is that thing about unapologetic intelligence. As Garry Mulholland memorably put it, " Their favorite subjects were fear, paranoia and an overwhelming suspicion that people were more stupid than they could possibly imagine". There's a dark undercurrent of violent misanthropy and self-loathing that seems also to have become more pronounced in Morrissey's case over time, and which at times assumes downright frightening form. Anyone who's listened to "Permafrost" (from Secondhand daylight) will know what I'm talking about. But mainly, Devoto is defined by a capacity for ruthless observation - more distanced perhaps than Morrisseys, but nevertheless of like ilk.
I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of others out there who share a taste for these bands, and if and how they relate to the Smiths and Morrissey in your subjective experience?
cheers