Nice review Aldritch and I feel I'm going to agree with you (yet to get album).1. Once I Saw The River Clean -- Moz goes synth-pop, now that is something I thought I'd never hear. Great lyrics too. 9/10
2. Love Is On Its Way Out -- another synth-poppy track with a great crescendo 8.5/10
3. My Hurling Days Are Done -- a lovely closer with a similar theme and sentiment to Oboe Concerto, but this is a stronger song 8.5/10
4. Jim Jim Falls -- somebody suggested that this could also be interpreted as a self-ironic dig at Moz himself, which really opened my eyes. A strong chorus, but yet something is missing, perhaps a game-changing middle eight 8/10
5. Knockabout World -- a good track and once again the song progresses nicely with some surprises in store 7.5/10
-- here is where the quality drops --
6. What Kind Of People Live In These Houses? -- an okay melody, but just not very interesting, with some forced wordplay 6/10
7. I Am Not A Dog On A Chain -- musically this is okay, but the self-righteous way of declaring that only Moz knows what goes on is irksome. And some truly terrible lyrics here ("fleece"/"niece" -- does he even have one?) 5.5/10
8. Darling, I Hug A Pillow -- lovely lyrics, but the song is a miss 5/10
9. Secret Of Music -- I somehow like the idea of putting avant-garde drivel like this on your 13th solo album. It has grown on me a lot. 5/10
10. Bobby, Don't You Know They Know -- the more I listen to it, the less I like it. A total mess. 4/10
11. Truth About Ruth -- this album's In Your Lap, a tuneless and meandering "arty" dirge. 2/10
I cried a lot with my hurling...as i happened with several of Vauxhall with several quarry and arsenal,the secret of...it is very rare, very instrumental, that song from what i see is the most beloved
The album is 9 /10,,very happy
For those who do not like the secret of music try listening to it with a beer or something similar....and then tell me !!!!????????
Jim Jim Falls
The album starts off with a b-side. Not a Morrissey-style hidden gem b-side, but an actual b-side. I think they wanted to open with a controversial bang, but ultimately it’s a minor track. Glib lyrics –– music and vocal melody are just OK. I realized the beauty of Jim Jim Falls in Australia, so thanks for that.
5.5/10
Love Is On Its Way Out
Nice vocal melody and decent lyrics, sung with conviction –– would’ve been a better album opener. Never tire of the “elephants and lions” bit. Swells to a chest pounding finish that works very well live. Tracks like this show Morrissey still definitely has it at 60.
6.5/10
Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?
One of Morrissey’s better duets, I guess. Gets about as down and dirty as you’ll ever hear from Moz, particularly after the 3:30 mark when it wigs out –– for a minute you’re transported to the late 60s/early 70s. Houston is into it. It’s grown on me –– one of the better tracks to blast loud. Players deserve a hand. What’s the consensus on who it’s about (or rather, an almalgamation of autobiographical + who?).
7/10
I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
The title track is part of that prominent genre within Morrissey’s discography — “middle finger to the world,” you could call it. Whimsical, percolating music and late 80s vocal melody has a Kill Uncle feel, almost teasing to become rockabilly, with a Who-lite break and a big last third before it goes miniature again. I don’t get the “Because of my niece” lyric? A worthy title track, indeed.
7.5/10
What Kind of People Live in These Houses?
Superficially the most Smithsian song, but the later Once I Saw the River Clean is the true heir apparent. Lovely vocal melody and some funny couplets that surely fans want to sing along to. Some pleasing acoustic and slide guitar (makes me miss Alain). Solid album track.
7/10
Knockabout World
Alongside Morrissey’s screes, this is a softer, poppy, extremely 80s-infused song. Even the title feels anachronistic. How many other new wave bands (that Morrissey always despised) does it quote, musically? Lol. Goes brassy at one point. A well-crafted feelgood song but kind of shallow. Haters might stop trying to resist it so much.
7/10
Darling, I Hug a Pillow
Living in Japan, the title of this track was perfect. From Tom Jones trumpeting, to the parping, electroclash refrain of “Why can’t you give me some physical love?” (who’s the female backing vocal?), to super slide guitar, to Mexican influences, to a sad piano outro –– one of the nuttier tracks Morrissey has put out in the past 20 years, and very good for it. Mando doesn’t have many co-writes, but Home is a Question Mark was a fantastic one, and this is pretty awesome too.
8/10
Once I Saw the River Clean
Despite claims of how much Morrissey has changed, I believe there’s a thread in everything Morrissey does which runs back through The Smiths and long before that. Once in a while a solo track feels like it actually could’ve been by The Smiths. This one does, musically and especially lyrically. It weaves together a specific place and time, pop culture (Metal Guru!), family, combative emotion. It could have fit well on Strangeways. Music is like something from a great unearthed 80s new wave track with a surprising shot of violin late in. Jesse Tobias, you’ve been bashed a lot of the years, but holy shit take a big bow. Morrissey solo par excellence!
9/10
The Truth About Ruth
One of Morrissey’s ultra-theatrical tracks. Reminds me a lot of something off of Maladjusted. Impassioned vocals and nice string work from Gustavo. Impressive, but not a track you take to heart.
5.5/10
The Secret of Music
The title of this track is so tantalizing. I thought it was going to be a timeless manifesto on why Morrissey has married music and will die with it. It’s actually a slightly bizarre free-form art track. It belongs with stuff like Sweetie Pie. Top marks for experimental effort but ultimately will skip this track a lot. Maybe it plays better if you’re high, or if it was the soundtrack for an animated film with anthropoid instruments.
4.5/10
My Hurling Days are Done
Has that wistful, sweeping album closer feel. In the vein of The Never Played Symphonies (a song dear to me). Nice backing vocals. The “Mama, and teddy bear” lyric is equally goofy and heartfelt. So few pop artists can walk that line, especially nowadays. “Time will send you an invoice,” indeed.
8/10
Song average comes out to 6.86/10 but I’d round that up to 7.5/10 for the overall album experience. There is still plenty in the well, kids…
Jim Jim Falls
The album starts off with a b-side. Not a Morrissey-style hidden gem b-side, but an actual b-side. I think they wanted to open with a controversial bang, but ultimately it’s a minor track. Glib lyrics –– music and vocal melody are just OK. I realized the beauty of Jim Jim Falls in Australia, so thanks for that.
5.5/10
Love Is On Its Way Out
Nice vocal melody and decent lyrics, sung with conviction –– would’ve been a better album opener. Never tire of the “elephants and lions” bit. Swells to a chest pounding finish that works very well live. Tracks like this show Morrissey still definitely has it at 60.
6.5/10
Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?
One of Morrissey’s better duets, I guess. Gets about as down and dirty as you’ll ever hear from Moz, particularly after the 3:30 mark when it wigs out –– for a minute you’re transported to the late 60s/early 70s. Houston is into it. It’s grown on me –– one of the better tracks to blast loud. Players deserve a hand. What’s the consensus on who it’s about (or rather, an almalgamation of autobiographical + who?).
7/10
I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
The title track is part of that prominent genre within Morrissey’s discography — “middle finger to the world,” you could call it. Whimsical, percolating music and late 80s vocal melody has a Kill Uncle feel, almost teasing to become rockabilly, with a Who-lite break and a big last third before it goes miniature again. I don’t get the “Because of my niece” lyric? A worthy title track, indeed.
7.5/10
What Kind of People Live in These Houses?
Superficially the most Smithsian song, but the later Once I Saw the River Clean is the true heir apparent. Lovely vocal melody and some funny couplets that surely fans want to sing along to. Some pleasing acoustic and slide guitar (makes me miss Alain). Solid album track.
7/10
Knockabout World
Alongside Morrissey’s screes, this is a softer, poppy, extremely 80s-infused song. Even the title feels anachronistic. How many other new wave bands (that Morrissey always despised) does it quote, musically? Lol. Goes brassy at one point. A well-crafted feelgood song but kind of shallow. Haters might stop trying to resist it so much.
7/10
Darling, I Hug a Pillow
Living in Japan, the title of this track was perfect. From Tom Jones trumpeting, to the parping, electroclash refrain of “Why can’t you give me some physical love?” (who’s the female backing vocal?), to super slide guitar, to Mexican influences, to a sad piano outro –– one of the nuttier tracks Morrissey has put out in the past 20 years, and very good for it. Mando doesn’t have many co-writes, but Home is a Question Mark was a fantastic one, and this is pretty awesome too.
8/10
Once I Saw the River Clean
Despite claims of how much Morrissey has changed, I believe there’s a thread in everything Morrissey does which runs back through The Smiths and long before that. Once in a while a solo track feels like it actually could’ve been by The Smiths. This one does, musically and especially lyrically. It weaves together a specific place and time, pop culture (Metal Guru!), family, combative emotion. It could have fit well on Strangeways. Music is like something from a great unearthed 80s new wave track with a surprising shot of violin late in. Jesse Tobias, you’ve been bashed a lot of the years, but holy shit take a big bow. Morrissey solo par excellence!
9/10
The Truth About Ruth
One of Morrissey’s ultra-theatrical tracks. Reminds me a lot of something off of Maladjusted. Impassioned vocals and nice string work from Gustavo. Impressive, but not a track you take to heart.
5.5/10
The Secret of Music
The title of this track is so tantalizing. I thought it was going to be a timeless manifesto on why Morrissey has married music and will die with it. It’s actually a slightly bizarre free-form art track. It belongs with stuff like Sweetie Pie. Top marks for experimental effort but ultimately will skip this track a lot. Maybe it plays better if you’re high, or if it was the soundtrack for an animated film with anthropoid instruments.
4.5/10
My Hurling Days are Done
Has that wistful, sweeping album closer feel. In the vein of The Never Played Symphonies (a song dear to me). Nice backing vocals. The “Mama, and teddy bear” lyric is equally goofy and heartfelt. So few pop artists can walk that line, especially nowadays. “Time will send you an invoice,” indeed.
8/10
Song average comes out to 6.86/10 but I’d round that up to 7.5/10 for the overall album experience. There is still plenty in the well, kids…