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Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 18 Oct 2017, 7:45pm
by WestwayKid
...and LP I didn't like all that much when it came out...but one that has really grown on me. I especially like the expanded version he put out in 2009. The sound is huge: guitars, bass, drums - just blasts out of the speakers. Nice mix of short, powerful songs and even the 2 longer songs never get boring (at least in my opinion).
Anyway...and overlooked gem in his collection...and something I've been listening to recently in anticipation of the upcoming release of Low In High School!
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 18 Oct 2017, 7:49pm
by Kory
WestwayKid wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 7:45pm
...and LP I didn't like all that much when it came out...but one that has really grown on me. I especially like the expanded version he put out in 2009. The sound is huge: guitars, bass, drums - just blasts out of the speakers. Nice mix of short, powerful songs and even the 2 longer songs never get boring (at least in my opinion).
Anyway...and overlooked gem in his collection...and something I've been listening to recently in anticipation of the upcoming release of Low In High School!
I super agree, but you'll find you, me, and JennyB are in the Morrissey minority here by a wide margin! Moz says that after Vauxhall & I, which was so vocally focused, he wanted to have an album that the musicians could call their own. That's why there's drum solos and stuff on it. I like it a lot. I especially enjoy "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" because it samples a symphony by my favorite classical composer.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 18 Oct 2017, 7:57pm
by Dr. Medulla
Kory wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 7:49pm
WestwayKid wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 7:45pm
...and LP I didn't like all that much when it came out...but one that has really grown on me. I especially like the expanded version he put out in 2009. The sound is huge: guitars, bass, drums - just blasts out of the speakers. Nice mix of short, powerful songs and even the 2 longer songs never get boring (at least in my opinion).
Anyway...and overlooked gem in his collection...and something I've been listening to recently in anticipation of the upcoming release of Low In High School!
I super agree, but you'll find you, me, and JennyB are in the Morrissey minority here by a wide margin! Moz says that after Vauxhall & I, which was so vocally focused, he wanted to have an album that the musicians could call their own. That's why there's drum solos and stuff on it. I like it a lot. I especially enjoy "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" because it samples a symphony by my favorite classical composer.
Perhaps my favourite Morrissey album (either that or Viva Hate). Just a lot of energy of the type he'd never entertained. Definitely the last album of his that I found worthwhile. Afterwards, dreck.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 18 Oct 2017, 9:08pm
by 101Walterton
Problem is, still got Morrissey singing.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 18 Oct 2017, 9:23pm
by oliver
101Walterton wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 9:08pm
Problem is, still got Morrissey singing.
Funnily enough, his voice never sounded better than on that album.
I found the liner notes on the expanded version really interesting too. Like a mini version of Autobiography.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 7:20am
by WestwayKid
I actually really like his new single - it has an interesting sound to it and the video is funny. His music has been so important to me - I hope for the best whenever he releases a new LP. I've been let down, but I've also been pleasantly surprised.
If I had to rank his solo albums from most favorite to least favorite I'd probably go:
1) Vauxhall and I
2) Viva Hate
3) Your Arsenal
4) Southpaw Grammar
5) Years of Refusal
6) Ringleader of the Tormentors
7) World Peace Is None of Your Business (his best record cover, however)
8) Maladjusted (the revised version)
9) Kill Uncle
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 7:24am
by WestwayKid
oliver wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 9:23pm
101Walterton wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 9:08pm
Problem is, still got Morrissey singing.
Funnily enough, his voice never sounded better than on that album.
I found the liner notes on the expanded version really interesting too. Like a mini version of Autobiography.
I agree - he sounds good...but what is funny is that apparently he had a bad cold during sessions for the LP. I read an interview with Danton Supple - who was the engineer on the album - and he talked about how they struggled with his voice and later on I read an interview with the man himself where he recalled overhearing producer Steve Lillywhite and Supple discussing their concern for the quality of his singing.
I don't like how his voice sounds on Years of Refusal. He sounds congested and there is an odd timbre to his voice.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 8:25am
by Heston
101Walterton wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 9:08pm
Problem is, still got Morrissey singing.
Yeah, that strangulated moaning never resonated with me. I like a few Smiths songs but that's despite his vocals rather than because of them. They were very good musically.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 8:41am
by Dr. Medulla
Heston wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 8:25am
101Walterton wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 9:08pm
Problem is, still got Morrissey singing.
Yeah, that strangulated moaning never resonated with me. I like a few Smiths songs but that's despite his vocals rather than because of them. They were very good musically.
I've kind of evolved to that position. I don't have a problem with his voice for the most part, but over time I've found him the least appealing part of the Smiths. The other three were very tight musically. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that my favourite Smiths song is an instrumental, "Oscillate Wildly."
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 10:24am
by oliver
WestwayKid wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 7:20am
I actually really like his new single - it has an interesting sound to it and the video is funny. His music has been so important to me - I hope for the best whenever he releases a new LP. I've been let down, but I've also been pleasantly surprised.
If I had to rank his solo albums from most favorite to least favorite I'd probably go:
1) Vauxhall and I
2) Viva Hate
3) Your Arsenal
4) Southpaw Grammar
5) Years of Refusal
6) Ringleader of the Tormentors
7) World Peace Is None of Your Business (his best record cover, however)
8) Maladjusted (the revised version)
9) Kill Uncle
This would be worse than Sophies Choice for me but I'd go with
1) Vauxhall and I
2) Viva Hate
3) Southpaw Grammar
4) Maladjusted
5) You Are The Quarry
6) Kill Uncle
7) Your Arsenal
8) Years of Refusal
9) World Peace
10) Ringleader of the Tormentors
And I love RotT :)
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 11:03am
by WestwayKid
oliver wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 10:24am
WestwayKid wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 7:20am
I actually really like his new single - it has an interesting sound to it and the video is funny. His music has been so important to me - I hope for the best whenever he releases a new LP. I've been let down, but I've also been pleasantly surprised.
If I had to rank his solo albums from most favorite to least favorite I'd probably go:
1) Vauxhall and I
2) Viva Hate
3) Your Arsenal
4) Southpaw Grammar
5) Years of Refusal
6) Ringleader of the Tormentors
7) World Peace Is None of Your Business (his best record cover, however)
8) Maladjusted (the revised version)
9) Kill Uncle
This would be worse than Sophies Choice for me but I'd go with
1) Vauxhall and I
2) Viva Hate
3) Southpaw Grammar
4) Maladjusted
5) You Are The Quarry
6) Kill Uncle
7) Your Arsenal
8) Years of Refusal
9) World Peace
10) Ringleader of the Tormentors
And I love RotT :)
I just realized I missed You Are The Quarry from my list! I'd probably slot it in between Years and RotT.
I was just listening to RotT and never realized how badly compressed it is. The distortion on the louder tracks is really bad. Same goes for most of his later albums (and I know - music in general).
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Morrissey
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 2:02pm
by Kory
WestwayKid wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 7:24am
I don't like how his voice sounds on Years of Refusal. He sounds congested and there is an odd timbre to his voice.
I think he sounds better on that album than he has in a while—stronger, certainly—especially on It's Not Your Birthday Anymore. There's some real muscle in those high notes.
My list:
1) Your Arsenal
2) Vauxhall and I
3) Viva Hate
4) Kill Uncle
5) Southpaw Grammar
6) Years of Refusal
7) You Are the Quarry
8) Ringleader of the Tormentors
9) Maladjusted
10) World Peace
And of course, Bona Drag and My Early Burglary Years would be way up near the top if we were counting comps.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 2:06pm
by Dr. Medulla
1) Southpaw Grammar (a shame "Boxers" isn't on it)
2) Viva Hate
3) Bona Drag or some other comp of singles and b's up "Sunny"
4) Vauxhall
5) Your Arsenal
6 etc) Crab juice.
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 2:10pm
by Kory
Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 2:06pm
1) Southpaw Grammar (a shame "Boxers" isn't on it)
2) Viva Hate
3) Bona Drag or some other comp of singles and b's up "Sunny"
4) Vauxhall
5) Your Arsenal
6 etc) Crab juice.
You don't rate Kill Uncle? It's his wittiest album!
Re: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar
Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 2:17pm
by Dr. Medulla
Kory wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 2:10pm
Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 2:06pm
1) Southpaw Grammar (a shame "Boxers" isn't on it)
2) Viva Hate
3) Bona Drag or some other comp of singles and b's up "Sunny"
4) Vauxhall
5) Your Arsenal
6 etc) Crab juice.
You don't rate Kill Uncle? It's his wittiest album!
"Sing Your Life" is okay. Everything else should have made wonder whether he still had Johnny Marr's phone number somewhere.