the Mozza's new single is very disappointing to these ears-a sub standard Smiths cast off. His day may be over not least because from the video , he appears to be morphing into Richard Ingrams!

If it's Throwing My Arms Around Paris I agree with you.

And there's that awful middle-aged-man making "sexy" moves element too.

It's a common problem with solo artists - lack of anything interesting on
a. the drums
b. the bass
c. the keys
d. the chords
There's no energy here - unlike the Smiths who were an amazing band somewhere between punk and The Byrds.
Nowadays Mozza is a non-musician surrounded by yesmen musicians so the only interest comes from some lyrics which are still half decent, but mainly a good title.
But a good title does not equal a good song.

I'm seeing Morrissey in May so I shall report back lol

fred wrote:
It's a common problem with solo artists - lack of anything interesting on
a. the drums
b. the bass
c. the keys
d. the chords
There's no energy here - unlike the Smiths who were an amazing band somewhere between punk and The Byrds.
Nowadays Mozza is a non-musician surrounded by yesmen musicians so the only interest comes from some lyrics which are still half decent, but mainly a good title.
But a good title does not equal a good song.


Problem is, you're right. I love and admire Ray Davies for instance but his solo albums... though there's some good songs tucked away within them, I just hate the whole sound and production... so unimaginative and dull. Hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote those wonderful Kinks singles in the mid 60's that reeked of atmosphere and imagination. Almost every song he wrote back then had it's own character and vibe. Today, every song sticks to the same bland formula... no invention at all.

As for Morrissey... he may be a fine lyric writer but he dilutes the impact of his words by using bland unimaginative music.

Just what is it with music today? The industry is in trouble and yet all I hear is bland, bland and bland. Nothing grabs my attention. There is no passion and given how screwed up the world's become, where are the young writers writing and singing about this? In fact last album to really grab me was JK's "Earth To King"!

Worse, whilst out shopping today, every shop I went into was playing... 80's music. I am sick sick sick to death of being surrounded and swamped with the music of over 20 years ago. Heard it all a million times and if I want to hear Starship brag smugly "We Built This City" one more time, I'll buy the download. Not!

Thank you Elliott - I do believe my current songs are at least unusual, provocative and challenging - not just the titles (I think He Stood In The Bath And He Stamped On The Floor is worthy of Mozza) and the lyrics (When Caravaggio Met Michelangelo is probably my personal favourite) but the melodies and hooks too.

But I seem to be in a small minority.

Elliott Peters wrote:
fred wrote:
It's a common problem with solo artists - lack of anything interesting on
a. the drums
b. the bass
c. the keys
d. the chords
There's no energy here - unlike the Smiths who were an amazing band somewhere between punk and The Byrds.
Nowadays Mozza is a non-musician surrounded by yesmen musicians so the only interest comes from some lyrics which are still half decent, but mainly a good title.
But a good title does not equal a good song.


Problem is, you're right. I love and admire Ray Davies for instance but his solo albums... though there's some good songs tucked away within them, I just hate the whole sound and production... so unimaginative and dull. Hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote those wonderful Kinks singles in the mid 60's that reeked of atmosphere and imagination. Almost every song he wrote back then had it's own character and vibe. Today, every song sticks to the same bland formula... no invention at all.

As for Morrissey... he may be a fine lyric writer but he dilutes the impact of his words by using bland unimaginative music.

Just what is it with music today? The industry is in trouble and yet all I hear is bland, bland and bland. Nothing grabs my attention. There is no passion and given how screwed up the world's become, where are the young writers writing and singing about this? In fact last album to really grab me was JK's "Earth To King"!

Worse, whilst out shopping today, every shop I went into was playing... 80's music. I am sick sick sick to death of being surrounded and swamped with the music of over 20 years ago. Heard it all a million times and if I want to hear Starship brag smugly "We Built This City" one more time, I'll buy the download. Not!

Can't even fathom the outrageousness of something so sublime and artistic as JK's "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" offered in today's one-dimensional soundscape. It stands the test of time SO WELL even after 40+ years! And as poignant today as when it was released. Perhaps even more so...

I think it's a reflection on how today's western culture has been so polluted by a vile corporate sensibility. People don't even realize how they've been manipulated into becoming shills, as well as purveyors, of shit. Demanding an exhaustive array of sponsored glittering trash that a miniscule, unimaginative but powerful school of sharks in shiny gray suits delivers to them.

We're all jaded. So grown-up. So tuned-in. So hip. So together. Or so we think.
As a consequence, we've lost the ability to imagine and to dream and to appreciate how vital those qualities are ... How sad.

Hi;

I think it would be fair to note that Morrissey has not been that consistant with his output of work over the years, but sometimes he can just hit the spot at the right time. I feel that vocally he hasn`t changed , and lyrically he is as he ever was, but sometimes the band are a little over clean and regimented on the albums these days.

AH

I've never been a fan of The Smiths or Morrissey. Their music was always far too depressing. But out of fairness I found the Throwing my arms around Paris video on Youtube. It's a song I can easily tolerate. I might even give it a second listen.

I'd say that this song is more accessable than his other singles. It has a reasonable atmosphere and may have a broader appeal. The video didn't do much for me, but not many do.

Is it just me or does Danny "Slumdog" Boyle look like a younger Morrissey?

Simillar but more like Alvin Stardust?