I have finished listening to Morrissey's new "You are the Quarry" and I have to say that I am impressed! I have always been a fan of The Smiths and Morrissey's solo endevours... with one caveat: I can only take it when I am in the mood or in small doses. Considering this is Morrissey's first release in several years, I can say that the timing is all right!

Morrissey is still the brilliant lyricist and his tenor hasn't aged a day. The songs on this album are typical Morrissey fare, full of observations and deep brooding- still I would have to say that this release is the one that seems to probe the most deeply into Morressey the man. Many have panned this album saying that it is European egomaniac's trip into Anti-Americanism. This mostly refers to one of the song called "America Is Not the World". It's obvious that people who are making these claims have never heard the album or really listened to the lyrics and that this song illustrates Morrissey's love-hate with the United States (which he has made one of his homes these past years). In fact, this whole album is about his love-hate relationships, with the United States, with Britain, with himself. As I said before, I think this is the most that any of us has ever gotten to peek into his mind.

On the musicality side of things, I can't say that this release is anything unusual. The usual arrangements that you have come to expect from a Morrissey release so no surprises there. In this case, I'm not sure that is a bad thing since this means that it doesn't sound like most the crap on the radio.

All in all, a good realease... Not the best in the world but worth a listen and putting into your collection if you are a Smiths/Morrissey fan.

Tek's Rating:

***
insert shameless self promotion here
***
Ms. Tek hasn't written any books. She doesn't hold any advanced degrees. She isn't running for office. She has nothing to sell you and considers herself lucky as that she finally learned how to eat properly with a fork. Her immediate plans are to scratch an itch on the top of her left foot and possibly go running. If you still are curious, you can find her and more of her Tourette's like outbursts here.

***
end shameless self promotion
***