ALBUM REACTION: Morrissey - Vauxhall and I

[@AlexHaitz]

More MORRISSEY Reactions: Viva Hate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3i5kJKthK-LZ7s Bona Drag: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqCoeaNmnLGLh5I Your Arsenal: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYWug2NuZ6lpZrM Southpaw Grammar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iojWYn-HpMeBqa8 You Are The Quarry: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnuvf2OnjMmjhLc Jim Jim Falls: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ramkZ6Z4nZVnb9k Boxers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qn-tc4KNqseWrdU

[@motelghost477]

'Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself' is Morrissey's best ever solo song. A genuine classic.

[@ghostrider2664]

Agreed. Best song on the album, best solo album.

[@НиколайСеменов-ц2я]

At Amber?

[@yomo1690]

"in my own strange way, I've always been true to you" You WILL end up liking this alot.

[@gimmesometruth1074]

Speedway is a crusher

[@Glyn75]

There's definitely a unique atmosphere to Vauxhall & I that's hard to put your finger on - world-weary, melancholic, nostalgic (?) that applies to both the music and lyrics and makes this album more than the sum of its parts. Billy Budd is probably the only throwaway and at least it's over quickly. More context that might be useful: The names listed in Now My Heart Is Full are from Graham Greene's Brighton Rock, including the famous anti-hero Pinkie Brown. The voices sampled on Spring Heeled Jim come from a 1959 documentary called "We Are The Lambeth Boys". They are discussing the hanging of Derek Bentley as a result of the infamous "Let Him Have It" case/miscarriage of justice. Vauxhall is part of the London Borough of Lambeth and is indeed one of the centres of LGBT life in the city, with the Vauxhall Tavern being a famous and much-loved cabaret venue. Southpaw Grammar warning: There are three types of songs on this album - 1) Over-long pretentious meanderings that sound as if they are trying to literally fill up the space on the record (drum solos are occasionally involved), 2) Short meaningless songs about "being a bit of a lad", 3) Reader Meet Author, which is far superior to everything else. Tread carefully.

[@AlexHaitz]

Good to know, thanks!

[@adamwhite3347]

Vauxhall and I is honey dripping onto a barbed wire fence

[@ghostrider2664]

This album was released my senior year of high school and immediately became my favorite among favorites. I believe it is the ultimate Morrissey solo album.

[@bobsbigboy_]

you have no heart dude. Stone cold. the lazy sunbathers is a masterpiece. lyrical genius

[@Tbevie50]

I’m happy that you’ve decided to react to an extra Moz album but I think you would enjoy one of his more recent albums, such as ‘Ringleader of the Tormentors’ which reached no 1 in the UK or his most recent album ‘I’m not a dog on a chain’. Both are superior to ‘Southpaw Grammar’ in my opinion. SG only has 8 tracks and 2 of them are over 10 minutes long. It’s a very loud and incoherent album. The only song I come back to it the final track ‘Southpaw’ which is actually one of my favourite Moz songs.

[@lonhjimmy1]

The live version of speedway from Introducing Morrissey will always be superior and doesnt feel as long

[@oscillatewildly6553]

Absolutely agree, I always choose to listen to that version ... The footage of this is great to watch as well

[@MetalGearyaTV]

'Speedway' by the way is 3rd most popular Morrissey concert song (behind 'Everyday is Like Sunday" and "First of the Gang to Die"). And live version is different and very-very cool.

[@jb8280]

Only slightly disagree (subjectively and respectfully) from a personal pov… 1. Everyday is Like Sunday 2. Suedehead 3. Speedway

[@MetalGearyaTV]

@@jb8280 What's to disagree about? These are just most common concert songs. It's not a matter of opinion.

[@hermes1502]

the riff in "hold on to your friends" is very similar to the outro of "pretty girls make graves"

[@desertfenton]

Good review. It helps to know the context of the timeframe here- this was after Moz was ordered by the High Court to pay Joyce and Rourke 25% of all Smiths royalties (beware, I bear more grudges...) and during his first relationship (with a guy). Lots of references to his life in the lyrics. Speedway is the confessional.

[@bobsbigboy_]

masterpiece. this album is better than the entire Smiths discography. Used to be A Sweet Boy is a gut wrenching astonishing track

[@Gr33nDayJunki3]

Great reaction as always. I was a tad bit surprised you did not enjoy Lifeguard as I thought you would vibe with the atmosphere of the track, probably my favorite on the album. Can’t wait for southpaw which I think is a great album as it is nothing like Morrissey has ever done.

[@gimmesometruth1074]

Classical album. One of Morrissey's best

[@czarmty1]

This is my favorite MOZ album ... I never get tired of listening to it ... / If you didn't like the last track, you might not like the next album. But give it a try. It has a couple of very long songs that maybe make you desperate, not everything at first hooking us but once you understand an album completely it is difficult not to appreciate it in its total concept.

[@William44-c9c]

A brilliant album. I was lucky to hear it first in the Que to meet him & have to my album signed.

[@hangedmann]

These musicians were Morrissey's live band for the kill uncle tour. They reworked alot of the KU songs to feel more rockabilly. . . and he stuck with them.

[@sporkfindus4777]

There was also a car called a Vauxhall Viva by the way. They brought the name back a few years ago, so you can now buy a new Vauxhall Viva Morrissey Edition.

[@Grithron2]

Surprised Alex didn't care much for Lifeguard Sleeping. It's often noted that Morrissey seems to be trying out a new voice on this one - an aged alternative to his youthful falsetto. Plus the clarinet. an early example of his penchant for rapidly-changing tenses/narrative voices (see Autobiography and, dare I say, List Of The Lost). Or...Speedway with the famous twist in the last verse - we still don't know who he's talking to/about.

[@weatherman9212]

Perfect Autumn album

[@antonioeisadora]

The old fans know that SPEEDWAY is stronger Live. Try it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZO4gWCApJ5lp6c

[@DylanHughesPhotoVideo]

Very subtle album. It grows on you with time.

[@pythonbyte]

There's a mournful tone to this album that really hits home with me. I remember an interview where Morrissey said he made this album believing it may be his last after a leading music magazine accused him of racism and he received a significant backlash. WDYFOFY is my and many others favourite Moz solo track but you cut out the best lyric ("I've been stabbed in the back..."). I don't think Southpaw is gonna land with you.

[@dazpearce2096]

I think this is the Yin to Your Arsenal's yang - they're two very complimentary albums that both reach great heights before the wheels come off a bit with Southpaw then Morrissey and co really phone it in on Maladjusted. Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself is a top 5 Morrissey tune ever, love the lyrics and it's played in perfect sync with them. Speedway is also a superb closer. Glad someone else picked up the slight drop off in tracks 8-10 though. Only slight but noticed.

[@czarmty1]

“I'd Love To” is a song that did’t get to the álbum. It's wonderfully song, very depressing (in the best sense of the phrase ) ala “asleep” almost dreamy with a strange industrial twist end.

[@Rts22375]

That's like reacting to a hole I fell down six months ago . The album is twenty years old ... Dead space

[@Tbevie50]

My favourite Morrissey album. Glad you enjoyed it. It will be interesting to see how you feel about it after more listens.

[@AlexHaitz]

I've already re-listened multiple times. Definitely my favorite so far.

[@Tbevie50]

Alex Haitz Have your favourites changed much?

[@AlexHaitz]

@@Tbevie50 I've been listening to pretty much the whole album, skipping my least favs which are Billy Budd and Lifeguard. Sweet Boy and Now My Heart is Full are ones I'm here and there on. Spring-Heeled Jim, Hold On To Your Friends, The More You Ignore Me, Find out for Yourself, Hated for Loving, Lazy Sunbathers, and Speedway...love em all.

[@glenngastonjonsson7954]

I obviously lied when I commented on "Your Arsenal". Discovered I still know some of the lyrics to this one. Surprisingly good songs that I somehow forgot. Must have been too busy raising children back then. And some grunge, perhaps. Thanks for improving my memory, Alex!

[@deeppurplefan9648]

I really like your reaction and review channel. You seems very honest and rational in your reviews and observes music in a good and interesting way that makes people keep watching. Out of curiousity ive seen your reactions of new order and i wonder if you are going to react to more synth and electronic in the future such as Kraftwerk Depeche mode and ultravox?

[@AlexHaitz]

Planning on it! Depeche Mode has definitely been recommended a lot.

[@maxcainmusic]

Love this album

[@motelghost477]

All of Morrissey's good/great solo songs have one thing in common - great vocal melodies. His poor/average songs just meander.

[@jeanlima2674]

Great album.

[@manchobbit]

"Every time I record, someone has to flush." - sounds like a bad Morrisey song title?

[@AlexHaitz]

You should check out my Discord. I occasionally post bot-generated Morrissey lyrics.

[@mistermyers777]

Such a great album, I'm certain a few of the songs you felt indifferent towards initially you'll gain a great appreciation for over time. It's kinda of a shame you're not doing Morrissey's complete discography as there's a lot a gems to found even in his so so released. Looking forward to hear your reaction to Southpaw next week. A real departure from this album.

[@AlexHaitz]

I’m not against coming back to more of his albums in the future. I try to just get the heavy hitters in an initial run of an artist. Loving these Moz records so far!

[@secretsymphony]

Overall my favourite Morrissey album. I'm not keen Used to be a Sweet Boy - the rest is cool. I don't know why people are recommending Southpaw Grammer - his second-worst in my opinion - but find out for yourself!

[@ghostrider2664]

You're the one for me fatty is a GREAT SONG. The problem I've always found with Morrissey is that he will take the best orchestrations and put comical lyrics over them so as not to give the listener The Ultimate Gift of everything they want. He did that on girlfriend in a coma and some girls are bigger than others as well. Which from what I'm told really frustrated Johnny Marr, as that orchestration is by far probably the most beautiful and accomplished music writing of the 80s. But if you take out the lyrics and you just listen to the music of you're the one for me fatty it's really a fantastically written piece of music

[@hisalexness8478]

I love this album, but it has such BLAND production from Steve Lillywhite. It would have been interesting for it to have been produced by someone with a more dramatic, raw approach.

[@Malady]

Southpaw Grammar is an odd album, more rock elements with a Brit-pop influence, but not necessarily in a good way. The song structures aren't bad, but I particularly dislike the drums, which I find very distracting on repeated listens.

[@AlexHaitz]

It’s funny how a lot of people request an album on one video, and then in the comments of a video where I say I’ll listen to it I’ll get a lot of people saying it’s not a great album. Happened with Bowie too. I find it amusing.

[@ghostrider2664]

Vauxhall is Buick in England

[@cmonman3639]

I have actually made a mix CD of Morrissey solo material for my car.

[@gimmesometruth1074]

Southpaw is inferior to Kill Uncle imo by a country mile

[@sarcasmos3684]

Southpaw really isn't worth your time tbh, I hate to sound like one of those fans that tell you to listen to all these other albums, but My Early Burglary Years on top of having a bunch of good non-album tracks has the only worthwhile Southpaw Grammar song "Reader Meet Author"

[@weatherman9212]

I think he'd enjoy Kill Uncle more, it actually sounds like Morrissey. I think SouthPaw is one of his weakest

[@russell7768]

this his his most realised album... well that and viva hate.... and maladjusted... 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@branchleader73]

Southpaw is baaaaad

[@oscillatewildly6553]

I really want to enjoy listening to the songs as you go but you keep skipping!

[@Rts22375]

Reaction videos make no sense..react for yourself it's not hard even for the plonkers who watch youtube