REVIEW: Morrissey, Vauxhall and I
- Bob Gajarsky
Morrissey. Not a well known name in society, but an almost god-like person in the field of alternative music. His voice and lyrics, both distinctively different than most members of the industry, has inspired more than a dozen fanzines while millions of fans waited anxiously for the release of his fifth solo album, Vauxhall and I. With no rush (the album was delayed four months) but a label push, the pre-release hype signified that this could be Morrissey's break into mainstream acceptance without alienating his fan base.
The first single, "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", is very indicative of the entire album. Lines such as "I've made up your mind" and "I bear more grudges than lonely high court judges" show that the wit and wry humour of Morrissey are still alive and kicking. Unfortunately, the rocking style of songs that represents most of his solo work as well as that with the Smiths seems in a dormant stage.
"Billy Budd" stands out as the only truly good track from the collection. Clocking at a Smiths-like length of 2 minutes and 9 seconds, this song highlights Morrissey's voice coupled with Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte's guitars.
"Now My Heart Is Full", the opening track from Vauxhall and I, and "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself" are the two best tracks from the "new" Morrissey. Unfortunately, he jaunts through these mid-tempo tracks and leaves the listener to wonder when the song will kick in, or if the album ever will.
Fans of Morrissey's slower material, such as "Meat Is Murder", "I've Changed My Plea To Guilty" and "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" will find hours of enjoyment listening to Vauxhall and I. However, in this critic's opinion, it ranks only above Kill Uncle in terms of Morrissey related material and still, unfortunately, will not break him into wider mainstream acceptance.
