Morrissey’s occasional boxing fetish is to the fore again on Southpaw Grammar, the sleeve features a shot of lightweight Kenny Lane. The music’s mostly pugnacious and the characters that populate its narratives are rough and tough. Morrissey’s final album of the new millennium’s first decade would also be producer Jerry Finn’s swansong – he died of a brain haemorrhage shortly after recording was completed. It’s not a bad legacy to leave, as he oversaw a set that is equal parts amusing and acerbic – staple Morrissey, in other words – and somewhat concerned with issues of mortality. Vauxhall And I (LPAlbumLimited EditionReissueRemasteredRepressBlue) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/15768050-Morrissey-Vauxhall-And-I Co-written with Stephen Street, it’s still a constant in his live shows and the sheer elegance of the melody – burnished by strings – and heady, undulating chorus still takes your breath away. Vauxhall And I (LPAlbumReissueRemasteredGatefold) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/5740593-Morrissey-Vauxhall-And-I

Sometimes though the cleverness works, as with the people concentrating on minor personal pleasures rather than world issues in the clever allegory "The Lazy Sunbathers" which sees folk sunning themselves in denial of the fact that, days earlier, Germany has invaded Poland. Power, Tony (15 September 2004). "Morrissey: Vauxhall and I". Blender. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006 . Retrieved 18 November 2015. The late Tim Broad directed The Smiths’ videos Girlfriend In A Coma and Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before. For Morrissey’s debut promo as a solo artist, the video starts in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea where Moz’s nephew, Sam Esty Rayner, delivers a copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince, to the singer. In our complete guide to the solo career of Morrissey we look at one of the true godfathers of Britpop… Written by David Burke.

Therefore, when I was asked to review this album, a 20th anniversary remaster and reissue of what many regard as his finest solo work, I knew that I had to overcome this somewhat irrational dislike of the man and really try to focus on this as objectively as I could. Gatefold card sleeve, but no liner notes, or any booklet at all Vauxhall And I (Album) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/9105157-Morrissey-Vauxhall-And-I A strange choice of director, given Sophie Muller’s association with artists such as Beyoncé and Coldplay for starters.

And then there is Morrissey himself. Probably the most crucial reason Vauxhall and I is so special is that he sounds so comfortable, charitable, and good-humored, at least for him. His downright playfulness on “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get” helped make that song his only significant mainstream hit in the US. It’s actually tough to imagine the 2014-model Morrissey asking another human being, without irony, to “let me in”, even if doing so is to “take the easy way and give in.” Nor would it be likely, these days, to hear him advising to “hold on to your friends” at all costs because “there just might come a time when you need some.” There are hints of the bitterness and persecution complex that would color much of Morrissey’s subsequent work, but even these are good for a coy turn of phrase like “Speedway”’s “All of the rumors keeping me grounded / I never said that they were completely unfounded.”

The complete guide to Morrissey – The Must-Watch Videos

But it’s not as simple as that, I’m afraid. You see, I was always appreciative of The Smiths. So many great tunes, tapping into the more angst-ridden aspects of my psyche. And as lead singer of said band, Morrissey was one quarter of the collective and whilst he had his outspoken moments, the band were the most important thing. After the split, Morrissey became numero uno and he seemed – to me anyway – to become increasingly vocal and patronising on a great many things. To hear his rants and raves, surly political faux pas and general pomposity, simply put me off giving any of his musical endeavours the time of day. The album's title may be a reference to the 1987 film Withnail and I. Vauxhall is an area of London noted for its gay clubs, and there is also a British car manufacturer of the same name. Vauxhall And I (AlbumStereo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/12355178-Morrissey-Vauxhall-And-I