The Smiths/Morrissey - song-by-song discussion thread

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Turk Thrust, Mar 8, 2019.

  1. Orson Swells

    Orson Swells Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester
    This always strikes me as a self-conscious attempt to write a kind of Morrissey meets Radiohead song. An epic experimental dirge that happens to be one of the clear highlights of the album. Excellent music and some great lyrics: "And you can shoot me and you can throw me off a train..." I almost wish he'd done an entire album in this style. 5/5
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2019
  2. ARL

    ARL Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    "Life Is A Pigsty"

    A mighty Moz classic, in his top 10 for me. The sombre first section kicks along nicely, but it's the second section where it becomes epic, gradually building and building to a thunderous conclusion. Morrissey's voice sounds close to cracking in some places as he tackles the higher notes, but it all adds to the intensity of the piece. The problem is that being the centrepiece, it sets a standard that the rest of the album can't live up to. Maybe it should have been the closer? Either way, it's a big 5/5 for "Pigsty".
     
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  3. Spazaru

    Spazaru Angry Samoan

    Right there with "You Know I Couldn't Last" for my favorite bombastic Moz tracks ever. 5/5
     
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  4. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Happy to see the love for Pigsty, as I am indifferent at best about most of this album. 4.5/5
     
  5. Disco Robot

    Disco Robot Forum Resident

    Location:
    33417
    Life Is A Pigsty 5/5 - I remember this one being hyped up prior to the album release as being this masterful epic, which immediately makes you suspicious. The final result didn't end up sounding at all what I suspected, and all the better for it. It's essentially 2 songs without a obvious connecting point between them, yet it works wonderfully
     
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  6. The MEZ

    The MEZ Forum Resident

    Location:
    CT
    Life Is A Pigsty 5 outta 5 yo
     
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  7. mooseman

    mooseman Forum Resident

    "Life Is A Pigsty" 3/5
     
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  8. StevenC

    StevenC SUEDE > Both Oasis AND Blur.

    "Life Is A Pigsty"
    This one hooks you when you see it live.
    4.0/5.0
     
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  9. markreed

    markreed Forum Resident

    Location:
    Imber
    Pigsty is the last truly amazing Morrissey track in my opinion : an absolute, stone cold 5/5 and in his top five songs ever. Also, stunning live.
     
  10. inglorious

    inglorious Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    Life Is A Pigsty
    Kudos for trying something completely different. Love the first half but the second half leaves me a bit cold. I can see the Radiohead comparison, maybe thats why.
    The first half seems a bit trip hop which is why I like it more, I think.
    Not sure about being one of his best, though.
    3/5
     
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  11. guidedbyvoices

    guidedbyvoices Old Dan's Records

    Location:
    Alpine, TX
    Pigsty
    I love the first half. A super high 5. The second half isn’t bad but I get tired of that stupid cannon bass drum and it goes on a bit too long. That half definitely worked better live.

    So I’ll average it out to a 4 out of 5. Ambitious, excellent first half groove, Second half doesn’t fare as well for me
     
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  12. Gavaxeman

    Gavaxeman Take me back to dear old Blighty...

    Location:
    West Midlands U.K.
    Life is a ..

    Absolute belter of a song , brilliant live , and that second half ..wow, easy 5/5
     
  13. Vauxhall

    Vauxhall Forum Resident

    Location:
    United States
    A stunning masterpiece. Everything about this track falls perfectly into place. Morrissey's voice, the thunderstorm in the background, the hectic drumming and the fantastic guitar work. It's songs such as this, that prove Alain was Moz's best co-writer. 5/5 for "Life is a Pigsty."
     
  14. Sandorelli

    Sandorelli Forum Resident

    Location:
    Us
    Pigsty 5/5. The Radiohead influence was a good catch. Still, can’t fault it if it works.
     
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  15. Turk Thrust

    Turk Thrust Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    U.K.
    The ratings for Life is a Pigsty:

    1-0
    2-0
    3-2
    4-4
    5-9
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
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  16. Turk Thrust

    Turk Thrust Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    U.K.
    Today’s song is I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now:



    One of the lesser songs on the album and the music is rather sedate and uninspired.

    It is also fairly thin lyrically and it is only Morrissey’s vocal melody that elevates it somewhat (as I’m sure that I’ve said many times before).

    3/5.
     
  17. ARL

    ARL Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    "I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now"

    It was a thankless task for whichever track had to follow in Pigsty's wake, so I suppose it made sense to throw one of the lesser tracks under the bus for this task. It's not bad, but it has the distinct whiff of "b-side" about it. Moreover, it's overshadowed by a better version of itself two tracks later, which is the one that usually comes to mind when I'm trying to remember how this one goes. The dubby middle section is quite nice, and there are some good lines in it, but 2.5/5 is the best I can stretch to.
     
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  18. inglorious

    inglorious Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now
    A bit of a meandering track. The short instrumental break is a nice touch, but for once, I’m not a big fan of the vocals. Quite ordinary, all round.
    2.5/5
     
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  19. Orson Swells

    Orson Swells Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester
    Well, I have a feeling I'll be alone on this... but this is actually my favourite track on the album! Surely this is his take on a Big O ballad? It's very Orbison-esque. Great vocal, great lyrics. A typical Morrissey subversion of a tired pop cliche ("I can be your hero, baby"!) and the kind of effortless mid-tempo ballad he has made his own in his solo career. The big falsetto ending is fantastic too. Yes, it is strangely sequenced after Pigsty when a more uptempo song would have made greater sense - so I think this probably diminishes its impact. Anyway, it won't be for those who don't like his crooners. But I love it - so a controversial 5/5.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
  20. Sandorelli

    Sandorelli Forum Resident

    Location:
    Us
    Can’t really fault the sentiment. 3.5
     
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  21. Gavaxeman

    Gavaxeman Take me back to dear old Blighty...

    Location:
    West Midlands U.K.
    I’ll never be..

    Again a song that’s not made much of an impression, that’s lesser tracks really show issues with the rather flat production, 3/5
     
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  22. Spazaru

    Spazaru Angry Samoan

    Sammy Davis Jr would have KILLED this song. And Moz does too! 4.5/5
     
  23. mooseman

    mooseman Forum Resident

    "I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now" - 3/5
     
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  24. StevenC

    StevenC SUEDE > Both Oasis AND Blur.

    "I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now"

    3.0/5.0
     
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  25. guidedbyvoices

    guidedbyvoices Old Dan's Records

    Location:
    Alpine, TX
    Never Be Anybodys Hero - its all right, works in the flow of the album, but not a favorite. His vocal isn't as strong as elsewhere for me.

    3 of 5
     
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