Search - Morrissey :: Southpaw Grammar

If You're Into Morrissey, There's No Good Reason Not To Love

Rich Latta | Albuquerque, NM - Land of Entitlement | 01/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has been unfairly slagged and I'm not sure why, but I'm glad to see some fans on this forum are sticking up for it. SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR is one of Morrissey's most rockin' albums and it's musically ambitious with two songs breaking the 10-minute mark. "The Operation," my favorite one here, is nearly 7 minutes long. I noticed that everyone has different favorites and least favs, so that right there should tell you that the objections people have to this album are really just a matter of taste. The music itself is great and Morrissey retains his title as the master of mope, encompassing both bleak despair and biting humor.



VAUXHALL & I probably deserves its reputation as Morrisey's best solo record, but overall, SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR is probably my favorite; I like it even more than that other rockin fan fav YOUR ARSENAL. Of course, anyone just getting into Moz needs to start with the band that launched his career, the legendary Smiths (any album of theirs will do nicely).



Here are some personal impressions of SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR from an actual southpaw:



"The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" - orchestrated with sweeping strings and brooding atmospherics including a squalling guitar in the background, the opener clocks in at 11:15. All-out rocking ensues midway through. This song is about the misery a typical school teacher must endure these days. "Say the wrong words to our children/ We'll have you arrested." *****



"Reader Meet Author" - a rather average Morrissey pop song, made all the more average for following "Teachers," but it's agreeable enough and it does rock along nicely. Also has some nice orchestral flourishes. ****



"The Boy Racer" - fun rocker - Moz is jealous of the Boy Racer and wants to "kill this pretty thing" who "has too many girlfriends" and "always speeds but never gets pulled over." ****



"The Operation" - this track launches off straight into a "gutsy" drum solo (I recall that's how Rolling Stone put it - "gutsy" has become an overused term in music journalism, but that's the first time I read it. Incidentally, the magazine rated this album 4 out of 5 stars). The drum solo is really long and it's super-cool too, with strange background mob noises and passing horses with sleigh bells added on. The song itself is a Morrissey classic about a friend that undergoes a personality change after an operation and ends up getting on peoples' nerves even though the change is apparently an improvement. Towards the end, the song takes off into orbit, reaching a head-spinning climax. Totally rocks! *****



"Dagenham Dave" - another decent rocker that suffers a bit coming after a killer song. Moz sings the words "Dagenham Dave" a bit too much though, and sometimes I find the song rather annoying unless I'm really in the mood for it. ***



"Do Your Best and Don't Worry" - I love this one - it's very upbeat and finds Morrissey handing out genuine advice and encouragement, no tongue in cheek. A great song! *****



"Best Friend on the Payroll" - for some reason, I find this one hilarious. I guess it's similar to that certain tendency to laugh at uncomfortable situations because I can relate to this song (unfortunately). "I turn the music down and I don't know why - This is MY house!" Another great, rockin' tune. *****



"Southpaw" - the 10-minute closer is a brutal, cutting indictment against the life of a loser and another song I can sadly relate to. The guitars are spine-tingling and other-worldly. Stunning. *****



Some of these songs are indeed good if average Morrissey fare, but the great songs are great enough to elevate my rating to 5 stars. Blender magazine stupidly called this album difficult and ugly. If you only looked at the cover and didn't bother giving the music a chance, then I could understand that comment."

One of Morrissey's Best!

Stalwart Kreinblaster | Xanadu | 12/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first track does not live up to the rest of the album - but this is, all in all, one of Morrissey's best albums! 'Reader meet Author' is a personal favorite of mine. There is an angry tone to this album - as Morrissey always seems to embrace what he is feeling at the time. This is cathartic music at its finest. Turn it up!"

Folks, its not that bad

DAVID De Torre | Arleta CA | 11/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The songs on this album were a necessary departure for the time when it came out in 1995,it was after Vauxhall and I people!!-the softest of his albums- this is Morrissey at his hardest. I only wish that they would have included the two b-sides that came out with the Dagenham Dave single: you must please remember & nobody loves us. I have enjoyed it over the years and like it equally to You are the Quarry even though it isnt as melodious as the latter."