8: May 20th — Viva Hate (1988), Bona Drag (1990) and Kill Uncle (1991)


Listen to Viva Hate (and if you want, all of Bona Drag and Kill Uncle, though many of the songs listed below are from those records).


From Bona Drag:

From Kill Uncle:
Other Stuff:

Blog question: Now that Morrissey is on his own, is there something that he’s now freed up to do in this lyrics? Is there something he no longer can do? How is he presenting himself in videos and on TV? Is he embracing this newfound solo / star persona, or is he somehow undercutting it? Any songs of this period that stands up to the best of the Smiths?

Comments

  1. The King In YellowMay 20, 2021 at 3:27 AM

    After listening to "Viva Hate," I found Morrissey's lyrics to be lackluster in comparison to The Smiths era material. The overall sound of most of the songs on the album aren't very memorable. I don't think I've heard any of these songs before, while in contrast Smiths songs can be heard in movies, TV shows, commercials, etc. I think it speaks to the qualitative change in the songs in general that they don't seem as ubiquitous. Watching Morrissey on Johnny Carson and in the music video for "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty," he doesn't seem to be outwardly flaunting or peacocking that he's now a solo artist. To me he seems almost humble about it, from what I saw.

    In terms of songs that hearken back to The Smiths aurally, I thought "Suedehead" and "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" sounded the closest to the earlier material. But I wouldn't say they stand up to the best that The Smiths released. I actually don't think any of the songs on "Viva Hate" are comparable, sadly.

    --Daniel Rivera

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  2. Xzandalyn KallstromMay 20, 2021 at 10:55 AM

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  3. Xzandalyn KallstromMay 20, 2021 at 10:55 AM

    I honestly enjoyed all of “Viva Hate” by Morrissey a lot more than I was expecting. His music is definitely way more bland, especially the instrumentation. I always thought The Smiths had a sort of medieval sound to their music, which I think carried on into Morrissey's solo career. His lyrics seem more bland than before, though they sound as deep and meaningful in how he sings. Most of Morrissey's solo songs on “Viva Hate” aren’t my opinion his best solo work, with songs such as “Alsatian Cousin”, “Everyday Is Like Sunday”, “Suedehead”, “Treat Me Like A Human Being”, and “Dial-A-Cliche”. None of these songs compare to the Smiths best work though, they all sound a bit similar and somewhat bland in terms of structure and instrumentation, like I said. It seems like at this time he did embrace his new star persona, but he also seems the same as when he was a part of The Smiths, especially his stage presence. “Bona Drag” was not as impressive, but still good in my opinion— still overall nothing compared to the work of The Smiths. I wished that Morrissey's solo songs were on the level of The Smiths (which is pretty much impossible without Johnny Marr), because he is still performing today.
    -Xzandalyn Kallstrom

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  4. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 12:42 PM

    Overall, while I still enjoyed many of the tracks in "Viva Hate" by Morrissey, something throughout the whole LP just felt missing. When comparing this to any of the previous LPs Morrissey helped create with the Smiths, there honestly is no real comparison. While the musicianship of Morrissey is still ever-present in "Viva Hate", the album overall is just a bit lackluster. In regard to how Morrissey has an increased ability to be free in his lyrics, he is definitely able to continue to experiment, but not in any meaningful ways on "Viva Hate". In regard to how Morrissey presented himself on both Johnny Carson and in the music video linked above, I wouldn't say that he has become over-absorbed by the "star-persona" of being a solo artist. He is still somewhat reserved in how he carries himself and is not overzealous in how he acts. In my opinion, there aren't any tracks present in this set of solo tracks that compare to the best of the best of the Smiths.
    - Andrew Myers

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  5. Andrew NaranjoMay 20, 2021 at 1:38 PM

    I think as everyone else pointed out, the instrumental is definitely missing a lot. I think taking away the unique style of the rest of the band really made the songs on his solo albums feel like they are missing something. That being said, I do think it's still a good album and the songs are still great. Now that he is no longer with the band, it allows for a lot of experimentation with the instrumentals. In Angel, Angel, Down we go together, we have a full orchestra which I think allows for a very interesting match to Morrissey's voice. I think people just really wanted to hear more of Morrissey singing because his voice is so unique and identifiable from a single sentence he sings. As for the lyrics, I think he is trying to live up to his reputation he garnered with The Smiths, ie. having lyrics that are angsty and depressing. I don't think his stage presence changed all that much when transitioning into his solo career. He still carries himself the same way I think it's mainly just the style of music that saw more dramatic changes. The music video for Suedhead is different to that of The Smiths songs but it still has the same tone and feeling, with plenty of references to the band sprinkled throughout the video. Also Everyday is Like Sunday is one of my favorite songs from Morrissey so I by no means think he is moving into a negative direction
    -Andrew Naranjo

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  6. Alicia GoveaMay 20, 2021 at 1:45 PM

    While I think Morrissey remains a strong lyricist in these first few albums, it definately marks a departure from his work with The Smiths. In "Viva Hate," the songs that stand out the most sound like songs from earlier Smiths' work, "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead." While the album is not necessarily bad, I agree with what most people have said; it's pretty bland and almost generic. I don't know if it's hard to separate Morrissey from Marr's distinct sound, but without it, it almost sounds like something is missing. I also think a few songs from these albums hint at the start of Morrissey's more problematic side, "Bengali on Platforms" is just flat out racist, and "November Spawns a Monster," is just problematic in itself.

    "The Last of the Famous International Playboys," is an instant classic from Morrissey's career, but again it still feels very Smiths-like. Which is why I think Morrissey's decision to pursue a solo-career really didn't do much; much of his lyrics tell similar stories he told in The Smiths, and there's no innovation.

    I think what's interesting is Morrissey's sudden decision to make all these music videos he once denounced. While there are not as flashy as their predecessors, Morrissey definately takes joy in them, dancing flamboyant as he usually did on stage. In some cases, there are an homage to the bands he cites as big influences. In "Sing Your Life" He us dressed in a suit in front of dancing kids, which feels very 50s-like. He peforms this song live on the Jimmy Carson Show, and it felt very similar to the video. I think it shows despite his newfound freedom, Morrissey sticks to what works and what he likes.

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  7. Dhruv SharmaMay 20, 2021 at 2:19 PM

    I didn't really enjoy Viva Hate as much as the Smiths' records but I still think it had some good songs. From what I've heard, Morrisseys solo records progressively get worse. Viva Hate was his first solo record and I think he could be given some leeway since its the first time he would be working 'alone'. I liked tracks like "Suedehead" and "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me". I noticed that these tracks were very Smiths like, with Marr-like guitar riffs and the signature Smiths beats and groove. It seems like Morrissey actively tried to stay away from this style, since most of his solo work does not employ this, but it's interesting that my fans' favorite songs of his solo career are Smiths like. People really like that Smiths sound and his solo work did not live up.

    In terms of lyrics, Morrissey may have been more 'free' to do what he wants, but I don't think there were many restrictions on him back when he was with the Smiths either. He still sings about complex issues, sometimes controversially, but this was true with the Smiths as well. I don't think he did anything lyrically here that was more bold/impressive than his work with the Smiths.

    Overall, I didn't quite enjoy the album. I liked some songs, and I would add them to a personal playlist, but this isn't a record that I would sit down and listen to all over again.

    ~Dhruv Sharma

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  8. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 2:21 PM

    While I do not think any of the songs for this week stand up to any of the Smiths' discography, except for maybe Strangeways, I do think that they are pleasant in different ways than the Smiths. A lot of the Smiths' discography is carried by a mixture of Johnny Marr's guitar playing and Morrissey's voice and lyrics, so personally, I think it is kind of interesting to see Morrissey against a different backdrop. Some songs on 'Viva Hate' fall extremely flat and are pretty boring and the overall lyrics of this era are nothing in comparison to those on 'The Queen is Dead' or 'Louder than Bombs,' however, many songs of this era do bop and are catchy and enjoyable to listen to. Honestly, my listening of these songs was vastly more enjoyable than that of Strangeways because it is less derivative and more just Morrissey seeing what he can do on his own. All in all, I thought that while his lyrics were not as striking or sophisticated, he did probably the best he could've done without the rest of the Smiths.

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  9. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 2:42 PM

    Personally, I think Morissey lost much of the charm the Smiths had as a solo artist. The songs in Viva Hate seem to reminiscence the songs in the Smiths but I do not think they really lived up to them because they seemed kind of dry and is missing a certain element I cannot put my head around. However, Morissey seems to also really embrace this solo period in the videos and performances. The way he moves on stage shows how he embraced his new status, even though I thought the songs were still missing something. - Samantha Wong

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  10. Bea RossMay 20, 2021 at 2:52 PM

    Without the rest of the band, it seems like Morrissey can get a lot more personal with his lyrics. It seems like some of the songs were directed toward specific people and were a lot more individualized than previous songs. Another thing that Morrises able to do is really tap in to his more or less depressed feelings. One thing that I don’t think really changed from the band breaking up was that Morrissey‘s tone continues to be really Marose and morbid at times. He starts off the album singing about literally wondering when he’s going to die. In this sense I prefer the music of the Smiths because I’m not too sure when or where I’d never want to listen to a song that is so explicitly concerning death. I think Maurice he was also really able to explore his range with out the band. I noticed there was a bit more baroque pop sounds like we had talked about last week, as well as just different instruments and add-ons that I hadn’t heard from Smith’s album.

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  11. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 2:53 PM

    Like others have said, Viva Hate isn't necessarily bad but it can't compare to anything The Smiths released. The only song I was previously familiar with on this album was "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and after listening to the full tracklist, it continued to stand out as my favorite. I also really enjoyed "Suedehead" and "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me". I think I like these songs the best because they sounded the most similar to Smiths tracks. All of the rest were pretty meh; not bad but nothing I would go out of my way to listen to again. Overall the album just felt hollow knowing that Marr was not there. Morrissey is able to somewhat stand on his own with his continuation of the unconventional lyricism that made The Smiths famous but the instrumentation sounds off. I guess going solo let Morrissey experiment with different sounds that wouldn't fit in with The Smiths' "vibe". I heard strings and horns on a couple of songs on Viva Hate which was an interesting change of pace but probably could've been utilized better. I am also not an expert in music production/sound editing but I felt that Morrissey's voice sounded a lot more clean/polished than it did on The Smiths' records. The authentic and raw sound that gave The Smiths their alternative status seems wiped clean for Viva Hate. The lack of authenticity during Morrissey's solo career can also be seen in his music videos. I wasn't particularly fond of any of them and it surprised me that he made so many after denouncing them for years on end.

    As for Morrissey's appearance/presentation, I tend to agree with Andrew and Alicia that he still has his flair for the dramatic. I think his decision to make music videos made him lean into this persona more as they gave him more opportunities to develop or show off his extravagant nature.

    In general, Viva Hate is a pretty okay album. Marr's absence is definitely noticeable and makes the songs feel incomplete to me. Morrissey's venture into solo work had admirable goals but falls flat.

    - Addison Harms

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  12. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 2:53 PM

    Now that Morrissey is on his own, I think there is a whole world of possibility that he could have explored. However, he didn’t go that route. The basics of his songs all sound reminiscent of The Smiths’ sound (I don’t know the proper musical terms to describe it, but they have a similar feel). I also agree with everyone else’s observation that his solo music seems to be a bit lackluster in comparison to his work with The Smiths. I think that he and Marr had something that only worked when they were together that allowed them to make the songs they did. That is, in essence, what he can no longer do—collaborate with his bandmates to create what they once had. I also think that his lyrics in his “Viva Hate” solo songs are good, and definitely don’t live up to the great lyricist people seemed to praise him as. Now this isn’t to say Morrissey’s music is bad by any means, I still think his music is good and I personally love “Everyday is Like Sunday,” even though his style of music isn’t my favorite.
    I think he’s presenting himself in a very similar way to how he always had. In live performances especially, he doesn’t seem to have become a whole new person now that he’s on his own. I also don’t really see any of his songs standing up to the best of The Smiths’ because they’re all just missing something fundamental that the other members of the band brought out.

    Serafina Valisa

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  13. Jenny ChoMay 20, 2021 at 2:58 PM

    I enjoyed the Viva Hate album the most out of all their albums so far; I think I’ll have to consider this my favorite. It feels like Morrissey is beginning to present himself differently in a good way. Most of his songs in previous albums sound monotonous; the aspects of his music that separated each album were usually the instrumentals and studio sounds. In this album, Morrissey expresses a wider range of vocals I didn’t know he had with a lot more room to experiment with instrumentals too. I was fond by how different every song in this album sounded; some sounded like ballads, some like pop jazz, some like his usual, etc and they matched the tones he used to sing the lyrics. Contrary to past albums, the lyrics did not hold much meaning. They give the same overall vibe as the previous album we discussed for this class. The songs that stood out the most were probably “Everyday is like Sunday”, “Dial a Cliche” and “Margaret On the Guillotine”, since I’ve listened to these numerous times in the past never knowing it was sung by Morrissey until now. Although I would say he is embracing his solo persona, I do think he is slowly straying away from the beginning goals with the Smiths in a sense that his songs are starting to have a genre.
    -Jenny Cho

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  14. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 3:24 PM

    I enjoy Viva Hate but not nearly as much as I enjoyed Bona Drag. Bona Drag is my fave solo album, it is just very quite good. My favorite song off of Viva Hate is probably Angel, Angel We Go Down Together. Although, that being said, I can't stand Suedehead...it really is quite annoying as hell to me. That might be because I grew up with it too much. It is just real fucking annoying, in the same way that Girlfriend in a Coma. In Bona Drag, I really like Ouija Board, Ouija Board, Piccadilly Palare, and November Spawned a Monster. I guess more of his solo career is more openly queer than as hidden in The Smiths. I think he is missing Marr and that takes away from his music to a certain extent because you can tell that were written with Marr's music in mind. This being said I think the better songs in these albums are sonically unique. I think his solo career kind of created a more "adult" Morrissey. Like where the Smiths it is quite teenage-ish rebellion, his solo career feels less juvenile.
    - Evan Ibarra

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  15. UnknownMay 20, 2021 at 3:36 PM

    Now that Morrissey is on his own, is there something that he’s now freed up to do in this lyrics?

    I felt that he developed more freedom in accordance to what kind of songs he writes about, such as November Spawned a Monster and Ouija Board Ouija Board -the music video was kind of trippy. Overall, I felt that I enjoyed his music less because I felt there was less balance in terms of expression. In comparison to The Smiths as band, songs like The Queen Is Dead portrayed more of themes such as societal values and the band representation of society.


    How is he presenting himself in videos and on TV?
    I certainly think he has found some new ideas that he portrays in his music videos, he is presenting himself as a visual artist too- which means there are more dimensions to his music. As sometimes music videos can change the meaning of songs. Such as in November spawned a monster, I did not quite understand the music video correlation here. The song was about a lady who was tired of people treating her the way because of her condition. But, to me his video was a little queer and erotic, maybe it is a freedom that he thinks the lady would embrace if the world is free from judgment.

    Is he embracing this newfound solo / star persona, or is he somehow undercutting it?
    I think he definitely is embracing this newfound solo kind of vibe, in which it seems he has more leeway to identify himself. But is it me or that the songs recorded are kind of not as good as his live versions -that is what I felt.

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  16. Leslie HernandezMay 20, 2021 at 3:58 PM

    Genuinely, the lyrics of Morrissey’s solo career sort of remain consistent with his work on The Smith’s. For me, after listening to his material in The Smith’s, listening to Viva Hate was extremely hard to listen to. As previous comments have stated, without Johnny Marr's jangly guitar the instrumentals of the tracks of Viva Hate are not as enjoyable. A lot of the lyrics in the songs were very repetitive, and it didn’t feel like he was emphasizing anything. The lyrics feel like words that fill up the instrumental in most of the tracks. Suedehead is definitely reminiscent of his previous works and I enjoyed the bass although it was a bit simple. Bona Drag is slightly more cohesive as an album, but I still wouldn’t choose to listen to this album over one by The Smiths. The best part of the album was the song November Spawned a Monster. I was genuinely confused on where he was trying to go with the song. Was it religious commentary? Anyway, I feel like my critique is too harsh and I guess to explore different genres in the midst of a changing musical career is what is exhibited in these two albums.

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