2006; Morrissey’s worst ever batch of songs?

[Maurice E]

Hey don’t shoot the messenger! But judging by the fascinating Houdini Poll, it looks like the 2006 songs could be the lowest scoring batch of Morrissey material from any single year of his recording career. None of the songs has scored over 9 and only two have got over 8 (Pigsty and Ganglord) and I can’t see any others doing likewise.
Amazing, isn’t it, when you think about the pre-album hype? Moz teams up with iconic producer… adds a new songwriter for the first time in years… gets the legendary Morricone on board… reflects on amazing new life in Rome… first review says it’s the Morrissey Masterpiece and then, the truth emerges! I don’t think ROTT is actually all that bad. Better than Who Ate Me Curry and Southpaw (which admittedly is not saying much) but it seems like the ROTT sessions (i.e. including b-sides), whilst not being all that bad, yielded very few dazzlingly good songs. What do you think? And how can he stop the rott (hehe, see what I done!).
Let’s all have a heated debate!

 

[the more you explore me!]

(q) 2006 was Morrissey’s worst ever batch of songs?

(a) yes!

 

[Houdini]

Hey don’t shoot the messenger! But judging by the fascinating Houdini Poll, it looks like the 2006 songs could be the lowest scoring batch of Morrissey material from any single year of his recording career. None of the songs has scored over 9 and only two have got over 8 (Pigsty and Ganglord) and I can’t see any others doing likewise.

Not so fast, please.
The first 2 singles of the album are yet to come. I think they will get to 8 easily. I think you will see that the ROTT-songs will easily outperform the KU, Southpaw and Maladjusted-songs.

 

[the more you explore me!]

Not so fast, please.
The first 2 singles of the album are yet to come. I think they will get to 8 easily. I think you will see that the ROTT-songs will easily outperform the KU, Southpaw and Maladjusted-songs.

Oh yeah 'maladjusted' 1997 Morrissey’s worst ever batch of songs!

 

[Danny]

I think people on here tend never to like the newest material. Why else would they go mad for mediocre songs like Lucky Lisp and The Loop when he introduces them into the set. It's nostalgia.

 

[starless]

Maladjusted had some of his best songs. Too easily overlooked by everyone it seems.

 

[Maurice E]

Not so fast, please.
The first 2 singles of the album are yet to come. I think they will get to 8 easily. I think you will see that the ROTT-songs will easily outperform the KU, Southpaw and Maladjusted-songs.

I confidently predict that 'the youngest' definitely won't get over 8 and 'you have killed me' will struggle to.
there will surely be no 9's from the remaining batch which means 2006 will be the only year's worth of songs without a single 9/10.
also, I'm talking about a year's worth of songs not albums. back in 91, Moz released a few highly scoring Moz/Nevin songs which weren't on Kill Uncle. and Southpaw left us with Nobody Loves Us which has cored well over 9.
plenty of decent songs in ROTT sessions but virtually no any outstanding ones (according to the poll).

 

[Darth Vegan]

ROTT is far from my favorite Moz album, but its definitely not the worst.

 

[Houdini]

I confidently predict that 'the youngest' definitely won't get over 8 and 'you have killed me' will struggle to.
there will surely be no 9's from the remaining batch which means 2006 will be the only year's worth of songs without a single 9/10.
also, I'm talking about a year's worth of songs not albums. back in 91, Moz released a few highly scoring Moz/Nevin songs which weren't on Kill Uncle. and Southpaw left us with Nobody Loves Us which has cored well over 9.
plenty of decent songs in ROTT sessions but virtually no any outstanding ones (according to the poll).

We'll see about The Youngest and Killed Me in the next couple of weeks.
It is true that most 2006 songs have scored between 7 and 8, which means that they are good songs, if not great ones. Only Ganglord and Pigsty have scored over 8, which is great, with Pigsty almost at 9, which is classic.

Your post has made me interested in what the scores per album would be like.
Here is how they look as of today:


VIVA HATE:

Alsatian Cousin - 8,38
Little Man, What Now? - 7,73
Everyday Is Like Sunday - 9,49
Bengali In Platforms - 7,23
Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together - 8,22
Late Night, Maudlin Street - 9,17
Suedehead -9,61
Break Up The Family - 7,64
The Ordinary Boys
I Don't Mind If You Forget Me - 8,05
Dial-A-Cliche - 6,98
Margaret On The Guillotine - 6,64

Average score so far: 8,10

KILL UNCLE:

Our Frank - 7,55
Asian Rut - 6,39
Sing Your Life - 7,97
Mute Witness -7,69
King Leer - 7,35
Found Found Found - 5,87
Driving Your Girlfriend Home - 7,75
The Harsh Truth Of The Camera Eye
(I'm) The End Of The Family Line - 7,68
There's A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends

Average score so far: 7,31

YOUR ARSENAL:

You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side
Glamorous Glue - 8,05
We'll Let You Know
The National Front Disco
Certain People I Know - 7,74
We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
You're The One For Me, Fatty
Seasick, Yet Still Docked - 9,11
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday - 8,61
Tomorrow

Average score so far: 8,38


VAUXHALL AND I:

Now My Heart Is Full - 9,63
Spring-Heeled Jim - 8,57
Billy Budd - 7,70
Hold On To Your Friends - 8,37
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
I Am Hated For Loving - 8,33
Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning - 8,34
Used To Be A Sweetboy
The Lazy Sunbathers
Speedway - 9,63

Average score so far: 8,65

SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR:

The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils
Reader Meet Author - 8,12
The Boy Racer
The Operation
Dagenham Dave - 6,78
Do You Best And Don't Worry - 7,26
Best Friend On The Payroll - 6,60
Southpaw - 8,47

Average score so far: 7,45

MALADJUSTED:

Maladjusted - 8,26
Alma Matters - 7,88
Ambitious Outsiders - 6,34
Trouble Loves Me
Papa Jack - 5,10
Ammunition - 6,74
Wide To Receive
Roy's Keen - 6,75
He Cried - 6,24
Sorrow Will Come In The End - 5,41
Satan Rejected My Soul - 7,91

Average score so far: 6,94


YOU ARE THE QUARRY:

America Is Not The World - 6,46
Irish Blood, English Heart - 9,02
I Have Forgiven Jesus - 8,49
Come Back To Camden - 8,39
I'm Not Sorry - 7,79
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? - 7,30
First Of The Gang To Die - 8,96
Let Me Kiss You - 8,48
All The Lazy Dykes - 6,06
I Like You - 7,88
You Know I Couldn't Last

Average score so far: 7,88

RINGLEADERS OF THE TORMENTORS:

I Will See You In Far Off Places - 7,58
Dear God Please Help Me - 7,66
You Have Killed Me
The Youngest Was The Most Loved
In The Future When All's Well - 7,64
The Father Who Must Be Killed
Life Is A Pigsty - 8,90
I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now - 7,70
On The Streets I Ran - 7,00
To Me You Are A Work Of Art
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy - 7,15
At Last I Am Born - 6,71

Average score so far: 7,62

It is interesting that the traditional views of the albums (Vauxhall and Arsenal best, KU, Maladjusted and SP worst) has already been confirmed by the song-per-song rating.

And of course I realize that an album is more than a sum of its parts etc etc.

 

[Young And Alive]

Quarry is a better album than ROTT, as is Maladjusted.

 

[Darth Vegan]

Quarry is a better album than ROTT, .

also, water is wet and the sky is blue.

 

[Dave]

Life Is A Pigsty should have had a "side 3" disco version, 18 minutes long. I'm still waiting for someone to wake up and let the Pet Shop Boys have a go at a remix.

 

[Busy Clippers]

Life Is A Pigsty should have had a "side 3" disco version, 18 minutes long. I'm still waiting for someone to wake up and let the Pet Shop Boys have a go at a remix.

Amen, Brother Dave. I would really like a Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip mix.

 

[Hellie]

Utter piffle.ROTT is an outstanding album.You Have Killed Me.In the future.The Youngest...and as for I`ll Never Be anybody`s Hero...you cannot better it ever.

 

[Comtesse]

Oh yeah 'maladjusted' 1997 Morrissey’s worst ever batch of songs!

Nonsense!!! 1997 had several excellent songs:

Maladjusted
Trouble Loves Me
Wide To Receive
Ammunition
Satan Rejected My Soul
Lost
I Can Have Both

Top songs, every one.

 

[almareallymatters]

I think people on here tend never to like the newest material. Why else would they go mad for mediocre songs like Lucky Lisp and The Loop when he introduces them into the set. It's nostalgia.

Agreed...it is nostalgia...when the new album comes out that will no doubt be "the worst batch of songs EVER" too! Ringleaders isn't my favourite Morrissey album but it isn't without its highlights!

 

[maybe]

It's because people tend to vote higher for the older songs. Morrissey/Smiths fans are, in my opinion, very nostalgic and tend to see the past through rose tinted glasses. I'm sure if we repeat this poll in 5 or 10 years time the Ringleader songs will score higher than now. It always takes people some time to appreciate new things.

 

[Maurice E]

It's because people tend to vote higher for the older songs. Morrissey/Smiths fans are, in my opinion, very nostalgic and tend to see the past through rose tinted glasses. I'm sure if we repeat this poll in 5 or 10 years time the Ringleader songs will score higher than now. It always takes people some time to appreciate new things.

An interesting theory but certainly not true in my case. After hearing them just a couple of times, I knew Never Played Symphonies, Walk Tall, First of the Gang etc were brilliant songs. Also, we’re not exactly getting more generous towards Southpaw/Maladjusted as time goes by!

Thanks for giving us the album scores Houdini. I think the best two songs off Maladjusted are yet to come so its score should increase a fair amount…

 

[Young And Alive]

Nonsense!!! 1997 had several excellent songs:

Maladjusted
Trouble Loves Me
Wide To Receive
Ammunition
Satan Rejected My Soul
Lost
I Can Have Both

Top songs, every one.

Lost and Trouble Loves Me are among the best songs Morrissey has ever written.

Why does he persist on not releasing his best material? Can you imagine how much bigger he would be had he released the likes of the aforementioned, and songs such as National Front Disco, Speedway, I Like You, Now My Heart Is Full etc.?

 

[Maurice E]

We'll see about The Youngest and Killed Me in the next couple of weeks.
It is true that most 2006 songs have scored between 7 and 8, which means that they are good songs, if not great ones. Only Ganglord and Pigsty have scored over 8, which is great, with Pigsty almost at 9, which is classic.

Your post has made me interested in what the scores per album would be like.
Here is how they look as of today:


VIVA HATE:

Alsatian Cousin - 8,38
Little Man, What Now? - 7,73
Everyday Is Like Sunday - 9,49
Bengali In Platforms - 7,23
Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together - 8,22
Late Night, Maudlin Street - 9,17
Suedehead -9,61
Break Up The Family - 7,64
The Ordinary Boys
I Don't Mind If You Forget Me - 8,05
Dial-A-Cliche - 6,98
Margaret On The Guillotine - 6,64

Average score so far: 8,10

KILL UNCLE:

Our Frank - 7,55
Asian Rut - 6,39
Sing Your Life - 7,97
Mute Witness -7,69
King Leer - 7,35
Found Found Found - 5,87
Driving Your Girlfriend Home - 7,75
The Harsh Truth Of The Camera Eye
(I'm) The End Of The Family Line - 7,68
There's A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends

Average score so far: 7,31

YOUR ARSENAL:

You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side
Glamorous Glue - 8,05
We'll Let You Know
The National Front Disco
Certain People I Know - 7,74
We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
You're The One For Me, Fatty
Seasick, Yet Still Docked - 9,11
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday - 8,61
Tomorrow

Average score so far: 8,38


VAUXHALL AND I:

Now My Heart Is Full - 9,63
Spring-Heeled Jim - 8,57
Billy Budd - 7,70
Hold On To Your Friends - 8,37
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
I Am Hated For Loving - 8,33
Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning - 8,34
Used To Be A Sweetboy
The Lazy Sunbathers
Speedway - 9,63

Average score so far: 8,65

SOUTHPAW GRAMMAR:

The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils
Reader Meet Author - 8,12
The Boy Racer
The Operation
Dagenham Dave - 6,78
Do You Best And Don't Worry - 7,26
Best Friend On The Payroll - 6,60
Southpaw - 8,47

Average score so far: 7,45

MALADJUSTED:

Maladjusted - 8,26
Alma Matters - 7,88
Ambitious Outsiders - 6,34
Trouble Loves Me
Papa Jack - 5,10
Ammunition - 6,74
Wide To Receive
Roy's Keen - 6,75
He Cried - 6,24
Sorrow Will Come In The End - 5,41
Satan Rejected My Soul - 7,91

Average score so far: 6,94


YOU ARE THE QUARRY:

America Is Not The World - 6,46
Irish Blood, English Heart - 9,02
I Have Forgiven Jesus - 8,49
Come Back To Camden - 8,39
I'm Not Sorry - 7,79
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? - 7,30
First Of The Gang To Die - 8,96
Let Me Kiss You - 8,48
All The Lazy Dykes - 6,06
I Like You - 7,88
You Know I Couldn't Last

Average score so far: 7,88

RINGLEADERS OF THE TORMENTORS:

I Will See You In Far Off Places - 7,58
Dear God Please Help Me - 7,66
You Have Killed Me
The Youngest Was The Most Loved
In The Future When All's Well - 7,64
The Father Who Must Be Killed
Life Is A Pigsty - 8,90
I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now - 7,70
On The Streets I Ran
To Me You Are A Work Of Art
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy - 7,15
At Last I Am Born - 6,71

Average score so far: 7,62

It is interesting that the traditional views of the albums (Vauxhall and Arsenal best, KU, Maladjusted and SP worst) has already been confirmed by the song-per-song rating.

And of course I realize that an album is more than a sum of its parts etc etc.

Interesting stuff. Would be good to see how the actual year's worth of songs compare though. The brilliant b-sides in 2004 and 97 would surely lift the average scores for the albums from those years as would the non 'Kill Uncle' Nevin songs from 91.
Conversely, the lack of decent B-sides from 2006 would probably reveal it to be one of the worst years for Morrissey releases...