Of the eighteen songs ( including b-sides) I absolutely love nine of them!! "Smiler with Knife," "Kick the Bride Down the Aisle," and "Art-Hounds" are all masterpieces. The music on "Art-Hounds" is astonishing, and I think this song solidifies Boz Boorer's place as one of the 20 greatest songwriters of all-time. Morrissey's vocals on "Art-Hounds" are equally as astonishing. "Smiler with Knife" is truly special. Frankly, beautiful songs like this make it much easier to live. Easier, to just live. Thank you, Morrissey. Your beautiful vocals, and lyrics on this song, mellow my soul. (I know this is an over-the-top statement, but this is how this song makes me feel.) The first three days I listened to the new album, I was listening to it driving in my car. Most of the driving was done on highways, with my windows rolled down. Originally, I thought the music was complex and complicated in "Smiler with Knife," but I was wrong. Listening to the music, in the quiet of home, I realize it isn't complex at all. It's still unpredictable, which I love, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I hope Morrissey & Jesse Tobias are proud of their beautiful song.
"Kick the Bride Down the Aisle" is a masterpiece, and for my money, is the best music Jesse has ever written. The music in this song is complex and absolutely incredible. The music is reminiscent of Billy Corgan's best work. Incredibly, Morrissey's vocals are even better than the music, and the lyrics he wrote are brave. Most women aren't like the bride-to-be descibed in the song, but there are a lot of women who are. My friend Jason got married and his new bride literally quit her job, the next day. She called her boss and quit on the phone, in a Honolulu hotel, on their honeymoon! Then she told Jason, "Okay, you're going to take care of me now." After a year & a half of pure, unmerciful hell, Jason finally divorced the creep. Sometimes, you really do just have to "Kick the Bride Down the Aisle." And sometimes you have to kick the stupid groom down the aisle too.
I also love "One of Our Own." Morrissey's lyrics and vocals shatter everything bad and difficult in this world, at least in the moments one is listening to this powerful song. How any die-hard Morrissey fan can not be moved by a powerful song like this one, makes no sense to me. Gustavo's music is lovely and Moz is at his very best.
The other five songs I love on the album are "Neal Cassady Drops Dead," "Kiss Me A Lot," "Mountjoy," "Oboe Concerto," and "Julie In The Weeds." "Neal Cassady..." isn't the most accessible song, but once you get past the first 45 seconds are so it blossoms. I like the whole song now. The lyrics on "Mountjoy" could be the best ever written, by anyone. When I was listening to this song, driving in my car, I underestimated Boz's music. At home, I realized the subtle power that the music has with Morrissey's vocals and lyrics. The music isn't as repetitive as it seems, and is the coiled rattlesnake that shakes its rattle, but never strikes. Morrissey is the one who strikes. "Julie in the Weeds" is peaceful. Gorgeous and peaceful.
Of the other nine songs there are six that I like, and three that I don't like. The three that I don't like are the title track, "The Bullfighter Dies," and the unlistenable "Scandinavia." I should like "The Bullfighter Dies," but I just don't. I think it's because I much preferred the live version of it, before the album broke. I feel the same about, "The World is Full of Crashing Bores." I preferred the live version of it better than the slow version of it on, "You Are the Quarry."
I'm actually shocked that several long time Morrissey fans can't find anything to like about this album, and the b-sides. I appreciate the honest assessments but I'm just very surprised. Maybe if you take the album, and go for a two or three hour drive while listening to it, it will click with you. Or put on some headphones and go for a one or two hour walk listening to it. Don't give up on it. Give it a chance.