Morrissey´s triumphant comeback?
Alejandro De Luna
Photo: Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
In the aftermath of Morrissey´s most difficult year in a 2013 full of illnesses, cancellations, and the lack of a record label (a constant in his career), it seems that Manchester´s melancholic poet´s back in shape. Blended with classics and Smiths´gems, yesterday at San Jose, California, we had the opportunity to listen for the first time to three new witty observations from the 54 year old mastermind towards world peace, loneliness, and animal cruelty. As per the new setlist? It is far superior from the one of his previous tour, which dates back to March, 2013 when Morrissey´s luck flipped into a spiral of bad fortune.
We know that trouble loves Morrissey but since last October, it seems that the coin – surprisingly – flipped on his favor when a successful autobiography detonated a two-album deal with Capitol Music last January. But, despite last year´s misfortune surrounding him, we also saw the redesigned edition of “The Last Of The Famous International Playboys” with ‘new tracks’ like “People Are the Same Everyrwhere”, “Action Is My Middle Name”, and “The Kid´s A Looker” receiving a proper treatment in the studio. Immediately after, it came Kill Uncle´s redesigned edition, and at the end of the year when things were getting better for Moz, a performance in his beloved Scandinavia at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, followed by his tribute on vinyl to Lou Reed.
This year´s full of hope and expectation. After a the redesigned edition of Your Arsenal in February, and Vauxhall and I´s 20th Anniversary Edition (to be released in June), our hopes reside on Morrissey´s new album after 5 long years chasing his trail. Assertively, it is called World Peace Is None Of Your Business, a title that seems ironic after Manchester´s crooner presentation at the Nobel Prize last December and his previous controversial comments on the disgusting Oslo massacre. A typical Morrissey move…
Is it a triumphant comeback last night´s show? As per we can judge in You Tube, it seems that the man is in top form and his voice´s at best. The new songs sound better than the latest collaborations with Jesse Tobias, and there´s a hint of Latino/Spanish influence in tracks like “The Bullfighter Dies” and “Earth Is The Loneliest Planet”. However, my hopes reside on the sparkling genius of Boz Boorer, now that he doesn´t need to compete against Alan Whyte´s memorable tunes.
Definitely a triumphant return for music in times where pop artists do not have anything thoughtful to say. A triumphant comeback for Morrissey? Let´s wait till WPINOYB sees the light.
Have a look at the setlist (ordered chronologically), gallery, listen to the new songs and enjoy (?) a violent stage invasion that forced him to abruptly stop the last song.
READ OUR FEATURE ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SMITHS´ DEBUT ALBUM
The Smiths
Hand In Glove
Meat Is Murder
Asleep
Viva Hate
Everyday Is Like Sunday
1989 Single
Yes, I Am Blind (Ouija Board, Ouija Board B-side)
Your Arsenal
I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday
The National Front Disco
Vauxhall & I
Speedway
Maladjusted
Trouble Loves Me
You Are The Quarry, “The LA years”
I Have Forgiven Jesus
First Of The Gang To Die
Ringleader Of The Tormentors, “The Roman year”
Ganglord
Life Is A Pigsty
The Youngest Was The Most Loved
2008 Single
That’s How People Grow Up
Years Of Refusal
I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell (STAGE INVASION)
World Peace Is None Of Your Business
World Peace Is None Of Your Business
The Bullfighter Dies (min 4:00)
Earth Is The Loneliest Planet
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