Welcome to... _____________________________________ | \ | S T R A N G E W A Y S > |____________________________________/ Moderne Forum For Morrissey And The Smiths Volume Three Issue Four Hello AGAIN subscribers, since the new LP came out, there has been quite a bit of great posts; keep them coming! :) Send all posts, requests for sub- scriptions, inquiries, and address changes to: gt7274c@prism.gatech.edu If you are a new subscriber, or even if you aren't and haven't yet received the subscribers poll, LET ME KNOW, and I'll email it to you at once. Remem- ber, PLEASE fill these out sometime, I would like to start compiling it. I understand that the new LP needs to sink in, but "please keep it in mind". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Moderator's Silly Slang: Sorry, but no tour news. In fact, I got a letter from Ilene at Sire in the mail today saying she won't be able to confirm, and not to call her to ask about them. So, sorry to those people I said I'd give her number to, but PLEASE DON'T CALL SIRE, they are VERY BUSY, I will find out tour dates I am sure before they are announced, but I am not sure when. Hopefully those guys at 'Sing Your Life' will ask Jo Slee more detailed questions, but she did say "Texas or Louisianna September 17." Sounds good, huh? :) Here's Morrissey's press tour itinerary according to Ilene at Sire: Tuesday, July 28th -- off. Wednesday, July 29th -- Morrissey in Houston at the Record Rack. Thursday -- off. Friday, July 31 -- Los Angeles! Sam Goody's on Hollywood Blvd. next to the Chinese Theatre -- you have to win a wristband on KROQ to go to this. Saturday, August 1 -- San Diego -- 91X is having a contest, and if you win, you get to go to a secret location and there will be a party with Morrissey there. I can't give the location...sorry! Sunday, August 2 -- Travel day. Monday, August 3 -- Modern Rock Live. He's scheduled to be on this radio show there. Tuesday, August 4 -- Press day. Wednesday, August 5 -- MTV live performance for Hangin With MTV. Interview with John Norris, and possibly Kurt Loder for 120 Minutes or/and MTV news. Tickets for this are already SOLD OUT. Morrissey will then return home until the tour! And we will be here waiting for him. I promise to exhaust all means to find out those tour dates, but I hope others try too, maybe we can all get some pieces to the Morrissey tour puzzle. Also, I am going to send some of the 'Strangeways' issues to Ilene, so if she sees some of your questions, she is very good at answering them, so just send any questions you have as a post! And THANKS ILENE, YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT with so much going on all at once!!!! :) Michael "I'm too much in love, I'm too much in love" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Christopher -Cable- King Subject: Your Arsenal Review Wow! The time has finally arrived. Today, Tuesday 28 July, 1992, Morrissey's new album was released. Not since 20 March 1991 (the date of Kill Uncle's release) have I so eagerly anticipated a day. Except this day was not to follow with the same sense of disappointment that that day ended with. For those who don't feel like wading through my entire review I'll encapsulate my opinions of this album. Close, but not quite. I would compare it to Meat is Murder, which I thought was a great album, but didn't quite have that extra punch that put it over the top. Your Arsenal doesn't have a song of the classic nature of "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", but it is a wonderful album. I dread to make such statements after only hearing the album four times (straight in a row, with my doors locked, head phones on, telephone unplugged), but it deserves it. The album goes back to the classic Smiths rock and roll approach to music, with a ballad or two thrown in for good measure. It has its traditional pop songs which Morrissey is so fine at crafting, but more than that it has the power which only Morrissey can bring to an album. I will agree that Morrissey has stumbled more than once in his solo career. First with Viva Hate which was not exactly flawless, but to its credit it had the incredible Alsatian Cousin and Suedehead. Then there was Bona Drag, which Morrissey does not get enough credit for. Even though it was a singles and b-sides compilation, no ones B-sides are as awesome as the Mozzer's. Then, regretably, there was Kill Uncle. Except for its moments of heart stopping intensity (mostly Mute Witness), it lacked the instrumental arrangements that make a great album, even though the lyrics were inspired. Now, I am happy to say, Morrissey has finally found an adequate (more than adequate - wonderful) replacement for Johnny Marr - Alain Whyte, who has been in his current band since the Kill Uncle Tour. Alain cowrote all but two songs on this album. "You're Gonna Need Someone" and "I Know Its Gonna Happen" were written by Mark E. Nevin, the person credited with cowriting most of Kill Uncle. Morrissey's faith in the long term prospects of his band are shown on the back of the CD box, where he duly allows everyone to be photographed. Unfortunately the picture of Alain Whyte does not do the boy justice. In concert he is shown to be God's gift to men and women. The one thing I noticed before I got home from the record store was the absolute lack of lyrics that were in the liner notes to this album. This is a serious flaw, seeing as how half the reason one buys a Morrissey album is for the engaging lyrics. However, after having listened to the album, I can't help but feeling that Morrissey was a bit uncomfortable with his lyrics on this album. They are not quite up to par with his past achievements, and at moments seem as if they could have been written by anyone - but after listening to them, and comparing them against Carter USM's lyrics in their new album (which I also bought today) - I must say that Morrissey is still far superior even when he is mediocre. Now for my opinions track by track - lucky you :) You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side ______________________________________ This is a very hard sounding track. A friend described it as having a "Grunge Metal" sound to it. I whole-heartedly agree. Plus, it has an awesome guitar going through the entire track which brings up memories of Batman - duh duh duh ... This definately signals a change from Kill Uncle. Glamorous Glue ______________ New Musical Express describes this completely glam rock - thinking of Morrissey's roots that makes sense. It is pretty good, not great, but has some interesting lyrics which unfortunately lack cohesion. "Firs day of your job you find everyone lies, no one cares" "We look to LA for the language we use, London is Dead, London is Dead..." Quite campy. We'll Let You Know __________________ This song didn't do much for me at first, buit it is definately growing on me. Once again the lyrics seem to wander, which is unusual because the Mozzer usually crafts "perfect pop melodies". This is _almost_ a classic. There are beautiful guitar and various other sounds which mesh wondefully. But what does this lyric mean? "We're all smiles and honest I swear its the turnstiles that make us hostile" The National Front Disco ________________________ INCREDIBLE! The first absolutely great song on the album. Its fast. Its rock and roll. Its lyrically dense. Its vocally lush. What more could one ask for. Morrissey does vocal gymnastics, showing a true range. Brilliant! "You've gone because you want the day to come sooner when you'll settle the score" Certain People I Know _____________________ quite rockabilly. Sort of what I worried the entire album would be like after listening to the KROQ sessions and Pregnant for the Last Time. It includes a traditional Moz paradox: "I trust the views of certain people I know... I'd hate to be like certain people I know." An album has to have a top half and a bottom half, this falls under the latter. But Moz's bottom half is better than most top halfs. We Hate It.... ______________ You know it - you love it. Perfect single You're the One for Me Fatty ___________________________ I've already reviewed it, but it is quite good. Seasick Yet Still Docked ________________________ It has a beautiful intro. And its one great feature is that its atrocious title is not to be found anywhere in the lyrics :). I am ambivalent about this song. There is a potential for something great, but it doesn't quite make it. And the lyrics are uninspired: "I wish I had the charm to attract the one I love, but I've got no charm." I Know Its Gonna Happen Someday _______________________________ Unadulterated passion and brilliance. Opens with Russian (?) voices broadcast over a static background, then into a short Doris Day (?) melody, then into a powerful, anthemic ballad. And my god, its semi-optomistic. "My love, wherever you are, whomever you are, don't lose faith, I know its gonna happen someday. Please wait." Tomorrow ________ You'll be hearing a lot more of this song. Wonderful single, now out in most of the states. Rock and four minutes long ( a long single by Moz's standards!) "Tomorrow - You don't think I'd make it. I never said I wanted to - did I?" Overall - four of five snaps! Review Key: five snaps - girl, run out and buy this one quick before you waste your money on that new George Michael song. four snaps - It's not quite as good as Sinnead's "Nothing Compares 2 U", but you'll be listening to it long past the time Ross Perot becomes another anonymous has-been politician. 3*3* snaps - It may not be a classic, but neither was that damned Vanilla Ice album you wasted your money on. This, at least is money well spent. two! snaps - There are a lot of albums in the word, can you really afford this one? Remember, Madonna is scheduled for August - save up. 1 :( snap - This album will fit nicely between your Village People's "Macho Man" maxi-single and La Toya Jackson's album which you bought when you thought she was making a comeback - immediately after "reading" the article in Playboy. *NO* snaps - What are you thinking, girl? Snap out of it! ******************************************** ______ *************************** ** Christopher King Harvey ACT \ / With Silence We ** ** Class of '95 Mudd College UP \ / Oppress Ourselves ** ********************************************** \/ ***************************** ** My opinions stand as the official opinions of Harvey Mudd College and all ** ** of the related institutions and employees until I am challenged. ** ******************************************************************************* ** "Your Prejudice Won't Keep You Warm Tonight" - Morrissey ** ******************************************************************************* From: skrajew@aug1.augsburg.edu (Scott Krajewski) Subject: Your Arsenal lyrics 1st try Here's my attempt at the lyrics from 'Your Arsenal.' 'Tomorrow' TJB. '( )' means that I think I might know what this part is and '????" means that I am really lost. Please E-mail me any corrections or suggestions. If we get a really good final version I'll make a neato postscript file and post it or something. Morrissey - 'Your Arsenal' All songs written by Morrissey/Alain Whyte except #1 & #9 by Morrissey/M.E. Nevin 'You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side' With the world's fate resting on your shoulders You're gonna need someone on your side You can't do it by yourself Any longer You're gonna need someone on your side Someone kindly told me that you've wasted Eight of nine lives Give yourself a break Before you break down You're gonna need someone on your side And here I am And here I am Well you don't need to look so pleased Day or night There is no difference You're gonna need someone on your side Day or night There is no difference You're gonna need someone on your side And here I am And here I am Well you don't need to look so pleased 'Glamorous Glue' First day with the jar you find Everyone lies First day with the jar you find Everyone lies Nobody minds Everyone lies Where is the man you respect? And where is the woman that you love? Where's the woman that you love? Third week with the jar you find Everything dies We won't vote conservative Because we never have Everyone lies Everyone lies Where is the man you respect? And where is the woman that you love? Where's the woman that you love? Everything of worth On earth Is there to share I used to dream And I used to (vow) I wouldn't dream of it now We look to Los Angeles For the language we use London is dead London is dead London is dead London is dead London is dead London is dead (????) (????) Somewhere I'll go Into (hell) and >From (????) 'We'll Let You Know' How sad (????) And how sad have we been We'll let you know We'll let you know But only if You're really interesting You wonder how We've stayed alive 'till now We'll let you know We'll let you know But only if You're really interesting We're all smiles And honest I swear It's the turnstiles That made us hostile We will descend On anyone unable to defend Themselves And the songs we sing They're not supposed to mean a thing We may seem cold Or we may even be The most depressing people you've ever known (????) What's left (we) sadly (know) That we are the last Truly British people you've ever known We are the last truly British people You will ever know Ever never Want to know 'The National Front Disco' David, the wind blows The wind blows Bits of your life away Your friends all say, "Where is our boy?" "We lost our boy." But they should have known where you have gone Because again and again you've explained That you're going to Going to England for the English England for (the English) David, the winds blow The winds blow All of my dreams away And I still say, "Where is our boy?" "We lost our boy." But I should have known why you've gone Because again and again you've explained You've gone to The National to The National There's a country You don't live there But one day you would like to And if you show them what you're made of Then you (might prove) David, we wonder We wonder if the thunder Is ever really gonna begin Begin again Your mum said, "I've lost my boy." But she should know Why you've gone Because again and again you've explained You've gone to The National to The National to The National Front Disco Because you want the day to come sooner You want the day to come sooner You want the day to come sooner When you settle the score The National The National The National The National The National 'Certain People I Know' I take the cue from certain people and I use the cue and then I hand it on to you And when I swing it So it catches his eye Would you dare? You'd have died I trust the views of certain people I know The look at danger and they laugh their heads off Their clothes are imitation George the twenty-third Don't you find This absurd? I'd hate to be like certain people I know The break their necks and can't afford to get them fixed They'd sacrifice all Oh the principles fall Anything cashable I do believe It's terrible 'We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful' We hate it when our friends become successful We hate it when our friends become successful Oh look at those clothes Now look at that face It's so old And such a video Well, it's really laughable We hate it when our friends become successful and if they're northern That it makes it even worse then If we can destroy them You bet your life we will destroy them If we can hurt them Well, we may as well It's really laughable You see it should have been me It could have been me Everybody knows Everybody says so They say Oh, you have loads of songs So many songs More songs then they can stand First chorus (a mid-late break of faith) Just listen..... 'You're The One For Me, Fatty' You're the one for me, fatty You're the one I really really love And I will stay Promise you'll say if I'm in your way You're the one for me, fatty You're the one I really really love And I will stay Promise you'll say if I'm ever in your way A hey All (over battle scenes) Some hope and some despair All (over battle scenes) some hope and some despair You're the one for me, fatty You're the one I really really love And I will stay Promise you'll say if I'm in your way You're the one for me, fatty You're the one I really really love And I will stay Promise you'll say if I'm ever in your way A hey All (over battle scenes) Some hope and some despair All (over battle scenes) some hope and some despair You're the one for me, fatty You're the one I really really love And I will stay Promise you'll say if I'm ever in your way A hey You're the one for me, fatty You're the one for me Hey hey A hey a hey A hey A hey hey hey 'Seasick, Yet Still Docked' I am a poor Freezingly cold soul So far from where I intended to go Scavenging through Life's very constant lows So far from where I'm determined to go I wish I knew the way To reach the one I love There is no way I wish I had the charm To attract the one I love But you see I've got no charm Tonight I've consumed Much more than I can hold All this is Very clear to you And you can tell I have never really loved You can tell by the way I sleep all day And all of my life No one gave me anything No one has ever given me anything My love is as sharp As a needle in your eye You must be such a fool To pass me by 'I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday' My love Wherever you are Whatever you are Don't lose faith I know it's gonna happen someday To you Please wait Please wait Wait Don't lose faith You say that the day Just never arrives And its (never seems) so far away Still I know it's gonna happen someday To you Please wait Don't lose faith 'Tomorrow' Tomorrow Will it really come? And if it does come, will I still be human? All I ask of you is one thing that you'll never do Would you put your arms around me? I won't have anyone Tomorrow Does it have to come? All I ask of you is one thing that you'll never do Would you put your arms around me? I won't have anybody Tomorrow And what must come before? All of the pain in my arms All of the pain in my legs Through my shiftless body Tomorrow Its surely nearer now You don't think I'll make it I never said I wanted to Well did I? All of the pain in my arms All of the pain in my legs Oh yeah, oh yeah No yeah, no yeah Through my shiftless body Tomorrow Tomorrow All I ask of you... Is would you tell me that you love me? Tell me, tell me that you love me Tell me, tell me that you love me Tell me that you love me Oh, I know you don't mean it Oh, I know you don't mean it Oh tell me, oh tell me Oh tell me, oh tell me ------------------------------------------ So there we have it! 'We'll let you know but only if you're really interesting.' Scott From: Michael.C.Massengale@Dartmouth.EDU Subject: Strangeways Re: This Charming Man CD Anybody if the US will get both CD singles? Or, if one, which one? Maybe both on one? Also, does anybody think, as I speculate, that the UK releases might follow the trend of filling a "set," with one disc coming in a case to hold both discs, and the second coming in a cheap paper envelope? Just curious. Michael "Tonight, I've consumed much more than I can hold." From: wiltel!dlocke@uunet.UU.NET Subject: New Video Someone asked about the Morrissey video; here's some brief info: It was shot in VHS, which means so-so picture quality. Nothing very exciting about the video. The sound is, upon first listen an modest volumes, simply not that hot -- I guess I'd call it fuzzy in the bass-midrange, OK at the top, but with the percussion mixed too high. I'll try to listen to it at higher volumes and report back. Other briefs - my stupid cd player won't spin-up the "We Hate..." cd single, and I bought it in Ann Arbor so taking it back isn't convenient (as I live in Texas). Anyone else have a problem with that? Orderred the new CD yesterday; I'm looking forward to hearing it and appreciate the descriptions others have provided. Finally, I'm always looking to trade boots; I have audio and video (and some rarities) avialable. Send me private mail: uunet!wiltel!dlocke Later, -Dick Locke p.s. The video is around 60 minutes long. From: karty@cs.washington.edu (Richard Karty) Subject: Strangeways I'm about to leave town and in a hurry but - 'A Taste of Honey' is going to be on the PBS station in Seattle - channel 9 at 9:00 on Saturday. 'Strangeways' subscribers in the viewing area shouldn't miss this formative part of M.'s psyche. From: "Bird Rendell H." Subject: CUSM's _Panic_ Strange-Folk, Michael C. Massengale asks: P.S. Where's this Carter USM cover of Panic supposed to appear? I bought 1992: The Love Album today, but it's not on it. What gives? It is on their most recent CDSingle. I am afraid I don't remember the name of the main song, but I almost bought the CD5 for the cover picture alone : it is montage of condom wrappers! *I LIKE IT* Plus I have a question myself: Who is the person on the cover of the _Strageways Here We Come_ album (as well as the inside of the CD booklet for "Paint a Vulgar Picture")? Rendell