Thursday 9 August 2007

MORRISSEY – THE LAST OF THE FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL PLAYBOYS (EMI)


MORRISSEY – THE LAST OF THE FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL PLAYBOYS (EMI)

Often with Morrissey you get the impression that he would have liked to have been born into an era and quite possibly into another body. Here is a man that chooses his heroes with interesting (and occasionally) dubious criteria that suggests a devil streak in him.

“Dear hero in prison” just might be my favourite first line of any British indie (well, alternative) song. Practically a love letter sent out to Reggie Kray this is a most English song and exhibits just what it is that Morrissey does best in his dissection (and celebration) of our nation’s rejected treasures. There is a rich tapestry in being English and disliked in your home country and this is something that appears to create relish in our man.

You sense from the lyrical content that Morrissey quite identifies with Mr Kray and the role of the song is about looking for some kind of reasoning and origin behind negative gestures with view to abstaining he and his subject from responsibility.

With The Smiths rhythm section still on board the playing is tempered and sinister in its accompaniment and build before reaching a wonky climax than manages to rightfully remain respectful to the source material throughout.

Thesaurus moment: bouquet.

Morrissey
EMI

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