Morrissey – Greatest Hits

Morrissey – Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits – Morrissey

BY Lachlan Jobbins

Morrissey’s star has been on the rise again for the last few years, with two UK number one albums and a string of top 10 singles. Now there’s his Greatest Hits, featuring thirteen singles and two new tracks ‘ That’s How People Grow Up and All You Need Is Me. I’m all for greatest hits albums ‘ the lazy listener’s music collection ‘ but this one is a little unusual. Apart from the new songs, there are four tracks each from You are the Quarry and Ringleader of the Tormentors, one from the 2005 live album Live at Earl’s Court, three from Bona Drag (an early collection of singles and B-sides), and one from Vauxhall and I. Meanwhile, not one track from his mid-90s albums makes the cut. But in choosing songs strictly by chart success (every one is a top 20 hit), the compilation reveals something surprising ‘ he’s actually getting better. Now in his 40s, Morrissey still sings about loneliness, love (or lack of it), life (and its coming end) and the pain of growing up (parents, teachers, authority figures). The homoerotic is still there, and he’s political as always. For Morrissey, the words have always been the focus. But why release a greatest hits album of songs that most fans will already have’ Tragics (like me) will buy it for the new tracks. But the real thrill is the double CD version with a bonus disc of 8 songs recorded at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. The man who once railed at record companies for fleecing fans with cut-rate product and endless re-issues is now rock royalty, and loving every moment.

****
 

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.