BookishBoy
Well-Known Member
Today's song is this Morrissey/Tobias composition, the fourth single from the Ringleader of the Tormentors album, which reached Number 16 in the UK charts in Dec 2006.
What do we think?
Worse than "The Father Who Must Be Killed," though?My least favourite on Ringleader. Assembly line Jesse Tobias rock, with barely any distinguishing qualities from similarly composed tracks like “Youngest Was The Most Loved” aside from the (admittedly enjoyable, though he did it better on “When Last I Spoke To Carol”) mariachi finish. The “before I die” section of vocals is quite nice, but there isn’t really a strong vocal melody after or before. Not one I go back to often, I’m afraid.
4/10
I'd say so. That track is another of my least favourites, but at least the lyrics are more interesting, to a degree.Worse than "The Father Who Must Be Killed," though?
Best story about this song is Morrissey insisting on playing it well in 2008, ages after Michael Farrell had left the live band, and employed Kris Pooley who couldn't play the trombone, unlike his predecessor.
Eventually Kris was allowed to mash at his synthesizer during the "solo", which was not AS funny, but tragic nonetheless.
I always thought that when sung live, this song in particular often showed whatever weakness was in Morrissey's voice at the time. Lots of occasions where he drops tune or stretches his voice in uncomfortable ways. As stated, the energy is there in the live performances and that seems to make up for any transgressions - for some folks. For me I cannot help but hear those uncomfortable moments - even in the three live vids shared above!
Interestingly, I was also thinking that his vocal harmony and vocal range are somewhat disjoint from the music, reminiscent of some early Smiths songs.I know what you mean but for me these imperfections actually add to the energetic feeling of the song.
It reminds me of early Smith recordings, maybe that's why I like the cracks and stretches.