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Rating: In a period of (rightful) rediscovery of Moz both nationally and internationally, it's worth revisiting what is his best solo work: Your Arsenal.
This is the scandalous album. Morrissey was accused of racism for the song "National Front Disco" and for the live performance where he sang wrapped in the British flag (at a time when the flag was still a symbol of the right) in front of giant images of skinheads. Previously, there was already "Bengali in Platforms" from Morrissey's first solo album that had given rise to the first suspicions.
I believe that what disappointed the most was the fact that this represented a betrayal of the image and values promoted until then by the Smiths. The Smiths represented the revenge of the oddballs, the abnormal, the rejects of society and above all freed rock from the macho hegemony, offering an alternative even compared to the then-popular transvestitism.
Morrissey's sexuality was ambiguous, "sick," his literary references led to a very original fusion between popular culture and the intellectual world. Moz's infatuation during this period with grim characters, skinheads, hooligans, etc., seemed rightfully a step back and a betrayal.
Now the controversy is distant. We can conclude by saying that Moz is certainly not racist, but he was certainly stupid. One does not play, more or less ambiguously, with the most retrograde imagery of the fascist right.
Take "National Front Disco." The lyrics are indeed ambiguous, but that doesn't change the fact that the song is damn successful, both rhythmic and lyrical as when Morrissey is at his best, almost like in the Smiths' times.
Indeed, it's the solo album that most closely resembles the Smiths' sound: rough, dense, oscillating between intense ballads (excellent "We'll Let You Know," which deals with hooligans complete with masterfully inserted stadium chants before the final acceleration) and rock songs ("You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side" and "Glamorous Glue," the first two songs marking an explosive start to the work). But then it's a varied album, ranging from "Certain People I Know" (with its cabaret-like touches that remind me of Bowie's "Kooks" in "Hunky Dory") to the "divertissement" of "You're The One For Me Fatty" to "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful," typical yet well-crafted.
It perhaps slightly wanes towards the end, but Your Arsenal is definitely a work to have for anyone interested in the extraordinary character/icon that is Morrissey.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Glamorous Glue (04:01)
The first day with the jar you find
Everyone lies
The first day with the jar you find
Everyone lies
Nobody minds, everyone lies
Where is the man you respect?
And where is the woman you love?
Where's the woman you love?
The 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 you love?
Where's the woman you love?
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
I'm too much in love
I'm too much in love
04 The National Front Disco (04:23)
David, the wind blows
The wind blows
Bits of your life away
Your friends all say
Where is our boy?
Ah, we've lost our boy
But they should know
Where you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
That you're going to
Oh, you're going to
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
England for the English (England for the English)
David, the wind's blown
The wind's blown
All of my dreams away
And I still say
Where is our boy?
Ah, we've lost our boy
But I should know
Why you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
You've gone to the National, oh
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
Oh, then you might do
But David, we wonder
We wonder if the thunder
Is ever really gonna begin, begin, begin
Your mom says
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've settled the score
Oh, the National
Oh, the National
Oh, the National
Oh, the National
Oh, the National
05 Certain People I Know (03:12)
I take the cue from certain people I know
I use the cue and then I hand it on to you
And when I swing it so it catches his eye
Weren't you there, you'd have died
I trust the views of certain people I know
They look at danger and they laugh their heads off
Their clothes are imitation George XXIII
Don't you find this absurd?
I'd hate to be like certain people I know
They break their necks and can't afford to get them fixed
They'd sacrifice all of their principles for
Anything cashable
I do believe it's terrible
Oh-woah-woah
Oh-woah-woah
Oh-woah-woah
08 Seasick, Yet Still Docked (05:07)
I am a poor freezingly cold soul
So far from where I intended to go
Scavenging through life's very constant lulls
So far from where I'm determined to go
Wish I knew the way to reach the one I love
There is no way
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
Oh, 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
10 Tomorrow (04:06)
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 never do
Would you put your arms around me?
I won't tell 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 tell anybody
Tomorrow
And what must come before
Oh, the pain in my arms
Oh, the pain in my legs
Oh, my shiftless body
Tomorrow
It's surely nearer now
You don't think I'll make it
I never said I wanted to
Well, did I?
Oh, the pain in my arms
Oh, the pain in my legs
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
No, yeah, no, yeah
Through my shiftless body
Tomorrow
Tomorrow
All I ask of you, oh
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
Ah, I know you don't mean it
Ah, I know you don't mean it
Tell me, tell me that you love me
Tell me, tell me that you love me
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