Morrissey
Your Arsenal

THE REVIEW

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.