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May 26th, 2005
Morrissey - (Sanctuary)

Who Put the "M" in Manchester? [DVD]
Jamie O'Meara

Well, we've never been led to doubt Morrissey's insecurities nor his pretensions, and both are well represented here in equal measure, having been served well by another swollen segment of his psyche, his ambitions. The result is a high-camp, high-quality reproduction of a birthday concert (his, of course) performed in his hometown of Manchester last year, set against 20-foot-high, glowing red letters spelling out his name across the breadth of the stage at the cavernous Earls Court. I confess I'm not much of a fan of Morrissey's solo work, the schmaltzy and often wincing imagery of his new writing floating the showboating Sinatra styling (which the former Smiths frontman takes great pains to impress upon us, both opening and closing the show with Old Blue Eyes) and occasional rapturous Elvis posing. Old fans can be grateful for the small, if anemic-sounding, handful of Smiths covers, but on the whole it's the more recent devotees - seen hurling themselves at Morrissey throughout the show - who are guaranteed to get the most out of this. Extras include videos, festival footage and, unsurprisingly, some gory PETA propaganda.


	Write your review of this record !

A DVD befitting the Moz' late career return

The DVD "Who Put the "M" in Manchester?"features British rock icon Morrissey and his band performing in Manchester on his birthday, at the beginning of the 'You Are the Quarry' tour in May 2004. The first in the Mozzer's repertoire, this DVD isn't anything new, but that doesn't mean it's not great. Most of the tracks come from the'You Are the Quarry' album with only the tiniest variations. For instance, "Irish Blood, English Heart" has a bit more pathos; "First Of The Gang To Die" is much more theatrical, with Morrissey making exaggerated moves while Boz Boorer is playing on a tommygun-shaped guitar.

This DVD shows that, in lieu of their earlier rockabilly sound, Morrissey and his group have lately developed a more polished sound. Which doesn't mean that they have lost their edge even though Morrissey uses his burnished baritone vocals as a modern-day crooner. On the contrary ! Songs like "I Have Forgiven Jesus" or "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores" prove that Morrissey can still write witty and sardonic songs. Similarly, the lush or energetic band arrangements give him an regal aura befitting his late career return.

To end the main feature of the DVD, the set closes with an encore, the energetic rendition of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out". This excellent version sees every member of the band leaving one after the other, bidding their farewell, as the song drifts into the night with the last keynotes.

Sylvain Provost

{12 votes}

June 10th, 2005

Yes, but...

I think Jamie O'Meara's review touches on some obvious, but important, points about Morrissey while perhaps skipping over some of the more interesting speculations about Moz. While the giant red letters spelling out MORRISSEY may seem the stuff of ego, do they not possess a striking resemblance to those used by Elvis during his '68 comback special? Is the Sinatra showboating an unintentional surfacing of self-described grandeur, or is it intentionally absurdist? Like so many debates we can have about the idioms of indie rock, we eventually ask ourselves the question, 'Yeah, but isn't it ironic?'

Which isn't to say that Moz gets a free pass for being a windbag. One of the questions those-in-the-know are supposed to be asking themselves is that if they use an expression or a style that's been declared a 'bad thing' ironically, are they still not perpetuating the existence of said expression or style? Those who give Morrissey the benefit of the doubt say that he intentionally and interestingly constrasts his Manchester working-class roots with the iconic, archetypal rock posturing he's become famous for. Others say he's been doing it so long that has come to believe it and point out that for a vegan, he's perfectly okay with wearing leather shoes as an abject lesson for the English and American youth and their boorish sense of style.

There's also another perspective: whether Morrissey is getting dressed in the morning and going to work in a po-mo playground of bricolage and idea-play or doing coke off a hooker's back in a taxi-cab, I'd like to see Fred Durst try and sing This Charming Man. The guy's got a voice, and it's certainly his.

Natalie Linklater

{19 votes}

May 26th, 2005

Me,Me,Me.........

This DVD may be of value to Morrissey fans but generally as O'Meara states, he is pompous and self-glorified. His existence centres around an ego that takes up half the stage before he even enters the theatre. It's one thing to be charming and self-confident, it's quite another to bloat yourself so much that reality is a word outside of your vocabulary and that the stage you are is only made of metal, wood and supports. Remember, "stars" can vanish very quickly in the public's eyes if they are too stuck up, conceited or they forget the little people that make it happen for them every night.

These are the people that surround your performance with their skills (you know: the sound guys, the promoters, the backing band, the marketers, the hair and makeup etc....).

Without them, Mr Morrissey, what would you be? Now, if you had stayed with the Smiths, then, we wouldn't need to be prompting you on etiquette, now would we? It's always harder being a solo artist in the spotlight vs member of a band with other musicians (it's easier to deflect the criticism).

There are other soloists who also have fallen in love with themselves: Robbie Williams and Mariah Carey notwithstanding. Somehow, Morrissey comes across with way more shmaltz and ego. He will sell quite a few of these DVD's but not to me.

Steve Landry

{3 votes}

June 11th, 2005

Life After The Smiths

Morrisey has one of the best voices that have ever come out from the new wave scene of the eighties. Everyone would love to see "The Smiths" reunite because they were this awesome band that everyone loved. As a solo artist Morrisey is very strong and has many fans that still adore him. Morrisey has come to grips that he is a singer that loves to perform. This DVD is a must have for any fan who needs to see him perform. Morrisey videos are very cool and I will buy this magnificent concept DVD.

Gerry Samson

{9 votes}

May 29th, 2005

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