Zack: I had, up to this point, been underwhelmed by the musical offerings of Morrissey that we had come across. Both Meat is Murder by The Smiths and Viva la Hate – Morrissey’s debut solo album – just felt sort of empty to me in a way that reminded me a lot of what I dislike about 80s post punk (perhaps not surprisingly, both of those albums came from the 1980s). But whatever happened once the decade turned is a godsend, because I was really drawn into Your Arsenal. It had a more definitive oomph to it that prevented it from just whisking by. Wikipedia tells me that this was Morrissey drawing more influence from glam rock, and that is a thing I really hope he kept doing on the other two solo albums that we have left. Because the change in his sound, and the excitement that gets imbued into the music from that change, make all the difference between a forgettable album and one that can contend for one of my top 5 favorites come album 400.
Favorite Tracks: Seasick, Yet Still Docked; We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful; You’re Gonna Need Someone on Your Side
Emily: I had come to expect a certain sound from Morrissey - indie pop, emotional, brooding, dark...I could go on, but you probably get the point. I liked that sound from Morrissey and the Smiths. And then he goes and puts out Your Arsenal. The underlying emotion is still there, but infused with rock, glam, and rockabilly. It sounds like he's having a lot more fun with the music, and I had more fun along with him. Now that I know that Morrissey's sound isn't just the somewhat singular (but compelling) note from his earlier work, I'm even more curious to delve deeper into his discography.
Favorite Tracks: You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side; I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday; Tomorrow
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