Morrissey's "Low in High School" is a very odd album. For one, he's an incredible lyricist, but this album is not a work of a great lyric writer. He is a fantastic observer of moods and the character of a place he knows, such as Manchester. When he leaves that world, he's basically a tourist and commenting from a travel guide. I can't tell if the song "Israel" is a political commentary or a song he wrote for their tourist board. And if he is praising Israel as a country or culture, how can he, on the one hand, put down a soldier who is fighting in a war ("I Bury the Living"), and yet praising a country that has the largest war merchandise with respect to military power in that region? People join the military for various reasons, perhaps financial, social, or family practice. Morrissey doesn't go into the subject matter with much insight into the soldier's mind.
His fascination with Tel-Aviv is basically a mystery to me. But then again, he was like that with Rome, but at the very least he mentions his love for Pasolini and Morricone's music - but what does he say about Tel-Aviv? How does he feel about the Gaza? If he was writing about a location as if it was in a journal that is one thing, but he's making a huge statement that's "Israel."
Musically and style wise "Low in High School" reminds me of a bit of Jacques Brel, but without the intellect or his life experience. The album is very 'produced' with no space or silence. It's like a TV commercial where one stops thinking, and you are just being preached upon, but in a manner that's annoying. Still, some musical delights come and go throughout the album.
Which comes to mind his singing on this album is superb, but the great voice can't hide the mis-thinking and naivety of his political stance. If, and or if he is making a political position. He's not Woody Gutherie that's for sure. His attack on 'mainstream' media is basically a conformist blaming others - in fact, he blames others a lot. What's disappointing to me is that I admire Morrissey's work. When he's great, he's really great. The sad thing and the great irony is that he sort of became a Donald Trump. There is a bullying aspect of his recent work, that is unsettling. One time he was with his audience, but now I feel that he's making judgments on other's culture without understanding that specific society or grouping.
Unlike Trump, Morrissey eroticizes his passions. There is a sexual manner where the brains stops and the body takes over. And I presume his take on race, war, diet, is very fetish orientated in that he fetishizes his likes that are not really true in nature or everyday life. As an artist, I think this is perfectly OK. On the other hand, when there is so much suffering in the world, he could show more compassion for those who have to do what they do to exist. At one time I felt he had a feel for those not in power - but now, things change. Life does change. We will see what tomorrow brings and what his reactions will be with the world in crisis.
His fascination with Tel-Aviv is basically a mystery to me. But then again, he was like that with Rome, but at the very least he mentions his love for Pasolini and Morricone's music - but what does he say about Tel-Aviv? How does he feel about the Gaza? If he was writing about a location as if it was in a journal that is one thing, but he's making a huge statement that's "Israel."
Musically and style wise "Low in High School" reminds me of a bit of Jacques Brel, but without the intellect or his life experience. The album is very 'produced' with no space or silence. It's like a TV commercial where one stops thinking, and you are just being preached upon, but in a manner that's annoying. Still, some musical delights come and go throughout the album.
Which comes to mind his singing on this album is superb, but the great voice can't hide the mis-thinking and naivety of his political stance. If, and or if he is making a political position. He's not Woody Gutherie that's for sure. His attack on 'mainstream' media is basically a conformist blaming others - in fact, he blames others a lot. What's disappointing to me is that I admire Morrissey's work. When he's great, he's really great. The sad thing and the great irony is that he sort of became a Donald Trump. There is a bullying aspect of his recent work, that is unsettling. One time he was with his audience, but now I feel that he's making judgments on other's culture without understanding that specific society or grouping.
Unlike Trump, Morrissey eroticizes his passions. There is a sexual manner where the brains stops and the body takes over. And I presume his take on race, war, diet, is very fetish orientated in that he fetishizes his likes that are not really true in nature or everyday life. As an artist, I think this is perfectly OK. On the other hand, when there is so much suffering in the world, he could show more compassion for those who have to do what they do to exist. At one time I felt he had a feel for those not in power - but now, things change. Life does change. We will see what tomorrow brings and what his reactions will be with the world in crisis.
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