This article is beyond "mean-spirited." It is factually untrue, and very dishonest. The writer obviously carries a giant chip on his shoulder, and these words are sheer veneer for hatred, lies, and antagonism. This writer clearly is projecting his own washed-out dreams onto an immensely talented and highly-influential artist/performer. Each word hurts more than the one before, here. I can't believe this type of "journalism" was even printed in the first place. This gentleman writes like an old, tired, anxious "queen." Go back home and spin Peter Frampton or Gino Vanelli.

That article/review was spot on.
You may dislike David Quantick all you want but the fact of the matter is, everything he said was the truth.
Let the moaning and groaning begin because some of you are unable to see the real picture.
The delusional Moz fans are so tiresome. You try any excuse you can to cover for the guy and it's just really sad.
I do however respect the fans who know better and want and expect a better output from Morrissey than the drivel we have been spoon feed for too long now.
We shouldn't have to put up with this garbage Moz has been foisting on us the last couple of years.
The songs are inadequate. The players are a lame karaoke band and the lyrics are exceedingly weak and uninspired and often time embarrassing.
Time for Moz to wake up. Time for him to start all over and end this sad and pathetic cycle is is in before it's too late.

I thought this was a particularly well written and well thought out review.

His comments on the band in particular ring true.

Not too sure why some "fans" are so upset.It's his opinion ! What would they prefer a fawning,unjudgemental approach?What be would the point in that ?

There are many others in the music industry that have said similar things about Moz(Tony Wilson,New Order etc etc)

Perhaps he is perhaps he isn't.Certainly his "audience" don't know .

I have written a lot of music reviews and one thing I will never understand is why someone who hates a band would ever review that band. It's unfair and it is destined to be a bad review. If morrissey made the most brilliant album ever this guy would still say it's crap because he obviosuly hates Moz.
That being said, I agree with what he said about this most recent "greatest hits" compilation. It's crap. Two new songs - thank you very much by the way - don't make up for a lame collection that excludes so many of his better songs. Not to mention that he has already put out so many collections of songs that it's almost (almost, I say) funny.

First of all this man David Quantick brings out the Smiths again. Morrissey has been solo for 20 years now - 4 times longer than the Smiths ever lived. He obviously has difficulties moving on with the times.

Has he actually been to a Morrissey concert recently? I doubt it. Nobody in their sound mind would call his band a "Pub rock" band. I don't know what type of pubs Quantick goes to, but he certainly won't find musicians like these in the pub circuit. It's quite a nasty insult to call his band "his sidekicks".

AND of course in the end he needs to drag out the "racism" debate! All too frequent songs about British Culture? Royal Family led NF tourist park? Well, he clearly must HATE being british.

In the picture he looks like smirking smarmy cunt. I wouldn't think twice bashing his teeth in and get his glasses flying.

I am very disappointed at the Word magazine. I didn't think that they would sink as low as this. I always thought that The Word was the only decent music mag left.

Quantick obviously can't stand the sight of Morrissey - never has, never will. So be it. But the article is just....personal.

My favourite bit has to be "The odd song about a Mexican gang member and a lonely lesbian doesn't disguise the fact he's quite happy to dismiss a whole chunk of population, etc". Since when were the journalists supposed to be telling singers and songwriters what subjects and which people they should write about?

Seeing the face in the first page of the journalist, and everything written, I ask this journalism throwing garbage, it is a form to reach reputation, this that they cannot do for own merit . they being so subjective his commentaries, so full of hatred without analysis, when morrissey has a successful tour, his songs are in good positions and his fans have multiplied, we are looking at growth of an artist , he does this of an honest form, but not in order that a mediocre journalist it attacks directly him .Me I ask before this so subjective journalism, so full of passion and hatred, does not exist a corrupt politician , terrorist, civil servant sold whom attacking. Something that to denounce

This seems less a review about the Greatest Hits collection, than it is a full on character attack. Seems an odd place for such a rant.

That Morrissey gets reactions like this! He has always done since the very early days and I think he always will. I don't think it does his popularity any harm or make him any less popular. I'd be worried if he was seen as the new coldplay or the new Oasis. Though Oasis are quite good.

What is hurtful about this review is the slagging of his band. That was below-the-belt but I am sure it was Quantick's purpose. You'd be hard pushed to find a more professional band to back Morrissey.

People should realize that artist like Morrissey - with a career as long as 20+ years - are expected to deliver PERFECT material at every turn by the journalists. If they don't, they are the easiest targets for the music press who will always want another "Vauxhal" or another master-piece. Let alone The Smiths reunion.

I think that Quarry and Ringleader were magnificent albums and that there is more great material to follow. To me Morrissey is a bit like Bolan or Bowie: their careers had ebb and flows.

I really don't think that Morrissey has become boring at all. It would be stupid to expect him to be the same as he was 15 years ago - running around on stage having his clothes (virtually) ripped off him. He is more mature, of course, and has a different direction as an artist. Unfortunately he will always always be compared to the past glories of the Smiths. But it doesn't diminish the fact that he remains a true original, a great lyricist and a great performer.

To be honest, there are some valid points made in this review - in terms of Moz's recent output, and the musical lackings of his current backing band. He doesn't necessarily come off as one who despises all things Morrissey, just one who believes Moz's better days (ie. the Smiths) are behind him. And I would have to agree to this to an extenet. However, the reviewer goes a little far in the second half of the review, in particular the last paragraph or two, and makes a few personal attacks that aren't needed. But outside of that, I wouldn't say that the first half of the review missed the mark...

I love that some Morrissey listeners are so totally against the majority of his solo career and keep crying and whining and flogging their breasts for the old days. Get. Over. It. For whatever reason all the complaints just make the newer stuff sound that much more interesting to me. I'll take ITFWAW over EDILS any day. And regardind his band, they are the best backing group he's had for his entire solo career. I saw a set on his most recent U.S. tour and they were blindingly good. I've been around, seen many shows by many bands, and they were top notch in sound and performance. Deal with it, poopy heads.

This review wasn't a review of the Greatest Hits, it was a personal attack. A gripe. Since when has Morrissey mentioned skinheads? 1987? There aren't any "skinheads" or anything related - not even NF Disco - on this album. Basically he just threw every reason why he doesn't like Morrissey into this article.

It would be interesting to know what music and which bands Mr Quantick actually rates? He refers himself "as a person of my generation"...

The reviewer sounds like he's been cheated on by a lover - figuratively.

He was clearly in love with Morrissey once. And, often, few people are more vindictive than a former love...

I mean just look at the picture. His hair is receding, he's got a double chin and he's wearing glasses. And he's got that stupid smile on his face. I bet he's small down below as well. I just absolutely loathe this man. Burn his car!

Why are there so many anonymous posters attached to this story? Are you all so afraid to reveal yourselves?
I find it so damn annoying!

Let's be honest here. If this article has changed anyone's opinion of Morrissey for the worst, did they ever really like him in the first place? Just asking.

I don't really feel like I'm going to stop listening to Morrissey's music any time soon, because it's not causing any problems for me to do so, but the recent two songs to worry me a little. They sound a bit complacent. I think the problem is that no one has ever been able to take Morrissey's place in pop music. Still no one has had the intelligence, panache etcereta, to take his place, and unfortunately, he knows this, and releases redundant songs like All You Need Is Me, which are okay, but are kind of treading water.

Incidentally, my least favourite Morrissey song ever is We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful. Nice title, though.

The journalist in question no doubt has an agenda, and agenda to try to make sense of what the 21st century Morrissey means.Ain't nothing wrong with that.I also get the impression the writer , after reading Mozza's (however chopped up and sliced, etc etc) comments in the NME about immigration appeared, the writer is throwing down the gauntlet and egging on Mozza to sue him too. Fair f*cks to him too.

Before I go on I have to say I agree wholeheartedly about the "Greatest Hits" album, it's a fucking rip off. "Paint A Vulgar Picture", anyone?. This album is corporatism of the highest order.How many songs are taken from YATQ, and ROTT?. Ok you can say it's an attempt at trying to attract a new audience, or you can suggest Mozza is under obligation to the label.I thought he always insisted on artistic control, something Moz prided himself on. But for f*cks sake I am begining to think Mozza has more "greatest hits" complitations now than actual original album release's (I am a Mozza anorak, and I really don't think arguing petantics as to wheter he has had more "greatest hits" albums than original album releases really matters), "Reissue, repackage blah, blah, blah.

Moz either exercises artistic control or he doesn't and I wish he would stop pretending that he doesn't play the game by the industry standards. Quite simply he really can't defend releasing this album, other than to cash in on his relative success. And remember Moz prides himself on saying he is not in it for the money.

I do have to say I agree with the writer in that Mozza seems to be in a comfort zone artistically. While I excitedly could not wait to go out and buy YATQ when it was first released, I got so f*cking bored with his theme throughout the album of attacking Joyce et all. FFS I admired "The More You Ignore Me"and Speedway as you excorising ghosts but to have to listen to it all over again more than 10 years later really gets a bit f*cking boring. Ok so "Irish Blood, English Heart" was a two fingered salute at the allegations of racism,but it never quite embraced multiculturism. For Moz to then say shit in an NME interview (and really he never said "I didn't say that") about immigrants which was so f*cking pathetic from an immigrant themsleves, not to mention an immigrant who resided in L.A. and Rome (yawn your position on immigration and "life being hard enough when you belong" Moz is so sad), when Mozza has traded his whole artistic position on sticking up for the outsider, it doesn't hold up Moz, you really don't stand up for the outsider.

I have been a life long Smiths and Moz fan, but for too long there has been nagging doubts about the whole race card. I got tired defending Moz for so long, I can't get it out of my mind that Moz really does think "England For The English" and those English do not include those of a minority race.

Finally, I have to agree that Mozza's output since his remergence circa YATQ has been pretty sipid and uninspiring. I done my best to let "You Have Killed Me" seep into my brain, but it just doesn't have the same impact, and passion as "Well I Wonder".

I really do wonder is Mozza in his vegas years, I also wonder when he is going to "get off the stage". everything he does now is so f*cking predictable, one wonders has moz become bored with it too, but his ego won't let him bow out with some dignity.

This will be David Quantick's most read article ever! Congratulations!!!!

Part of what the guy said is true...

Most of what the guy said is dumb...

Part of what the guy said is just wrong...

Wasn't that arguement that Morrissey is racist put to rest years ago when he explained that it meant that "it's hard enough when you belong here" meaning when people except you it's easier?

ARGH! Give it a rest.

this guy stole my 'Redudant Beach' line. somebody please translate wanker in a US term please, thanks

... David Quantick gave Kill Uncle 8 out of 10 in the NME when it came out (see arcane old wardrobe). So he at the very least WAS a fan. Would anybody - ANYBODY? - in their right mind give Kill Uncle 8 out of 10 otherwise??

The weakest, most boring piece of journalism I have yet to encounter. ...could barely get through the review.

Yawn.

Yes he's a wanker (The Man writing the artical),We all know Moz is nothing short of amazing and undeniably talented. Yet after reading though the artical, the only thing i found myself agreeing with was the song selections critic. Whats up with that? he has almost two decades under his belt, why not go with more Popular songs? i mean it's supposed to be greatest hits right? I love Moz, i really do...but that question still has me scratching me head.

damn

forgot his name already after3 seconds

football is fascinating especially if you follow one team

i say that as a massive fan too, not as one of the ususal fawning freaks who frequent such sites.
Plodding, dour, dreary, leaden, grey, yawn

As an aside, I have seen this individual on tv lots of times. He is invariably one of those "talking heads" on British TV list programmes, 100 best wanks of the 1980's etc.
Can anyone tell me where exactly his accent emanates from in Britain? I find it very difficult to understand his strangulated utterings. I don't think this is down to his accent so much as his speech patterns or voice..

As a whole, I disagree with Quantick's analysis: although there are certainly elements of what he says which ring true.

However:

Morrissey is a "Marmite" artist. He has always polarised opinion. Some people love him, and others utterly hate him. That's just the way it is. It is ridiculous for Morrissey fans to treat somebody as a non-person merely because they don't like Morrissey.

In fact, there's a strong case for saying that an important part of our identity as Morrissey fans is shaped by the fact that we're the ones who "get" Moz, while others simply don't.

Obviously, making a plea for Morrissey fans to be a little less, erm, psychopathic will fall on some deaf ears. A lot of us are not right in the head. And that's OK too.

He missed his ten ton truck years ago.

It's easy to say Ouija Board isn't as good as How Soon Is Now, but to dismiss Morrissey's entire solo catalog is ludicrous. And the comments about the band are unfounded. No offense to Johnny Marr, but Morrissey's band now is stronger and tighter than any live Smiths recording I've heard.

To me, the writer loses credibility when he says Morrissey is entering his "second decade" as a solo artist. Was this review written 10 years ago?

Apparently very very bad odours eminated from his person far too frequently and he was quite a bitter fellow regarding others successes

Word has it that using the toilet after him was like walking into a sauna filled with dead cattle.

This has nothing to do with how childish and unprofessionally written his article is, just 'what i've heard' .

Quantick, you don't like Morrissey - I doubt he much cares for you either. Grow the fuck up.

Well, people full of issues and insecurities usually are bitter and they project does things in others. David simply sounds like an old bitchy queen!

Nay-Sayers:

So RCA have lost Robbie from Take That and gained Morrissey. Morrissey has gained another quaint retro logo - the 1970s orange RCA Victor symbol familiar to old Bowie and Lou Reed fans - and has made antoher album, his fifth proper solo job, using the same producer and band from 'Vauxhall And I'.
That's the objective bit out of the way. Welcome, readers, to the awesome iron elephant that is 'Southpaw Grammar', two very long songs, six jolly songs and a drum solo, all combining to make a record that sends prestension on a blind date with smugness and pretends not to notice when they don't get on.
We are, this time round, spared any dubious songs about Bengalis who don't belong here or visits to fascist discos. ("I didn't invent the Union Jack" he sulked to a journalist recently, adding that he "didn't understand the fascist implications of it". Morrissey didn't invent being an issue-fudging twat either.) There are no ballads. The twinkling insouciance of 'Kill Uncle' and the razor glam of 'Your Arsenal' are absent. Instead, Moz and the gang give RCA what they want, which is a loud mess to sell to America. Every song here is crushed under the weight of loud guitars and mind-numbing overdubs. It sounds great on paper, The Smiths you can mosh to, but it isn't. Lillywhite's and the band's use of volume add nothing to the songs; it's there so that, when the listener thinks 'Hang on, this tune is rubbish', a huge racket rushes in to shout 'Look over there! A mongoose in a beret!', and when the listener returns to the song, it's over.
The opening track, 'The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils' and the closing 'Southpaw' are the king examples of this. As 'Southpaw' - a pleasant tune about a sad lad, for a change - goes into its seventh minute or so, one's attention slips into the garden for a fag and then UNG UNG UNG - for no reason at all some sod starts bashing away at a set of tablas. It doesn't bring a new dimension or anything to the song, it's just some sod bashing away at a set of tablas.
'The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils' is similar. Probably about some teachers who are afraid of their pupils because of popular uproar over child abuse, 'The Headmaster Ritual' meets 'Suffer Little Children' in a rather unsuccessful crossover. 'The Teachers...' starts with orchestral murmurings, builds up and then goes bang into a very poor My Bloody Valentine copy, all weedy feedback and peach fuzz. The intention is obviously to create an air of menace, all brooding and imminent, but, instead, it sends one racing up Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire.
The rest of the album is nothing like as bad, and even has one great moment; the single, 'Dagenham Dave', is genuinely funny, all Moz wit about an Essex man with a great chorus (and title stolen, bizarrely, from an old Stranglers song about a roadie of theirs who drowned). But as for the rest, there's little to choose between the friendly and encouraging 'Do Your Best And Don't Worry', 'Reader Meet Author', a chunky power pop ditty about people who slum it, the self-explanatory and jaunty 'Boy Racer', and 'Best Friend On The Payroll', a lyrically somewhat slight affair about guess what? And the only thing that distinguishes 'The Operation' - about someone who's different ever since, etc - is the ridiculous two-minute drum solo at the start. The kindest thing you can say about that is it makes the album two minutes longer.
Morrissey's sacrificed light and shade, and wit and insight just to make two portentous musical non-statements. The other songs, tuneful though they are, comment about issues for which the word "trivia" is too mighty, and substitute thumping around in an attic full of tin boxes for production and arrangement. In the end, there's no reason why anyone who already owns a record made by Morrissey - or, more particularly, The Smiths - should even want to hear this record, let alone buy it. Its maker should call himself The Morrissey Formerly Known As Artiste.
- David Quantick, New Musical Express, August 26, 1995

...very close to the truth in more than one aspect. The current band is awful. Plodding, predictable and lacking in any charm or charisma. Yes, they may be just the backing band, but they are just plain awful. The new songs aren't that bad - why do people expect Mozzer to be still at his peak, those days are long gone - this band just can't do him or his words justice. As for Moz; well, he will never conform or 'give an inch' will he? Even if it means that his light will soon go out?

much of the latter quarter of Morrissey's solo career (which makes up 3/4 of this compilation) is, if not terrible, lacking much of the magic of the first three quarters and his time with The Smiths. when he suggests that Morrissey hasnt done anything worthwhile since Kill Uncle iwould havto mightily disagree, but whatever- there is often no accounting for taste.

but the ongoing criticism of Morrissey's politics on immigration and racism and so on is really too much. why, when reviewing this new (poor) collection do people see fit to dredge up and misinterpret songs like "Asian Rut", "Bengali In Platforms" and "The National front Disco"? Morrissey's stance on immigration and the dilution of native British culture is not that unusual and it shouldnt be seen as contraversial- he's not asking for the immediate deportation of everyone who is not fair-skinned, he's juste lamenting the slipping away of a kind of culture with which he was familiar and had admired. juste becos someone has a preference for how things were doesnt mean that they are racist.

and I like it. I simply LOVE "Mama Lay Softly" and "Something Is Squeezing My Skull". I inwardly jump to it. And that suffices for me.

Whoever says this is the most anti-Moz review ever clearly hasn't read the collected works of one Steven Wells!

But then, who has?

What no-one seems to have pointed out (unless they have, in which case apologies), is that last month's Word had a full-on "special" about Moz from the interviewers who've met him over the years (complete with front cover and all) and they clearly thought they'd better do an "anti"-review to "balance" it. Perhaps a bit "over-balanced" though?!

Morrissey's setting himself up to be bashed by his longtime detractors (Quantick is one) by releasing fundamentally useless compilations and live albums. Needless to say, they are just cash-ins devised by record companies to obtain more revenue after the albums proper sales have dwindled down after the initial rush and excitement. Nothing new here, folks. We ALL know how it works. We ALL buy for the new songs...we ALL buy it to complete our Morrissey/Smiths collection. Nothing wrong with that. It's not surprising the haters will lay into it the way Quantick has done. Par for the course, really.

uh, mr. journalist count me in as one who'll take 'I just want to see the boy happy' over any smiths tune any day of the week.

viva rock. viva morrissey.

Quantick is wrong to state that Moz has done nothing of worth since Kill Uncle - Arsenal and Vauxhall are both excellent. Also, "First of the Gang" is a great song whatever Quantick says, which is why it is a loved singalong.

But I do agree with his comments about the band - from Southpaw onwards at least. It's been the same old stuff trawled out time and again and Morrissey is missing a trick not collaborating with more talented, inventive musicians - because clearly he could have his pick.

I'm quite worried to hear that the new album is to be a loud punk effort and was recorded live. It seems to me that the band keep turning up the volume because actually they can't come up with the brilliant pop melodies that Marr or Vini Reilly could. I think Moz does need to go back to melancholic pop - it's what he did best and a great Morrissey pop song pisses on pretty much anything else out there. Go on, Moz, take a chance and get musicians who really shine.

Quantick is
- Bitter
- Stuck in the past
- Has a grudge on Moz
- Shameless
- Subjective
- Likes a scandal
- Lying & exaggerating
- Poor writer
- Lazy journalist

shed any light on the rumour that Alain Whyte thinks Ringleader of the Tormentors is crap?

Is this not a bit strange considering he wrote most of the songs on it? (Well, more than Jesse and certainly more than Farrell or Boz!)

God, that was amazing. It's funny because it's true. David Quantick is a genius. Most vicious attack ever on Moz? Give me a fucking break. Are you serious with this drama queen shit? The fans on here have said much worse. And if you actually read the artice you'll see he was a fan before, saying The Smiths had the best indie catalogue and praising his early singles.

The stuff at the end aside - also nothing that hasn't been said before, and lets face it, he IS on very shaky ground, his remarks may not be racist but at best they're ill judged and particularly stupid to come out of the mouth of someone who doesn't even live in the UK anymore, especially after what happened last time - everything he said he was true. Quantick was a writer for the NME (when it was good) and has also written episodes of Brass Eye so as much as you'd predictably try to belittle him, he's no fool.

Anyone who thinks the likes of "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy", "All You Need Is Me" and THPGU are anything more than instantly forgettable poor excuses for songs and fifteenth-rate recreations of past glories is frankly a moron and you deserve having an album with that hilariously titled Greatest Hits tracklisting.

No doubt the retards will still buy it, being reeled in with the "deluxe" version with the bonus live disc with songs played even worse by the talentless karaoke band. If the idiots on here keep buying this shit, then Moz will happily go on putting out more increasingly mediocre music. Expect an album full of classic songs like "Something's Squeezing On My Skull" soon (after picking up a copy of his latest release, of course). Jesus.

as you know

Well, that is what you think about Morrissey- but who cares? Only God and Morrissey truly know Morrissey and that is all that matters. Who said he was supposed to be some sort of cookie cutter type person whom satisfied everyone? Let him live his life and think as he thinks and you live yours and think what you think. Remember, when you point, three fingers point back to yourself.

Well, there goes your stardom- no one will remember you ten hours from now.

This man is a cunt. Let him have his rant, makes no difference to how any of us feel about Morrissey.

I read the article. It's harsh, but it's honest, and to be fair, he does raise some incredibly valid points. Once upon a time, Morrissey TRULY DID stand for "outsiders" (define them for me, if you can), but now, we find ourselves at the stage where the likes of DAVID FUCKING CAMERON can express love for The Moz (has he not listened to 'Margaret On The Guillotine'? He definitely hasn't watched the promo vid for 'Interesting Drug', with its anti-Tory graffitti at the start. Having seen him on 'Newsnight' once when questioned on his "love" of the Smiths, this wouldn't surprise me at all). How has this come to pass?
While there was clearly a cynical, ham-fisted, attempt at a stitch-up by the NME last year, Quantick has clearly done his homework and like it or not, pointed out things that a lot of Moz-heads (myself included) do feel uncomfortable about (past comments on immigration were frankly, ill-judged, if we're truly honest with ourselves, given that Morrissey doesn't live in the UK anymore). The venom directed towards Quantick plays right into his hands and justifies the prevailing attitude that Moz-haters have towards Morrissey and his fans. READ BETWEEN THE LINES, Y'ALL!