Now my heart is full! (Vauxhall And I - Morrissey)

Member Name: drakesdrum

Product:	Vauxhall And I - Morrissey
Date:	24/06/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderfully crafted music, quirky and emotional, witty and poignant, haunting and touching.

Disadvantages: There isn't any to be honest!

'Vauxhall & I' was greeted with high acclaim from critics and fans alike and this praise hasn't dwindled over the years. Morrissey fans widely regard this as his finest album and it is easy to see why. After releasing 'Your Arsenal', which was a highly rated album which handed Morrissey huge exposure on television particularly in America, the expectations were high for this album. After his producer, manager and video director all sadly passed away, many thought Morrissey may have drifted a little and his career may have been scuppered. In a perverse way, he thrived as Morrissey is a genius in describing wrenching heartbreak, sadness and mundanity with a heavy dose of irony, humour and wit. It's a mix that is is so rare to find in music and this album shows off this ability of Morrissey's superbly.

'Vauxhall & I' has a unique sound to anything Morrissey has ever done, the production is quirky and almost muffled and it suits the music perfectly. The music glides, often sounding beautiful and emotional but often catchy and upbeat too.

'Now My Heart Is Full'

This track is a brilliant opening to the album and it really sets the tone for the rest of it. Musically, the tracks gradually builds up to be a wonderful, melodic sound that compliments Morrissey's hurt, emotional vocals. Vocally, it is arguably some of the best work Morrissey has produced, his voice packed with emotion and the way he alters the pitch to certain words is sublime hearing. Non more is this on show when he breaks into the chorus, where his heart just lets his emotion run out to a beautiful sound, 'Now my heart is full and I just can't explain so I won't even try to'. Lyrically the influences are clear, the book of 'Brighton Rock' is mentioned numerous times, with chracters from the book namechecked as his friends. This track is full of quotable lines, I just can't stop listening to it.

'Spring-Heeled Jim'

This track has a haunting sound, with soundclips from some of Morrissey's favourite films playing in the background really give the track a depth which adds to this haunting sound. Lyrically, Morrissey's viscious wit is prominent, which made me laugh at times. The lyrics are interesting with many layers, Jim is an intriguing character whom Morrissey describes with wonderful imagery and wit. This track sounds ever better when played loudly and the bassline throughout is cranked up, it gives the track a a genuine 'punch'.

'Billy Budd'

This is a more high tempo'd song to the previous two which made for a nice change. The music, despite being more urgent, still retains a quirky sound that is inkeeping with the rest of the album. Consequently it fits in very well indeed. Lyrically, Morrissey plays on sexuality and the strife of life and how the intertwine, which makes for curious listening. The ambiguity of Morrissey's lyrics is a genuine quality he has always had and this is on show in this track. People will read the lyrics differently and take inspiration in different ways, which is great I think. A radio friendly track, although it was never a single, which is a shame.

'Hold Onto Your Friends'

This track is a straight-talking song, a simple message really but who the friends are is upto the listeners interpretation. Morrissey's wit is laced throughout this track, which made me smile on many occassions. Probably one of the weaker tracks on the album but still a very good track nontheless, 'Hold Onto Your Friends' is more conventional sounding than most the album, from a pop point of view.

'The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get'

This track is a beautiful, catchy pop song. The guitar work from Boz Boorer in this song is superb, providing a memoroable guitar riff which starts the track off in the intro. I can't help but sing along to this track, it's upbeat sounding and offers a lot of replay value. The lyrics have such a depth, they can be analysed from many different angles. I found them to be clever and witty, conjuring up a lot of imagery throughout, such as 'I will be, in the bar, with my head on the bar, I am now, a central part of your mind's landscape, whether you care or do not'. Could this be a reference to alcoholism? Or is it simply a tired, hurt person on their own with their head on the bar? It can't be certain and it is thought provoking, which a great attribute of the album in general.

'Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself'

This track was once a hidden gem, a track that surely would gain a lot of commercial success, if only people gave it and indeed Morrissey, a chance. Recently, 'The Killers' covered this song to a good standard, which exposed the track and Morrissey to a wider audience. The music is a beautiful, soft sound with strings and acoustic guitars and a soft bassline, which makes it a very dreamy track, if that makes sense! The lyrics are Morrissey at his best, stinging words full of emotion and grief, laced with humour. It's just a superb song and every line is poignant. Essential listening.

'I Am Hated For Loving'

This track's music typifies the album in general, a beautiful, quirky, melodic and almost muffled sound with many different layers. It swoons through and just like the previous track, it is a very a dreamy track. Morrissey paints pictures in my head with his clever use of words. The track is nothing revolutionary, nor is it ground-breaking, it's just a lovely sounding track which fits in perfectly with the album as a whole.

'Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning'

This is a haunting track, much inkeeping with the album. The music is almost chilling, it's very dark and it's expertly crafted to create this feeling. Lyrically, Morrissey sings about a story of a lazy lifeguard whilst a defenceless girl drowns. These lyrics and the music suit each other perfectly, providing a haunting track but not without humour. Vocally the production work is done superbly, giving Morrissey's voice a chilling feeling, as if he is a little voice in the lifeguard's head, or a ghost that has come to haunt him. The lyrics can be construed in many ways as a metaphor for other things and this provides much interest.

'Used To Be A Sweet Boy'

This is a delicate, soft sounding song with the music swooning to create another dreamy sounding song. The instruments are played with such skill and care to create this sound and this is matched with the same ever-present quirky production. Morrissey's lyrics are full of humour, rousing imagery in my head which makes for a moving and intense experience. Lovely track.

'The Lazy Sunbathers'

This is a very humerous track but Morrissey sings it in an emotional and heartfelt manner which works so well and adds to the humour too but it is not without a poignant message. The music dips and dives with precision, composing a wonderful sound of delicacy and chill. The annoyance in Morrissey's vocals is also apparent with these people he sings about complaining their sunbathing is being interrupted whilst elsewhere children are shelled close by. It's a terrific track and I personally love the outro, which ends quietly and hauntingly, leading perfectly to the next track.

'Speedway'

What can I say about this track? It's a work of art. The intro of Morrissey's heartfelt lyrics, matched with a sneering, aggressive chainsaw, moulding into the haunting and equally beautiful music. The bassline is prominent as are the drums, which give the track a haunting rhythm throughout. The guitar work in this track is just brilliant, it creates such a mesmerising sound which really is essential listening. Morrissey uses his voice to perfection throughout the track, it's very emotive and heartfelt, matching the lyrics which are full of pain, grief, emotion, disturbance and bitterness which create a work of poetry on epic proportions. One of the best tracks ever created, in my honest opinion.

'Vauxhall & I' is a work of sheer brilliance, Morrissey's lyrics are some of the finest you will ever hear and it can be read like poetry. His lyrics are poignant and emotional and he utilizes this to great effect. The music is dreamy, haunting, catchy, melodic, beautiful and compelling, produced in a perfect manner making the album sound quirky and dreamy. I can't speak highly enough of how great this album is. It changed my life, will it change yours?

Summary: A work of poetry, it's musical perfection which even the staunchest of Morrissey haters appreciate