Viva Hate - Morrissey

Viva Hate was the first solo Morrissey album following the break up of The Smiths in 1987. Released in 1988 and produced by Stephen Street, Morrissey brought in guitarist Vini Reilly to work with and while Reilly is no Johnny Marr, the result was an interesting if not perfect album and a strong debut. Anyone expecting Morrissey to fall flat on his face without his former guitar maestro was wrong. The record is, unsuprisingly!, very dark and melodramatic but consistently interesting with some high spots that live comfortably with anything The Smiths produced. The Songs Alsation Cousin With a title inspired by ...

Morrissey's debut solo record, 1988's 'Viva Hate' is an admirable offering full of catchy hooks, melodies and straightforward production values; an incredibly mainstream LP, this is a major departure from the edgy, unpolished sonic harrowing the Smiths' usually pummelled the listener with. It teams Morrissey with Vini Reilly of the Durrutti Column, and sees Smiths' producer Stephen Street flexing his muscles instrument-wise(he plays bass and other stuff here!) 'Viva Hate's lyrical content tackles everything from downhome, kissin' cousins( the oddly metallic screech of 'Alstatian Cousin') to suicide(the chiming, ...