Morrissey/Greatest Hits ( deluxe version US)/Decca Records 2008

What can I say about my hero with the jet black sense of humor that hasn’t already been said before? Like him or leave him, you have to admit that he is one of the finest lyric writers to have ever existed. Unlike some of his militant fans I wasn’t too upset when I found out that part of his new record deal with Decca records included yet another compilation album. Remember the dark days of 1997-2004 when Morrissey didn’t have a recording contract and his fans had to settle for a series of endless best of… albums and b-side collections? We balked at the lack of original material, but we bought them anyways. At least this greatest hits compilation includes two brand new songs, which you gotta admit, that it is a step above the norm.

(If you ever want to bitch about endless repackaged compilation albums, no one can beat the standard set by the band, New Order. Who, I believe, have more singles collections, best of… albums and greatest hits collections on the shelves than they do proper studio albums.)

While I admit that each and every one all of his singles from his previous two albums plus a couple of his usual standards (“Suedehead” and “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get,” for instance) hardly constitutes a “greatest hits” package in my opinion, but hey, it’s Morrissey’s world and we just live in it. Also I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled when I heard that all the songs were remastered because most of the songs on this album are only a few years old but I was quite surprised how the remastering process evened out the two disparaging production quality styles on the songs from “You Are The Quarry” and “Ringleader of The Tormentors” so they flowed together quite smoothly. Well done.

The two new songs, “That’s How People Grow Up” and “All You Need Is Me,” prove once again that Morrissey hasn’t lost any of his sharp, mordant wit. Though the drummer on those two songs is heavy on the cowbell. (Either that or whoever mixed the those two songs inadvertently left the click track on in the final mix.)

The Deluxe US edition of  “Greatest Hits” includes a live version of “That’s How People Grow Up” and a music video for the same song. Not bad, but I wouldve prefered another new track. You can’t win them all.

jareddriskill