"I Am Not A Dog On A Chain" released (March 20, 2020)

I Am Not A Dog On A Chain - tagged articles
I Am Not A Dog On A Chain - tagged reviews
Please note: for fans of reviews, the above tag will update as new reviews come in and is a good way to check any you may have missed.

Morrissey's 13th solo studio album being recorded was first mentioned in SER's interview with Morrissey June 24, 2019 and then formally announced November 28, 2019.
It was recorded at Studio La Fabrique in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France and additional work (like Thelma's vocals) was done at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California. It was produced by Joe Chicarelli who stated about his 4th Morrissey album:

“This is his boldest and most adventurous album yet. He has pushed the boundaries yet again - both musically and lyrically.
And once again proving that as a songwriter and singer, he is in his own category.
In truth, no one can be Morrissey but… Morrissey!”


The official Morrissey mailing list email from March 20 cites the following reviews in its promotion:

"PRAISE FOR ‘I AM NOT A DOG ON A CHAIN’

“Morrissey delivers his best music in years” - AP*
"His best album in years." - NME
"As great as anything he has ever written." - THE TELEGRAPH
“A mature work, the album stands apart in his catalog, displaying a hard-fought air of confidence that defies his roots in misery.” - RIFF MAGAZINE
"Hungry, tenacious & valid" - XS Noise
“Arguably his strongest collection in years.” - Louder Than War Magazine
"Ideal quarantine record.” - The Post Millennial
“An 11 track outing which quite frankly is one of his best albums to date... it sees him in fine form, with witty and acerbic lyrics, and a rich baritone voice that appears to be actually getting stronger the older he gets." - Wall Of Sound"

(*AP = Associated Press)


Album promotional poster (Leeds):

( clever.swine / IG)

The main 3 formats available today:
(Clear vinyl, 'Test Presses" & cassettes haven't been sighted yet).

( Denisc1 / IG)

There is no matrix message on either version of the above vinyl.

The front cover art is credited, again, to Liam Lynch (using an image by Christopher Stewart of Morrissey at Manchester G-MEX, December 22, 2006).
The rear cover is by John Fekner and is described on his site as:

"In the summer of 1980, John Fekner stencils Broken Promises, Falsas Promesas, Decay, Broken Treaties, Last Hope and Save Our School on the walls and buildings of Charlotte Street in the South Bronx. The message of the Charlotte Street Stencils focuses on pointing out the deteriorating conditions and issues that plagued the community since the 1960s. Fekner’s main purpose is to bring attention to inadequate housing, poor services and deplorable social problems that afflicted the neighborhood residents for decades."

For a gallery of this project and further details - please see: here.

For the liner notes and lyrics - see: here.

The initial assertion that the red vinyl was 'indie' record shops only changed later to include HMV - who are selling all 3 formats above.

More reviews are expected and please see the tag link to follow them as they come in.

Regards,
FWD.

 

[Cooley]

I’ve only just joined this forum. Argumentative place, is it? Lol.

 

[Uncleskinny]

1. The Secret of Music - 10
2. I Am Not A Dog - 10
3. My Hurling Days - 10
4. What Kind Of People - 10
5. Once I Saw - 10
6. Darling, I Hug - 9
7. Jim Jim - 9
8. Bobby - 9
9. Love Is - 8
10. Knockabout - 8
11. Ruth - 6

Tobias is brilliant on this album.
Well done Morrissey.

Hi Moz

 

[Deleted member 29227]

I’ve only just joined this forum. Argumentative place, is it? Lol.

Hi & welcome.
Have a tip toe around, then work out how to block the undesirables and anons, then happy days.

 

[Deleted member 29235]

I’ve only just joined this forum. Argumentative place, is it? Lol.

Unfortunately quite a few of the regulars are insular bigots who fly into paroxysms of rage if they read an opinion they don't like. You'll get used to it.

 

[Cooley]

Hi & welcome.
Have a tip toe around, then work out how to block the undesirables and anons, then happy days.

Thanks mate. Will do.

 

[GodEmperorMorrissey]

I think some posters are realistic and give an honest view, it's morons like the child who goes by the name of God Emperor Morrissey who are the problem. They simply cannot accept that some people may have a different opinion and then become abusive toward them for some reason.

Have an opinion but stop trolling. Pathetic loser that says nothing but negative shit on here about Morrissey. You guys can try but won't derail the positivity today. Adios dumpster pumper

 

[That's Enough For Me]

I’ve only just joined this forum. Argumentative place, is it? Lol.

Argument suggests a debate. Its more of a name calling insult forum.

 

[Deleted member 29235]

Have an opinion but stop trolling. Pathetic loser that says nothing but negative shit on here about Morrissey. You guys can try but won't derail the positivity today. Adios dumpster pumper

Thanks for proving my point for me.

 

[Daddys Voice]

I like the album quite a bit! That is all. (Please don't call me an ass ramming uncle f***er.)

 

[Surface]

Have an opinion but stop trolling. Pathetic loser that says nothing but negative shit on here about Morrissey. You guys can try but won't derail the positivity today. Adios dumpster pumper

As someone else said, you are a lying pathetic piece of shit, I have already said I like Knockabout World a lot. Nice to see you're still using the schoolyard slang boy.

 

[agent]

Hi Moz

Do you remember, when I told you at BBC Radio 2 Live:
Did you buy it, though?

 

[Roman Holiday]

My Hurling Days Are Done (6)
The Truth About Ruth (6)
What Kind of People Live in These Houses? (5)
Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? (2)
Knockabout World (1)
Jim Jim Falls (1)
All else: zero.

 

[carlislebaz]

My Hurling Days Are Done (6)
The Truth About Ruth (6)
What Kind of People Live in These Houses? (5)
Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? (2)
Knockabout World (1)
Jim Jim Falls (1)
All else: zero.

Do you work for the guardian by any chance!!!

 

[Roman Holiday]

Do you work for the guardian by any chance!!!

No. I don't like their politics and they publish too many typos.

 

[Deleted member 25370]

On vinyl how are the tracks listed, lanterns?

Thanks to FWD I see how they flow...

not sure if this is what you were looking for. bit in a hurry, so cant check. album's overwhelming. full stop for now,

 

[Deleted member 29227]

Everyone has the right to their own opinion Mozmar. If you think its great, that's your opinion if others don't, that's their opinion and doesn't make them a troll.

Of course, I totally agree with what you say, it's subjective.
However, a troll will just troll for the sake of it, won't they?.. and it's those that I'm talking to in my post...if that particular cap fits.

 

[Gaylord Deepstar]

After me and my lover, Eric Hartman, made love for hours, we decided this is the best Morrissey album since Viva Hate.

People tend to forget Viva Hate was quite different from what The Smiths used to release.

Dog is an awesome album.

For everything else: HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE.

 

[carlislebaz]

We’ll find out in 9 months then!!!

 

[Roman Holiday]

People tend to forget Viva Hate was quite different from what The Smiths used to release.

True, but you could say that Viva Hate was a cousin of sorts, musically, to Strangeways, which is somewhat a departure itself (and Johnny Marr was always restless in his brilliance. No Smiths album regurgitates its predecessor). There are also Smiths songs like "Sheila" and "Shoplifters" which nod to the polished 80s pop sound that haunts so much of Viva Hate.

The most impressive digression was Your Arsenal, which came after several years of comparatively gentle and meandering stylings, as if Morrissey was trying to find the right combination, and it came gloriously with its twin guitars and Mick Ronson's production.

 

[Tbevie]

Is anyone else really disappointed with the artwork/packaging on both the CD and Vinyl. Really flimsy, especially the lyric sheets. And the grainy image especially on the vinyl is so bad. Of all the images he could have chosen, old or new why pick one with such low quality?