"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.

 

[Bluebirds]

Well against my better judgment and listening on some top notch headphones I declare this album “very good”.
My favourite tracks, in no particular order, are Once I Saw The River Clean, Ny Hurling Days Are Adobe, Jim Jim Falls and I Am Not A Dog On A Chain.

 

[DreamingofStew]

Jim Jim Falls is one catchy tune. But rejecting sympathy for the suicidal? The antithesis of Joke Isn't Funny Anymore? (and the rest) What does he mean?

I was thinking about this just this morning. There's a whole list of lyrical Moz U-turns over the years. I was thinking, for instance, of 'Darling, I Hug a Pillow', which is a bit of a turnaround from the, "You've been in the house too long, she said/And I naturally fled" persona of yore (if you listen to the lyrics, that is, not just from the title).

Further examples are:

The Headmaster Ritual --> The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils
William, It Was Really Nothing --> You're the One For Me, Fatty

... Actually, my mind's gone blank now, but with 'Darling, I Hug a Pillow' (suggesting love requires sex, too), and 'Jim Jim Falls' (as noted, quite opposite to 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore'), we have at least four. I think there are more. Will contemplate.

 

[DreamingofStew]

Okay, I have literally just received the physical CD in the post. I agree with comments about the poor quality of the packaging. A question: what the hell is the last line of 'The Truth About Ruth'? I can't make it out on the lyric sheet, but it sounds to my ears like, "We are all calmed down", which seems a pretty anti-climactic way to end a song, if that's right. Besides which, the word before "down" on the 'lyric sheet' doesn't look like 'calmed'. It looks like a word of three letters.

 

[Famous when dead]

Okay, I have literally just received the physical CD in the post. I agree with comments about the poor quality of the packaging. A question: what the hell is the last line of 'The Truth About Ruth'? I can't make it out on the lyric sheet, but it sounds to my ears like, "We are all calmed down", which seems a pretty anti-climactic way to end a song, if that's right. Besides which, the word before "down" on the 'lyric sheet' doesn't look like 'calmed'. It looks like a word of three letters.

'We are all cut down' according to the LP sheet.
Regards,
FWD.

 

[DreamingofStew]

'We are all cut down' according to the LP sheet.
Regards,
FWD.

Thanks.

 

[mitsos]

There is no digital download code card in the vinyl?

 

[Famous when dead]

There is no digital download code card in the vinyl?

Not in the vinyl or CD editions currently available.
Can't speak for the cassette or clear vinyl versions yet, but no reports of any by people who have them.
Regards,
FWD.

 

[Deleted member 28251]

Not in the vinyl or CD editions currently available.
Can't speak for the cassette or clear vinyl versions yet, but no reports of any by people who have them.
Regards,
FWD.

On this release FWD: do you think this might be a novel case where the standard black vinyl version might—in the end—be the most desirable for collectors? Most people seem to have gone for the red or clear versions; presumably this means that (in the long run) the black vinyl will become the rarest.

 

[NealCassidy]

‘I am out of tune’
And on the cover...
‘I am out of focus’
See?

 

[Famous when dead]

On this release FWD: do you think this might be a novel case where the standard black vinyl version might—in the end—be the most desirable for collectors? Most people seem to have gone for the red or clear versions; presumably this means that (in the long run) the black vinyl will become the rarest.

Funnily enough, HMV (Birmingham) had more stock of red vinyl than black which was odd. Not sure how the amounts panned out for dedicated indie stores though.
But, more than likely, yes it will probably be worth snagging a black vinyl if collectors haven't done so already.
Speaking of formats - anyone seen a single CD album card slipcase as opposed to the gatefold? There was a rumour that there were 2 CD variants - anyone confirm?
Regards,
FWD.

 

[crawleyrocket]

Congratulations Morrissey on the release of excellent new album, I Am Not a Dog on a Chain. It was great to see album promotional posters around Sydney. CR x #IAmNotADogOnAChain