William Fisher
Listening face down
Recently I’ve rediscovered Roy’s Keen and think it’s unfairly dismissed. The part where he sings “don’t say you’ll hold it steady and then you let it go” is a magical moment for me.
"Maladjusted" is the most underrated Morrissey album
- Thread starter AtImber2022
- Start date
William Fisher
Listening face down
I always think the title track is the solo equivalent of The Queen is Dead.
But then there’s Papa Jack which, I think, is one of the weakest song’s of Morrissey’s career.
But then there’s Papa Jack which, I think, is one of the weakest song’s of Morrissey’s career.
William Fisher
Listening face down
I always wish it was the Shangri-Las song of the same name.
Southport Grandma
Well-Known Member
Always thought the sound mix on “Ammunition”and “He Cried” were poor. There’s some decent guitar lines buried in there.
Robert Lee
Classics for pleasure
I would say High School is the most underrated. But yes Maladjusted does not get enough credit.
That's Enough For Me
Member
Maladjusted, for the most part, is what a Morrissey parody album would sound like.
Musically, the most 'phoned-in' album of his career, losing ground and relevance to Britpop and few bob lighter thanks to Mickey J.
It was the end of Act 1 of the solo career and off he popped to Ireland then the US to start again.
Musically, the most 'phoned-in' album of his career, losing ground and relevance to Britpop and few bob lighter thanks to Mickey J.
It was the end of Act 1 of the solo career and off he popped to Ireland then the US to start again.
Lustman
Active Member
A good album but with some boring moments. Lost and I can have both, should be on the LP.
I even made a vinyl with my own chosen tracks with B sides to listen my favorites ones.
This album has the same illness than World Peace... Some Beautifuls lost songs.
I 'm surprised that nobody has spoken of Trouble loves me, the real gem of the area.
I even made a vinyl with my own chosen tracks with B sides to listen my favorites ones.
This album has the same illness than World Peace... Some Beautifuls lost songs.
I 'm surprised that nobody has spoken of Trouble loves me, the real gem of the area.
G
Guttersnipe
Guest
Having heard this album only after the grand comeback of the mid-2000s, "Trouble loves me" and "Wide to receive" were my favorites of it, and I didn't care that much for the other songs as I was busy basking in "Vauxhall"s glory.
The original album art is quite hauting. It has such a sad aura. Was he now a 'was'? It's the image of a man unsure of himself and his place, trying to connect with late 90s Brit culture, but unsuccessfully so. Part of it must've been that often awkward phase where one is not young anymore, yet not feeling like one of the grown-ups. The late thirties can be tough. Thankfully, he emerged as a beautiful adult butterfly ... knive.
Juan Dulces
I just see trees.
Maladjusted --- not my favorite but not my least favorite of his releases either. However, out of all the Morrissey albums produced by Lillywhite, this one was the leanest on sound quality, and most of it seems to really lack emotion (compared to V&I, Boxers/Sunny singles, and Southpaw G.). Underrated? Maybe - certainly not worthy of an A, but definitely a B (as most of his albums would be at or close to as well).
It's got some of my favorite Morrissey moments on it though. He Cried is terrific! I think that's one of his most endearing tracks. Roy's Keen, even though some people call it silly (which some of it is), features some of the best guitar playing and backing vocals of any of his songs (and it's just catchy in general). Trouble Loves Me and the title track (great lyrics there) are also songs I don't skip. Wide to Receive stays on too, even though that one is very slow. I far prefer Ambitious Outsiders to Sorrow Will Come (the latter being one of his worst ever released tracks), even though they both could be chopped off the record and I'd be alright with it. Rejected My Soul is a bit sillier than Roy's Keen in my opinion, and Alma Matters really doesn't do it for me, it's too simple and just plods along (even though the lyrics are saying much more than on Rejected My Soul). Alma Matters IS similar sounding to Ammunition, but the former is the weaker track to me. Papa Jack was never that bad, it just needed more in it (I would've kept Papa Jack on the reissue and axed Sorrow Will Come). Additionally, many of the B-sides from Maladjusted are strong enough tracks that could have replaced some of the lesser quality songs that made it to the LP.
So, that album is about 50/50 for me. The good tracks though outweigh the clunkers, and a few of Maladjusted's tracks (and a couple B-sides) always end up on my 'Top 50 Morrissey Songs' list. It just has a really bland sound overall, and it's far from his best LP, but like I've found with every Morrissey album - there are a few excellent tracks which stand amongst his overall best.
It's got some of my favorite Morrissey moments on it though. He Cried is terrific! I think that's one of his most endearing tracks. Roy's Keen, even though some people call it silly (which some of it is), features some of the best guitar playing and backing vocals of any of his songs (and it's just catchy in general). Trouble Loves Me and the title track (great lyrics there) are also songs I don't skip. Wide to Receive stays on too, even though that one is very slow. I far prefer Ambitious Outsiders to Sorrow Will Come (the latter being one of his worst ever released tracks), even though they both could be chopped off the record and I'd be alright with it. Rejected My Soul is a bit sillier than Roy's Keen in my opinion, and Alma Matters really doesn't do it for me, it's too simple and just plods along (even though the lyrics are saying much more than on Rejected My Soul). Alma Matters IS similar sounding to Ammunition, but the former is the weaker track to me. Papa Jack was never that bad, it just needed more in it (I would've kept Papa Jack on the reissue and axed Sorrow Will Come). Additionally, many of the B-sides from Maladjusted are strong enough tracks that could have replaced some of the lesser quality songs that made it to the LP.
So, that album is about 50/50 for me. The good tracks though outweigh the clunkers, and a few of Maladjusted's tracks (and a couple B-sides) always end up on my 'Top 50 Morrissey Songs' list. It just has a really bland sound overall, and it's far from his best LP, but like I've found with every Morrissey album - there are a few excellent tracks which stand amongst his overall best.
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ZOOM FROM GLOOM
LASCIATE OGNI SPERANZA!
Maladjusted, loved by many.
‘a Morrissey parody album’ ?
‘Musically, the most 'phoned-in' album’ ?
sigh.
Nonsense. In actuality, it’s quite an adventurous turn for Morrissey. And musically, from the band, those interesting arrangements/contributions. For example, AOutsiders and Sorrow are very different to anything M’s done before.
It’s not a perfect album. For me, the production is most problematic and makes me imagine what could have been.
From M’s perspective, it seemed Lillywhite didn’t really want to work with M a third time. Also, Lillywhite was, or just did go through a divorce with Kristy. I’m speculating here that this may have colored things negatively in general, Lillywhite’s relationship with M and the sound of the record.
I think ROTT is the underrated unloved runt of the litter, undeservedly.
‘a Morrissey parody album’ ?
‘Musically, the most 'phoned-in' album’ ?
sigh.Nonsense. In actuality, it’s quite an adventurous turn for Morrissey. And musically, from the band, those interesting arrangements/contributions. For example, AOutsiders and Sorrow are very different to anything M’s done before.
It’s not a perfect album. For me, the production is most problematic and makes me imagine what could have been.
From M’s perspective, it seemed Lillywhite didn’t really want to work with M a third time. Also, Lillywhite was, or just did go through a divorce with Kristy. I’m speculating here that this may have colored things negatively in general, Lillywhite’s relationship with M and the sound of the record.
I think ROTT is the underrated unloved runt of the litter, undeservedly.
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SuedeMoz
The sanest days are mad
Interesting observations. Also, this started the first of his wilderness years without a record contract. I wonder if he was at all aware then that it might go that way?Having heard this album only after the grand comeback of the mid-2000s, "Trouble loves me" and "Wide to receive" were my favorites of it, and I didn't care that much for the other songs as I was busy basking in "Vauxhall"s glory.
The original album art is quite hauting. It has such a sad aura. Was he now a 'was'? It's the image of a man unsure of himself and his place, trying to connect with late 90s Brit culture, but unsuccessfully so. Part of it must've been that often awkward phase where one is not young anymore, yet not feeling like one of the grown-ups. The late thirties can be tough. Thankfully, he emerged as a beautiful adult butterfly ... knive.
On the album itself... I've always been lukewarm... a few good songs but not a great full album. I'm motivated to relisten based on all the positive comments. It might be one of those albums that play better for me now than it did at the time. I agree with the comment that it would have made a better follow-up to Vauxhall than SG.
Juan Dulces
I just see trees.
Yep, High School is truly great - I was never disappointed. Honestly, it was the best possible follow-up to World Peace.
Juan Dulces
I just see trees.
I think the best follow-up to Vauxhall was already in place - the Boxers and Sunny singles. Yes, they're not an entire full length LP - 2 great singles and their excellent B-sides - but those songs really went with the Vauxhall sound (same special lineup of musicians as V&I LP). Those singles are truly masterpieces, landmarks in his career. That whole 2 year period was.
No offense to you at all, but I don't understand why anyone would think that Maladjusted sounds at all like Vauxhall. Southpaw chronologically followed Vauxhall (as far as LPs go), but Southpaw was a musical departure from Vauxhall (which itself was a musical departure for Morrissey in general, and is fairly incomparable to his other LPs). I think of Southpaw like one might think of The Fragile by NIN - a musical departure that most couldn't understand at first, but eventually is known as that artist's great 'undiscovered' album.
Southpaw Grammar has more emotion, vitality, and is just more interesting to listen to than Maladjusted. But, I still like Maladjusted- was just listening to it last week.
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Mimi Ramone
Can you delve so low?
I also have some love for the original cover, because it looks so out of place in an endearing way and suits the whole vibe of the album. I mean Moz looks like a 90ies popsinger who had just emerged on the scene with this normal sweater/jeans look and normal hair. Not all styled a like nowadays or on the reissue. It has something vulnerable to it and I really like that. It's sad that he changed it later but I also can understand why. But I absolutely prefer the original one
SuedeMoz
The sanest days are mad
I never thought of Boxers and Sunny singles as follow-ups... in terms of quality, they sure were. No offense taken. I didn't mean that Maladjusted sounded like Vauxhall (it doesn't come close)... just compared to Southpaw it sounded more like what we as fans would have expected the follow-up to be. While I don't hate Southpaw... I think it would have been stronger as a 4-5 song EP instead of a proper album.
The facial stubble, too. It gives the impression that he feels defeated.
Juan Dulces
I just see trees.
Awesome!
I had never thought about a Southpaw EP before, and it's a cool idea..probably couldn't be done though, just because of length. You would have to include both Teachers and Southpaw (both album-defining songs), so unless the EP contained only two tracks, it would probably be too long for an EP.
On the other hand, think about how great a Boxers/Sunny EP would've been --- Boxers, Have-A-Go, Whatever Happens..., Sunny, Black Eyed Susan, Swallow.
Seriously, the quality of Morrissey's music and the lineup of that specific band was amazing (he's also had a few other other great band lineups too). It had such a sound that was just simply unique to Morrissey. It sounded very special.
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CHMozheart
Member
The songs in this album are ART. Maladjusted, Trouble Loves Me, Alma Matters, Satan Rejected My Soul. Anyway, a great album and a great way to be an early 2000's Morrissey.
Juan Dulces
I just see trees.
That's definitely my favorite on the album, He Cried. Especially when he gives so much emotion near the end of the song.
Amazing backing vocals from Alain as well, that pretty much goes without saying. I can only imagine what quality vocals we're going to be listening to with Morrissey, Alain, and Gustavo singing on the new(est) album.
Also, I've always been a huge fan of the musical experimentation on the title track (and the lyrics). Roy's Keen utilizes some of the same guitar 'noise' and interplay, though the rest of the LP is pretty tame as far as that goes.
