Please score these Morrissey/Manzur tracks

[T. H. Auden]

It's not always so easy to isolate (sonically and emotionally) the music from the vocal melody and words. To make a fair judgement we should have a possibility to listen to all these tracks in instrumental versions.

 

[William Fisher]

1. Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? 7
2. Earth Is The Loneliest Planet 6
3. In Your Lap 5
4. Israel 7
5. Love Is On Its Way Out 8
6. Neal Cassady Drops Dead 6
7. One Of Our Own 6
8. Spent The Day In Bed 8
9. Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) 6
10. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel 6
11. The Truth About Ruth 4
12. Without Music The World Dies (live performance only) 6

 

[Deleted member 29227]

Am planning on wrapping this thread up on Friday 21st (tomorrow) somewhere around 14:00 (UK time), then publish final results late afternoon.

We're only scoring 12 songs, so those who were keen to express an opinion have probably done so already.
Thus far, it's been reasonably well attended, & close to the numbers for the 'Jesse Tobias' thread (28 currently vs. 29).

Those who wish to have their votes included in the final results, please get your votes in asap. Cheers all.

 

[Flash]

1. Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? 8
2. Earth Is The Loneliest Planet 5
3. In Your Lap 5
4. Israel 8
5. Love Is On Its Way Out 10
6. Neal Cassady Drops Dead 8
7. One Of Our Own 7
8. Spent The Day In Bed 8
9. Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) 8
10. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel 6
11. The Truth About Ruth 4
12. Without Music The World Dies (live performance only) 6

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

each time you vote, you support the process

 

[Flibberty]

• Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? - 7.5
• Earth Is The Loneliest Planet - 6.5
• In Your Lap - 5.5
• Israel - 6
• Love Is On Its Way Out - 5.5
• Neal Cassady Drops Dead - 6.5
• One Of Our Own - 7
• Spent The Day In Bed - 7
• Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) - 6
• The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel - 5.5
• The Truth About Ruth - 7
• Without Music The World Dies (live performance only) - 6

 

[Thewlis]

true. You can’t escape making comparisons and judgments when rating songs. But I think @Mozmar wants folks to compare that artist’s co-writes in that time bracket.

I compare them to all songs everywhere.
Not just the Morrissey ones.
I can’t believe people give a 1 or 2’s as that would mean some of the worst songs ever made…

 

[Roman Holiday]

I compare them to all songs everywhere.
Not just the Morrissey ones.
I can’t believe people give a 1 or 2’s as that would mean some of the worst songs ever made…

I gave Earth Is The Loneliest Planet a 1. It's unfortunate because the lyrics are fine, but I really don't like staccato Latin jazz with electro-dance flourishes and busy, oppressive production.

 

[Born to Harangue]

Bobby, Don't You Think They Know - 7
Earth Is The Loneliest Planet - 7
In Your Lap - 4
Israel - 3
Love Is On Its Way Out - 6.5
Neal Cassady Drops Dead - 7
One Of Our Own - 6.5
Spent The Day In Bed - 7.5
Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) - 5.5
The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel - 5
The Truth About Ruth - 6
Without Music The World Dies (live performance only) - 7.5

 

[Thewlis]

So if you believe Hand In Glove is the best Smiths/Morrissey song and naturally rate it number 10, then how can you rate Bobby also as number 10?
Not arguing, just trying to understand how people are judging if they are comparing these modern songs with past glories.

Bobby’s not a 10, but a solid 8 for me

 

[Deleted member 29227]

but wouldn’t that be considered a 10, if you’re rating that song as your favorite Manzur co-write?

If not, then what would be 9 and 10?

No, I don't believe so; that would be ranking (as in 12 songs by Manzur, ranked in ascending, or descending order), as opposed to scoring, i.e. giving a score out of (in this case) 10. Let's not be splitting hairs; we're nearly done with this (TF).

 

[Gregor Samsa]

true. You can’t escape making comparisons and judgments when rating songs. But I think @Mozmar wants folks to compare that artist’s co-writes in that time bracket.

And I think that is similar to moving the goalposts. Or else we should be consistent.

 

[Was I ever any good]

No, I don't believe so; that would be ranking (as in 12 songs by Manzur, ranked in ascending, or descending order), as opposed to scoring, i.e. giving a score out of (in this case) 10. Let's not be splitting hairs; we're nearly done with this (TF).

I started something.......

 

[Thewlis]

but wouldn’t that be considered a 10, if you’re rating that song as your favorite Manzur co-write?

If not, then what would be 9 and 10?

No, it’s not my favourite, and even my favourite Manzur-song didn’t get a 10.
Only about 20-25 songs of the Morrissey song catalogue get a 10 from me.
We’ll get to them when/if we do other composers.

 

[Pokey]

• Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? (8)
• Earth Is The Loneliest Planet (6.5)
• In Your Lap (4)
• Israel (3)
• Love Is On Its Way Out (4)
• Neal Cassady Drops Dead (9)
• One Of Our Own (8)
• Spent The Day In Bed (8)
• Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) (7)
• The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel (6)
• The Truth About Ruth (5)
• Without Music The World Dies (7.5)

 

[Thewlis]

Oh I see. So there are many songs that can get an 8, etc.


But then, what Manzur song is your favorite, so much so, that it would get a 10?

Thanks in advance.

Spent The Day In Bed and Neal Cassady both got an 8,5, those are my fave Manzur-songs.

I rated them on the first page.

Moz wrote some 300 songs I think?
I think some 100 of them I would rate 8 or higher.

 

[Deleted member 29227]

One 'climber', one 'new entry', but no 're-entry' thus far...(just painting a vulgar picture of the state of play)

 

[Thewlis]

So you’re comparing these Manzur songs with
all the songs in M’s solo catalog. I’m guessing
songs like Suedehead or Heart is Full might get 10, then?

Yes definitely!
I think everyone rates these songs this way?
I wouldn’t know any other way.
That’s how we rate albums too.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Yes definitely!
I think everyone rates these songs this way?

Ah, ok.

So just comparing to M solo catalog.

But if I was trying to make a list of what I personally feel are the best pop songs ever written, the ones that bring me the most pleasure, it wouldn’t have that many Morrissey songs in it,
and none of the Manzur co-writes would make that list, that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy some of them, my favorites being ( in no order) Bobby, Spent, Neal & One of our own.

 

[Harsh Truth]

1. Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? 4/10
2. Earth Is The Loneliest Planet 4/10
3. In Your Lap 2/10
4. Israel 2/10
5. Love Is On Its Way Out 5/10
6. Neal Cassady Drops Dead 4/10
7. One Of Our Own 10/10
8. Spent The Day In Bed 6/10
9. Sure Enough The Telephone Rings (live performance only) 6/10
10. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel 1/10
11. The Truth About Ruth 1/10
12. Without Music The World Dies (live performance only) 4/10

Sadly, these don't rank highly for me, with one notable exception.