Morrissey - Swords

They’ve got two sides… geddit?

Morrissey seems to be everywhere. He’s recently disowned two compilations put out bearing his name, but this, a collection of often preposterously-named B-sides from his past four albums, gets the thumbs-up. He even selected and sequenced the tracks.

If you’re still reading after “B-sides from his past four albums”, then well done. It’s certainly not the most appealing prospect, even for the die-hards (and a bonus live disc includes The Smiths’ You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby to sugar the pill). Something about the sweep and wonky bravado of certain tracks is, however, positively charming. Don’t Make Fun Of Daddy’s Voice is better than much of You Are The Quarry; Sweetie Pie rings with irony-free affection; If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look At Me’s strings are just delicious – up there with the best of Ringleader Of The Tormentors.

Sure, there’s filler (Shame Is The Name, Christian Dior, a Bowie cover), but hell, this is a B-sides collection after all. And it’s “royally approved”, which is pretty much all the incentive Moz’s army of acolytes need to rush out and buy it (downloaders even get two bonus tracks).

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

UMC | 5322207

Reviewed by Jake Kennedy
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