67. Morrissey – First of the Gang to Die (2004)

Punk, which emerged in the mid-seventies, and the new wave, indie and alternative that sprang out of its loins, have all gone against the "classic rock" of the sixties and seventies, claiming that it sold its soul. One of the things they reacted against was the phenomenon of stars and idols, and punk musicians aspired to always remain part of the community which they grew out of, not above it. In the eighties and nineties, a lot of them succumbed to the temptations of stardom once they became famous, but in the naughties, when rock became just a musical genre, those who survived fell back into the fold, shedding all traces of star dust. The only rocker from the generations that came after punk who is still regarded as a rock god, and acts accordingly, is Bono. In a way this is a victory to the ideology of punk, but as I already stated, something very important was lost in the process: rockers no longer offer distinct identities, alternative lifestyles. The rock world, which once was an expression of plurality, diversity and originality, became homogenous and boring.

The exception is Morrissey. Even in his advanced age, he did not lose the ability to generate strong identification in some people, and sharp antagonism in others. Even in his heyday back in the eighties he was always the anti-star, the sensitive rocker who sings his pains in a heartfelt way, and he remained true to his way even in the nineties, when he became a target for the critics. In the end, he managed not only to keep his fan base, but also to find new crowds, such as Latin-Americans who like his underdog stance, or sensitive emo kids, or those nostalgic for the eighties. His shows are a religious experience, in which he gives himself completely to the loving crowd, who reacts with total devotion.

I'm one of those who can take Morrissey only in small doses. But sometimes, a small dose of Morrissey makes my day. Some of the records he released this decade are as good as his Smiths material. This one is my favorite.