Morrissey - The Best Of! ( VINYL 2LP )

Morrissey hasn't released a new album in several years, but that hasn't put a damper on the willful eccentricity of his discography. "Best," in this instance, means not most popular but most characteristic. This American greatest-hits set is very different from its British equivalent, Suedehead, omitting half of his U.K. chart singles in favor of a curious lineup of high-aesthetic album tracks and B-sides, reportedly picked by the Moz himself. The original idea of Morrissey's solo career was to reach beyond the stylistic confines of the Smiths, but these songs are in basically the same line of work, with first Stephen Street and later Alain Whyte and others playing the Johnny Marr role of guitarist and musical foil. Generally, they're overmatched: "Interesting Drug" and "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" still have a wry buzz to them, but a lot of these songs are little more than vehicles for the star's lyrics and unstoppable vocal presence. --Douglas Wolk

CONDITION: NEW

TRACK LISTING

"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" – 3:43
"Suedehead" – 3:54
"Everyday Is Like Sunday" – 3:32
"Glamorous Glue" – 4:08
"Do Your Best and Don't Worry" – 4:07
"November Spawned a Monster" – 5:23
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" – 3:39
"Sing Your Life" – 3:26
"Hairdresser on Fire" – 3:50
"Interesting Drug" – 3:27
"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" – 2:30
"Certain People I Know" – 3:11
"Now My Heart Is Full" – 4:08
"I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" – 4:22
"Sunny" – 2:41
"Alma Matters" – 4:48
"Hold on to Your Friends" – 4:04
"Sister I'm a Poet" – 2:25
"Disappointed" – 3:05
"Tomorrow" (radio remix) – 3:54
"Lost" – 3:54