Ticket 2 Ride

Morrissey is as much in the news for what he’s not doing than what he is. Morrissey, often a source of news, has a new album out and generates a lot of negative press by canceling numerous live shows on his current tour.

Make-Up Is A Lie is Morrissey’s first album since 2020’s I Am Not a Dog on a Chain. Morrissey is rather sporadic about album releases. Word is that he recorded an album for release but it was cancelled by his label.

Morrissey is an enigma – like him or think he’s a jerk, there are a lot of people in each camp. I’ve been a Smiths fan since the days they like (or at least tolerated) each other, and I started out collecting Morrissey solo albums. I stopped when his subject matter was less relevant to me. Today, I can’t say that I’m a fan, but some of his work is interesting. That’s pretty vague, I realize. I’m not terribly fond of his politics is another reason for my lack of following him.

Morrissey has a loyal, longtime fan base who relate to his melancholic romanticism and angst of an unsympathetic social order. Reading online message boards about him, he seems to have fans all over the world. What he may have experienced and draws from his early years in Manchester, England, is recognized in every culture and community. Morrissey is plugged into the undercurrent of those who feel like outsiders even in their own circles and culture. That’s a huge population of people everywhere who have identified as outcasts, and search for like-spirited souls, which they find through Morrissey’s music. Or they just like his songs. Either way, Morrissey’s fans are eating up his new album. Make-Up Is A Lie debuted at number 14 on Billboard and number three on UK’s Top 100.

My intent was to listen with an open mind and let Make-Up Is A Lie speak for itself.

1. “You’re Right, It’s Time“
   MorrisseyCamila Grey
   3:48 One of the better songs on the album. Morrissey seems to have trouble reaching high notes.
2. “Make-Up Is a Lie“
   MorrisseyGrey
   3:09 Interesting songs bridging several styles.
3. “Notre-Dame”
   MorrisseyAlain Whyte
   4:08 Haunting song. Lyrically, it doesn’t seem finished.
4. “Amazona”
   Bryan FerryPhil Manzanera
   4:11 A cover of the Roxy Music song. Enjoyable treatment. If Bowie had covered this song it would have sounded similar to this.
5. “Headache“
   MorrisseyGustavo Manzur
   4:20 Another haunting song. Doesn’t sound like Morrissey at all. Solid guitar work.
6. “Boulevard“
   MorrisseyWhyte
   5:40 Slow, wistful ballad. I imagine this song in a Sergio Leone film in a scene leading up to a showdown.
7. “Zoom Zoom the Little Boy”
   MorrisseyJesse Tobias
   3:12 Trippy
8. “The Night Pop Dropped“
   MorrisseyTobias
   4:24 Rockin’ guitar and keyboard song; the Doors would like this in 2026.
9. “Kerching Kerching”
   MorrisseyGrey
   2:53 Story song. Aside for confusing lyrics, the music is catchy, but song comes across as unfinished.
10. “Lester Bangs”
    MorrisseyGrey
    3:42 Something about the music critic. Haunting but unclear lyrical intent.
11. “Many Icebergs Ago”
    MorrisseyManzur
    5:24 No idea what his words mean, but a good performance.
12. “The Monsters of Pig Alley“
    MorrisseyWhyte
    4:57 Gorgeous music. Very Smiths-like. My favorite song on the album.
    Total length: 49:48

Thoughts…

I have idea what Morrissey sings about most of the time, maybe reading the lyrics while listening. The music on most of this album is incredibly good, especially the guitar work. Morrissey has always been at his best with smart, highly original guitar players. On this album, Morrissey has longtime guitarist Jesse Tobias, and Alain’s Whyte is back, having been with Morrissey since the 1990s before departing in 2004, when Tobias took over.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by my second listen. Morrissey’s voice is not what it used to be, but for the most part he’s adapted, and still emotes well for a 66 year old.