Morrissey – Bona Drag (1990)

A recurring theme throughout all aspects of the art and entertainment world is how far one separates the artist as a person from their body of work.

Given the petulant, self obsessed, supporter of racist politics and serial canceller of gigs and walkout merchant that Morrissey has become (or always was, but now he doesn't need the money..?) I wasn't relishing revisiting his albums.

There isn't even the consolation, as with Smiths CDs, of knowing that three quarters of the headliners were compassionate, decent human beings, when approaching Morrissey's work.

So, I approached this album wanting to hate everything about it, and feel almost cheated that I didn't. For all the bile I've expressed about this unlikeable individual, I have to confess he could write a pop song, with intelligent lyrics.

This is a compilation album, which followed his solo debut, featuring singles and b-sides issued up that point, and the two singles taken from the debut Everyday Is Like Sunday and Suedehead are easily the strongest ones there (featuring the wonderful Vini Reilly on guitar).

The later singles (5 of them, check his discography) are all a decent enough listen, with probably The Last Of The Famous International Playboys, standing out

None of the tracks originally b-sides are particularly strong, with the exception of Hairdresser On Fire once it brightens up.

So there we are, some good stuff, a lot of filler and feeling slightly grubby for not hating it unreservedly.

Link to full album

3* - a reasonable compilation of early singles.