I Am Not a Dog on a Chain, Morrissey (BMG): Album Review

I Am Not a Dog on a Chain is Morrissey’s 13^th studio album since retiring the Smiths Air-Mobile. If you loved that band, you will not be disappointed.

I would say this is his best solo album since, I don’t know, his last one?

Let’s say this is middle period Morrissmithy, like Dylan and the Rolling Stones in the 70s. And like them, the standard is high if not the same as it once was.

Opening song Jim Jim Falls is a scathing diatribe about a suicidal person. But it is not, as close listening likely reveals a person who is needy and manipulative.

The first stand-out is Bobby Don’t You Think They Know. The music moves through Womack and Womack style soul to trash keyboards to soul jazz. The great Thelma Houston is co-lead vocalist here with a strong performance, as if she’s thinking of Merry Clayton empowering Mick Jagger on Gimme Shelter.

Then we go into a fantastic 3 song cycle which is classic Smiths, bright and uplifting. What Kind of People Live in These Houses, Knockabout World and Darling I Hug a Pillow. Subject matter resides in the titles, ringing and chiming guitars and with all sorts of instrumental flourishes like Mexican trumpets, Motown strings. Observational lyrics with bathos and humour. Loving you is a trauma. Why don’t you give me some physical love?

I’ve often pondered the origins and DNA of this music. Mixed and well disguised under all his past influences, but I would say Kinks, Velvet Underground and the Jam, with a splash of middle period Beatles.

And then something completely different.  Truth About Ruth is eighties Brit-Pop/Electronica-Pop. It is a theatrical piece with musicians adding in textures of violins, horns, a background light opera choir.

The Secret of Music stretches further – theatrical, but closer to the style of Tom Waits on Swordfishtrombone. More orchestral as it develops, various woodwinds and keyboards.

Morrissey’s vocals stand out on these two avante-garde workouts, and actually over the whole album.

The title song fits somewhere between these two approaches. It starts fairly light with Morrissey’s vocals prominent and minimal instrumental backing. Then it gets darker and louder. Not a classic but it may grow on me.

My Hurling Days Are Over comes back to shimmering guitar-pop to close the package. Mama mama and teddy bear…

Joe Chicharelli has produced the last few albums and has done a sterling job here. The bulk of the instruments are played by Boz Boorer, Andrea Bulletti and the producer. Recorded in France and Sunset Sounds in Hollywood.

I have not talked about his politics in this piece as I feel that it is irrelevant to his art and his legacy. He is supporting the For Britain party in the UK, described as far right. Founded by Anne Marie Waters, it is anti-Islam immigration and not supportive of the EU. I would disagree with some of his ideas, but he is welcome to his freedom of speech as we all should be.

Rev Orange Peel