Before we launch into the review, let’s be clear on one thing. We love The Smiths and we have a lot of time for Morrissey, even if some of the things he has said in the recent have been, well, questionable. The moment we saw the cover of California Son, however, we had a hard time taking this new record seriously.

The album consists of covers and while they are all creative takes on the originals, they are more like violations than improvements. His cover of
“Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow” adds saxophones and choral embellishments but it suffocates the honest and humble raw beauty of Joni Mitchell’s original track.

“Some Say I Got Devil” is probably one of the strongest covers on the record and gives us an eerie and powerful rendition of Melanie Safka’s original. He sings as a female protagonist and his voice brings something new and interesting to the track. Apart from a couple of other gems like the enjoyably cheesy “Wedding Bell Blues”, Morrissey takes more on the album than he gives.

So yes, Morrissey has finally achieved his goal of leaving behind The Smiths for good. The trouble is, once you remove Johnny Marr and the ironically morbid lyrics of Meat Is Murder, what’s left is a great singing voice and a massive ego. We’re all for cover albums but even though Morrissey has provided unique arrangements, he hasn’t given the respect the originals deserved. What’s more, the album just isn’t that great to listen to. Most of the songs are poppy and forgettable.

Ultimately, if these are the songs Morrissey will play at his concerts, we’re not interested. The only way we’d pay to see the smug singer live is if we were promised he would play our favorite songs from The Smiths back catalog. And that’s just never going to happen because Morrissey would much rather play his mediocre solo music.

2/5

The post Morrissey “California Son”: Smugly Mediocre appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

“Morrissey’s legendary baritone takes center stage, injecting the classic ode to frustrated love with a modern, polished euphoria that subtly nods at queer desire,” says the press release about this captivating cover.

Written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966, “Wedding Bell Blues” was popularized by 1969’s version from The Fifth Dimension which ended up becoming a No. 1 hit in the United States and several other countries. The song remained popular until today while its title became a popular phrase in American pop culture.

You can hear Morrissey’s cover of “Wedding Bell Blues” below.

Morrissey will officially release California Son, produced by Joe Chiccarelli, on May 24, 2019. Prior to “Wedding Bell Blues,” the former The Smiths frontman presented two singles from the album, Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over” and The Pretenders’ “Back on the Chain Gang.” Hear them below.

The post Morrissey and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Team up appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

On the cover, Morrissey remains close to the original but delivers his own spin to the track making the best out of his baritone. Hear it below.

Composed by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees, “It’s Over” was originally released as a single in April of 1964. The song had a notable chart success, topping the UK charts and reaching No. 9 on the Billboard pop music chart. The song was later covered by many musicians including Bonnie Tyler, Don Byron, and Miley Cyrus.

California Son is scheduled for release on May 24^th. Besides “Back On The Chain Gang” and “It’s Over,” the album will also feature Morrissey’s takes on other classics including Joni Mitchell’s “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” Bob Dylan’s “Only a Pawn in Their Game,” and Dionne Warwick’s Loneliness Remembers What Happens Forgets.”

The record will also have its fair share of guest appearances including Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste, Ariel Engle of Broken Social Scene, Petra Haden and others.

The post Hear Morrissey Cover Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Morrissey also revealed the tracklist for the project, which will feature his takes on classics such as Joni Mitchell’s “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” Bob Dylan – “Only a Pawn in Their Game” and Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over.” The release date, however, still remains unknown.

Until California Son finds its way to the record stores, Morrissey fans have an opportunity to enjoy in the deluxe edition of his 2017’s album Low in High School. The new version, out on December 7th, will include lots of exciting additions to the original collection including five live b-sides from the recording session and three previously unreleased tracks. It will also contain the cover of The Pretenders’ 1984 hit “Back On The Chain Gang,” that was presented back in September. Hear it below.

California Son Tracklist

Jobriath – “Morning Starship”
Joni Mitchell – “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow”
Bob Dylan – “Only a Pawn in Their Game”
Buffy Sainte Marie – “Suffer the Little Children”
Phil Ochs – “Days of Decision”
Roy Orbison – “It’s Over”
Laura Nyro – “Wedding Bell Blues”
Dionne Warwick – “Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets”
Gary Puckett & the Union Gap – “Lady Willpower”
Carly Simon – “When You Close Your Eyes”
Tim Hardin – “Lenny’s Tune”
Melanie – “Some Say I Got Devil”

The post Morrissey Details Upcoming Covers Album”California Son” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Before we launch into the review, let’s be clear on one thing. We love The Smiths and we have a lot of time for Morrissey, even if some of the things he has said in the recent have been, well, questionable. The moment we saw the cover of California Son, however, we had a hard time taking this new record seriously.

The album consists of covers and while they are all creative takes on the originals, they are more like violations than improvements. His cover of
“Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow” adds saxophones and choral embellishments but it suffocates the honest and humble raw beauty of Joni Mitchell’s original track.

“Some Say I Got Devil” is probably one of the strongest covers on the record and gives us an eerie and powerful rendition of Melanie Safka’s original. He sings as a female protagonist and his voice brings something new and interesting to the track. Apart from a couple of other gems like the enjoyably cheesy “Wedding Bell Blues”, Morrissey takes more on the album than he gives.

So yes, Morrissey has finally achieved his goal of leaving behind The Smiths for good. The trouble is, once you remove Johnny Marr and the ironically morbid lyrics of Meat Is Murder, what’s left is a great singing voice and a massive ego. We’re all for cover albums but even though Morrissey has provided unique arrangements, he hasn’t given the respect the originals deserved. What’s more, the album just isn’t that great to listen to. Most of the songs are poppy and forgettable.

Ultimately, if these are the songs Morrissey will play at his concerts, we’re not interested. The only way we’d pay to see the smug singer live is if we were promised he would play our favorite songs from The Smiths back catalog. And that’s just never going to happen because Morrissey would much rather play his mediocre solo music.

2/5

The post Morrissey “California Son”: Smugly Mediocre appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

“Morrissey’s legendary baritone takes center stage, injecting the classic ode to frustrated love with a modern, polished euphoria that subtly nods at queer desire,” says the press release about this captivating cover.

Written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966, “Wedding Bell Blues” was popularized by 1969’s version from The Fifth Dimension which ended up becoming a No. 1 hit in the United States and several other countries. The song remained popular until today while its title became a popular phrase in American pop culture.

You can hear Morrissey’s cover of “Wedding Bell Blues” below.

Morrissey will officially release California Son, produced by Joe Chiccarelli, on May 24, 2019. Prior to “Wedding Bell Blues,” the former The Smiths frontman presented two singles from the album, Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over” and The Pretenders’ “Back on the Chain Gang.” Hear them below.

The post Morrissey and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Team up appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

On the cover, Morrissey remains close to the original but delivers his own spin to the track making the best out of his baritone. Hear it below.

Composed by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees, “It’s Over” was originally released as a single in April of 1964. The song had a notable chart success, topping the UK charts and reaching No. 9 on the Billboard pop music chart. The song was later covered by many musicians including Bonnie Tyler, Don Byron, and Miley Cyrus.

California Son is scheduled for release on May 24^th. Besides “Back On The Chain Gang” and “It’s Over,” the album will also feature Morrissey’s takes on other classics including Joni Mitchell’s “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” Bob Dylan’s “Only a Pawn in Their Game,” and Dionne Warwick’s Loneliness Remembers What Happens Forgets.”

The record will also have its fair share of guest appearances including Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste, Ariel Engle of Broken Social Scene, Petra Haden and others.

The post Hear Morrissey Cover Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Morrissey also revealed the tracklist for the project, which will feature his takes on classics such as Joni Mitchell’s “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” Bob Dylan – “Only a Pawn in Their Game” and Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over.” The release date, however, still remains unknown.

Until California Son finds its way to the record stores, Morrissey fans have an opportunity to enjoy in the deluxe edition of his 2017’s album Low in High School. The new version, out on December 7th, will include lots of exciting additions to the original collection including five live b-sides from the recording session and three previously unreleased tracks. It will also contain the cover of The Pretenders’ 1984 hit “Back On The Chain Gang,” that was presented back in September. Hear it below.

California Son Tracklist

Jobriath – “Morning Starship”
Joni Mitchell – “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow”
Bob Dylan – “Only a Pawn in Their Game”
Buffy Sainte Marie – “Suffer the Little Children”
Phil Ochs – “Days of Decision”
Roy Orbison – “It’s Over”
Laura Nyro – “Wedding Bell Blues”
Dionne Warwick – “Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets”
Gary Puckett & the Union Gap – “Lady Willpower”
Carly Simon – “When You Close Your Eyes”
Tim Hardin – “Lenny’s Tune”
Melanie – “Some Say I Got Devil”

The post Morrissey Details Upcoming Covers Album”California Son” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.