The titular track “I Am Not A Dog On A Chain” aptly summarises what is wrong with the album. During the refrain, Morrissey sings: “I hear a call, I hear a cry / I raise my voice, I have no choice / I raise my hand, I hammer twice / I see no point in being nice.” These lyrics clearly reference the recent relentless attack on Morrissey by the media. The former “Smiths” frontman has been harshly challenged for his controversial views and has been accused of being outdated and out of touch. Here, Morrissey makes a statement that he is obligated to share his thoughts but ultimately, it seems that no one really wants to hear them. The song is dull, uninspired, and it doesn’t sound like Morrissey is on our side at all.

There are some more wholesome moments on the album. “Love Is on Its Way Out” nostalgically recalls kinder times, standing up against the “sad rich / Hunting down, shooting down elephants and lions”. As we stumble through this “Knockabout World”, Morrissey longs for times when his reputation was salvageable. Now, we hear the cries of a victim who has shouted and bullied his way into the public’s harsh judgment.

Musically, I Am Not A dog On A Chain is far from Morrissey’s best work. His voice sounds less passionate and at times, his distinct cry sounds like a shadow of his former self. The guitar parts are similarly disinterested and there are far fewer engaging riffs than on any of his previous works.

Overall, Morrissey’s latest album falls flat in every sense of the word. It is tired, depleted, and the musical equivalent of that time Shia LaBeouf stepped out on the red carpet with a paper bag on his head with the words “I am not famous anymore.” Morrissey, it’s time to move on. We certainly have.

1.5/5

The post Morrissey “I Am Not a Dog On a Chain” is Sadly Uninspired appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Just two songs into the set, Morrissey got the crowd going with The Smiths’ single “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” from 1985. This was the first time that he performed the song since 2013.

The legendary vocalist then continued with a set dominated by his solo works in between which he managed to squeeze in “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” from his former band’s 1984 record Meat is Murder. But it turned out that Morrissey saved the best for last. After his return to the stage for an encore, he decided to grace the fans with a performance of The Smiths’ lesser-known track from 1987, “Half a Person.” It was the first live rendition of the track since 2000.

“Half a Person” was a non-album single, first released in 1987 as a b-side on the single “Shoplifters of the World Unite.” The track was played by The Smiths live only once during groups’ four-track set at Maida Vale Studios in 1986.

Morrissey resurrected the track for his solo tour in 1999 and 2000 but then omitted it from his setlist for 20 years until now.

The post Watch Morrissey Performs The Smiths’ “Half a Person” for the First Time Since 2000 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The former frontman of The Smiths described this album as “the very best of me” and he already shared its tracklist. It will feature a total of 11 songs, including a collaboration with Thelma Houston called “Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?”

The R&B icon said that collaborating with other top artists happens to be one of her biggest joys and that she had a lot of fun working with Morrissey in the studio. “I love the challenge to see if what I do can work with what they’re doing. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I think the blend of what Morrissey is singing and what I’m singing really works on Bobby,” Houston said in a statement.

I Am Not a Dog on a Chain is scheduled to be released through BMG on March 20th.

The post Morrissey Teases New Album “I Am Not a Dog on a Chain” 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.

Greta Van Fleet will open the festivities on May 25, kicking off a series of 16 concerts, music festivals and family events mapped out for this year. They’ll all be taking place at the Forest Hills Stadium, one of the most legendary venues in Queens.

Van Fleet isn’t the only performer to be excited about. The line-up features an impressive list of artists, covering many different genres, but mostly focusing on rock music.

Check out complete schedule of acts performing at this historic stadium over the course of the next few months:

May 25 – Greta Van Fleet

June 15 – Death Cab for Cutie with Jenny Lewis

June 22 – ALT 92.3 Summer Open (Day 1) featuring The Lumineers with The Revivalists, Sharon Van Etten and Catfish and the Bottlemen

June 23 – ALT 92.3 Summer Open (Day 2) featuring The Head and The Heart, Young The Giant, Fitz and the Tantrums, a special acoustic performance by Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional and Smith and Thell

July 14 – Lynyrd Skynyrd with Hank Williams, Jr.

July 20 – “Weird Al” Yankovic with Queens Symphony Orchestra

July 21 – Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. the Tour presented by Party City

July 24 – Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie

Aug. 1 – The Chemical Brothers

Aug. 2 – An Intimate Evening with Sarah McLachlan And the New York Pops

Aug. 10 – My Morning Jacket with Warpaint

Aug. 17 – Beck and Cage the Elephant with Spoon

Sept. 7 – Morrissey with Interpol

Sept.11 – Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Alison Krauss and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Sept. 14 – Ian Anderson presents JETHRO TULL 50th Anniversary Tour

Oct 5 & 6 – The Infatuation presents EEEEEATSCON NY

The post Greta Van Fleet and Morrissey to Perform at the Historic Forest Hills Stadium appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The former Smiths frontman was scheduled to play a show in Vancouver on Sunday and Monday but the shows have now been pushed back to October.

Ticketmaster released the following statement: “Due to a medical emergency stemming from an accident incurred while traveling in Europe, Morrissey will be forced to postpone his performances in Vancouver to October 14th and 15th, 2019. Spirits are high and the artist is on the path to a swift recovery. 

“All tickets will be valid for the new date and exchanges will not be necessary. Thank you for your understanding. Morrissey looks forward to making his long-awaited return to the city and wishes to deeply thank everyone for their patience. All remaining dates on Morrissey’s tour will resume as planned, commencing in Toronto on Friday, Apr 26.”

The shows were set to be Morrissey’s first in Canada in over a decade. It is unclear what will happen regarding the rest of his April tour dates but we are waiting on more information.

The post Morrissey Cancels Two Tour Dates Due to “Medical Emergency” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The shows will kick off on September 5 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. The pair will be furiously touring for the whole of September and will wrap up the North American stint of their tour in San Diego on October 6.

You can check out everywhere you can see Morrissey and Interpol play here:

September 2019

5 – Columbia, MD, Merriweather Post Pavilion
7 – New York, NY, Forest Hills Stadium
9 – Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
11 – Kettering, OH, Fraze Pavilion
13 – Rochester Hills, MI, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
14 – Highland Park, IL, Ravinia Amphitheater
18 – Grand Prairie, TX, Verizon Theatre
20 – Austin, TX, Frank Erwin Center
21 – Houston, TX, White Oak Outdoor Lawn
28 – Salt Lake City, UT, SaltAir
30 – Portland, OR, Theatre Of The Clouds

October 2019

3 – San Francisco, CA, Bill Graham Auditorium
5 – Irvine, CA, Five Point Amphitheatre
6 – San Diego, CA, Pechanga Arena

The post Morrissey, Interpol Announce Joint North American Tour 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.

All of the shows will be held at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater from May 2-11, shortly after the release of his covers album “California Son”, which is officially dropping on March 24. It is his first record of this kind, and includes renditions of songs by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Dionne Warwick.

Morrissey’s Broadway’s residency has been described as intimate yet exciting exploration of his expansive career. It’s expected to explore his early days, rise to stardom with the Smiths, future solo projects and everything that led to this upcoming new record.

“Another milestone in an already storied career, longtime fans of Moz will get a rare opportunity to see the star branch out into new territory and take the stage like never before,” reads the official statement about his Broadway’s show.

The post Morrissey Coming to Broadway For a Seven-Day Residency 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.

The titular track “I Am Not A Dog On A Chain” aptly summarises what is wrong with the album. During the refrain, Morrissey sings: “I hear a call, I hear a cry / I raise my voice, I have no choice / I raise my hand, I hammer twice / I see no point in being nice.” These lyrics clearly reference the recent relentless attack on Morrissey by the media. The former “Smiths” frontman has been harshly challenged for his controversial views and has been accused of being outdated and out of touch. Here, Morrissey makes a statement that he is obligated to share his thoughts but ultimately, it seems that no one really wants to hear them. The song is dull, uninspired, and it doesn’t sound like Morrissey is on our side at all.

There are some more wholesome moments on the album. “Love Is on Its Way Out” nostalgically recalls kinder times, standing up against the “sad rich / Hunting down, shooting down elephants and lions”. As we stumble through this “Knockabout World”, Morrissey longs for times when his reputation was salvageable. Now, we hear the cries of a victim who has shouted and bullied his way into the public’s harsh judgment.

Musically, I Am Not A dog On A Chain is far from Morrissey’s best work. His voice sounds less passionate and at times, his distinct cry sounds like a shadow of his former self. The guitar parts are similarly disinterested and there are far fewer engaging riffs than on any of his previous works.

Overall, Morrissey’s latest album falls flat in every sense of the word. It is tired, depleted, and the musical equivalent of that time Shia LaBeouf stepped out on the red carpet with a paper bag on his head with the words “I am not famous anymore.” Morrissey, it’s time to move on. We certainly have.

1.5/5

The post Morrissey “I Am Not a Dog On a Chain” is Sadly Uninspired appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Just two songs into the set, Morrissey got the crowd going with The Smiths’ single “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” from 1985. This was the first time that he performed the song since 2013.

The legendary vocalist then continued with a set dominated by his solo works in between which he managed to squeeze in “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” from his former band’s 1984 record Meat is Murder. But it turned out that Morrissey saved the best for last. After his return to the stage for an encore, he decided to grace the fans with a performance of The Smiths’ lesser-known track from 1987, “Half a Person.” It was the first live rendition of the track since 2000.

“Half a Person” was a non-album single, first released in 1987 as a b-side on the single “Shoplifters of the World Unite.” The track was played by The Smiths live only once during groups’ four-track set at Maida Vale Studios in 1986.

Morrissey resurrected the track for his solo tour in 1999 and 2000 but then omitted it from his setlist for 20 years until now.

The post Watch Morrissey Performs The Smiths’ “Half a Person” for the First Time Since 2000 appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The former frontman of The Smiths described this album as “the very best of me” and he already shared its tracklist. It will feature a total of 11 songs, including a collaboration with Thelma Houston called “Bobby, Don’t You Think They Know?”

The R&B icon said that collaborating with other top artists happens to be one of her biggest joys and that she had a lot of fun working with Morrissey in the studio. “I love the challenge to see if what I do can work with what they’re doing. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I think the blend of what Morrissey is singing and what I’m singing really works on Bobby,” Houston said in a statement.

I Am Not a Dog on a Chain is scheduled to be released through BMG on March 20th.

The post Morrissey Teases New Album “I Am Not a Dog on a Chain” 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.

Greta Van Fleet will open the festivities on May 25, kicking off a series of 16 concerts, music festivals and family events mapped out for this year. They’ll all be taking place at the Forest Hills Stadium, one of the most legendary venues in Queens.

Van Fleet isn’t the only performer to be excited about. The line-up features an impressive list of artists, covering many different genres, but mostly focusing on rock music.

Check out complete schedule of acts performing at this historic stadium over the course of the next few months:

May 25 – Greta Van Fleet

June 15 – Death Cab for Cutie with Jenny Lewis

June 22 – ALT 92.3 Summer Open (Day 1) featuring The Lumineers with The Revivalists, Sharon Van Etten and Catfish and the Bottlemen

June 23 – ALT 92.3 Summer Open (Day 2) featuring The Head and The Heart, Young The Giant, Fitz and the Tantrums, a special acoustic performance by Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional and Smith and Thell

July 14 – Lynyrd Skynyrd with Hank Williams, Jr.

July 20 – “Weird Al” Yankovic with Queens Symphony Orchestra

July 21 – Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. the Tour presented by Party City

July 24 – Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie

Aug. 1 – The Chemical Brothers

Aug. 2 – An Intimate Evening with Sarah McLachlan And the New York Pops

Aug. 10 – My Morning Jacket with Warpaint

Aug. 17 – Beck and Cage the Elephant with Spoon

Sept. 7 – Morrissey with Interpol

Sept.11 – Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Alison Krauss and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Sept. 14 – Ian Anderson presents JETHRO TULL 50th Anniversary Tour

Oct 5 & 6 – The Infatuation presents EEEEEATSCON NY

The post Greta Van Fleet and Morrissey to Perform at the Historic Forest Hills Stadium appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The former Smiths frontman was scheduled to play a show in Vancouver on Sunday and Monday but the shows have now been pushed back to October.

Ticketmaster released the following statement: “Due to a medical emergency stemming from an accident incurred while traveling in Europe, Morrissey will be forced to postpone his performances in Vancouver to October 14th and 15th, 2019. Spirits are high and the artist is on the path to a swift recovery. 

“All tickets will be valid for the new date and exchanges will not be necessary. Thank you for your understanding. Morrissey looks forward to making his long-awaited return to the city and wishes to deeply thank everyone for their patience. All remaining dates on Morrissey’s tour will resume as planned, commencing in Toronto on Friday, Apr 26.”

The shows were set to be Morrissey’s first in Canada in over a decade. It is unclear what will happen regarding the rest of his April tour dates but we are waiting on more information.

The post Morrissey Cancels Two Tour Dates Due to “Medical Emergency” appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The shows will kick off on September 5 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. The pair will be furiously touring for the whole of September and will wrap up the North American stint of their tour in San Diego on October 6.

You can check out everywhere you can see Morrissey and Interpol play here:

September 2019

5 – Columbia, MD, Merriweather Post Pavilion
7 – New York, NY, Forest Hills Stadium
9 – Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
11 – Kettering, OH, Fraze Pavilion
13 – Rochester Hills, MI, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
14 – Highland Park, IL, Ravinia Amphitheater
18 – Grand Prairie, TX, Verizon Theatre
20 – Austin, TX, Frank Erwin Center
21 – Houston, TX, White Oak Outdoor Lawn
28 – Salt Lake City, UT, SaltAir
30 – Portland, OR, Theatre Of The Clouds

October 2019

3 – San Francisco, CA, Bill Graham Auditorium
5 – Irvine, CA, Five Point Amphitheatre
6 – San Diego, CA, Pechanga Arena

The post Morrissey, Interpol Announce Joint North American Tour 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.

All of the shows will be held at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater from May 2-11, shortly after the release of his covers album “California Son”, which is officially dropping on March 24. It is his first record of this kind, and includes renditions of songs by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Dionne Warwick.

Morrissey’s Broadway’s residency has been described as intimate yet exciting exploration of his expansive career. It’s expected to explore his early days, rise to stardom with the Smiths, future solo projects and everything that led to this upcoming new record.

“Another milestone in an already storied career, longtime fans of Moz will get a rare opportunity to see the star branch out into new territory and take the stage like never before,” reads the official statement about his Broadway’s show.

The post Morrissey Coming to Broadway For a Seven-Day Residency 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.