You Are the Quarry

You Are The Quarry is an album by Morrissey, the former lead singer of the Smiths. The album was released on May 17, 2004 internationally, and a day later in the United States.

Related Topics:
Album - Morrissey - Singer - The Smiths - May 17 - 2004 - United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The release is a significant event in Morrissey's career for several reasons. Throughout the late 90s, Morrissey was treated with contempt by the British music press and subsequently became a pariah with respect to the Britpop movement, turning to prog rock in lieu of his usual indie pop. With You Are the Quarry, Morrissey returns to the musical mainstream. Because it was his first studio album in seven years, the critics and the public were more willing to give him a chance and offer a tabula rasa. As such, the first single "Irish Blood, English Heart" became his highest charting single in the UK at #3 and received significant airplay in the US, going to #36 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album charted at #2 in the UK and became Morrissey's highest charting album in the US, reaching #11.

Related Topics:
90s - British - Music press - Britpop - Prog rock - Indie - Tabula rasa - US - Modern Rock Tracks chart

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The album is in many ways unique in comparison to Morrissey's previous work. Musically, Jerry Finn's production gives the album a very mainstream, commercial feel, but it also makes the songs very appealing and polished. This is especially evident in the percussion, which is prominent and melodic. Guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte craft songs that fit somewhere between modern indie rock and AOR.

Related Topics:
Jerry Finn - Percussion - Boz Boorer - Alain Whyte - Indie rock - AOR

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lyrically, Morrissey touches on many themes, varying from politics to relationships to Morrissey's place in society. His seriousness and lyrical maturity vary from song to song. Yet, he displays some of his most reflective lyrics since 1994's Vauxhall and I on songs like "I Have Forgiven Jesus", "Come Back to Camden", and "You Know I Couldn't Last".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The eclectic combination of diverse lyrics and mainstream rock music make You Are the Quarry perhaps the only Morrissey album similar to his debut, Viva Hate.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is the most successful album of Morrissey's career, solo or with The Smiths. It has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In October 2004, Attack repackaged and reissued You Are The Quarry as a two disc Deluxe Edition. The second disc collected the nine b-sides from the album's first three singles, as well as some collected video, including Morrissey's live performances on American TV show, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

Related Topics:
The Late Late Show - Craig Kilborn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trivia: This is the first Morrissey album whose cover does not enclose the title in quotation marks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~