Your Arsenal

Your Arsenal
Studio album by Morrissey
Released 27 July 1992
Recorded February 1992 at Utopia Studios, Primrose Hill; March 1992 at The Wool Hall, Bath, England
Genre Alternative rock, glam rock,[1][2][3] rockabilly[1]
Length 39:45
Label HMV
Producer Mick Ronson
Morrissey chronology

Kill Uncle
(1991)		 Your Arsenal
(1992)		 Vauxhall and I
(1994)
Singles from Your Arsenal
  1. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
    Released: 27 April 1992
  2. "You're the One for Me, Fatty"
    Released: 6 July 1992
  3. "Tomorrow"
    Released: September 1992
  4. "Certain People I Know"
    Released: 7 December 1992
  5. "Glamorous Glue"
    Released: 1992

Your Arsenal is the fourth album by English singer Morrissey, released on 27 July 1992 by record label HMV.

The album received critical acclaim and reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart.

Content

Morrissey had been rehearsing with a new band prior to the release of Your Arsenal, which was the first official album of this new line-up, whose core has remained stable to date (since this record was released, his music has been chiefly composed by either Alain Whyte or Boz Boorer, two musicians originally coming from the rockabilly scene).

Commencing with "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side", the album represents a clear change in direction for Morrissey from indie pop to a more muscular rock sound;[4] with some elements of rockabilly. It also contains a glam rock influence, due to the involvement of ex-David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. Songs such as "Certain People I Know", "Glamorous Glue" and "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday", which are respectively influenced by T. Rex, and David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period songs (e.g. "The Jean Genie" and the latter by "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"). David Bowie later covered the track "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" on his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise.

Some tracks from the album were lyrically controversial, although much of the controversy was generated by the New Musical Express, who had turned against Morrissey by this time. "Glamorous Glue", though a personally conflicted and ambivalent song, was accused of anti-Americanism, while the similarly ambiguous "We'll Let You Know" was accused of defending football hooliganism. "The National Front Disco", meanwhile, was accused by some of glorifying the British National Front, a far-right group, and the ambiguity of lyrics such as "England for the English" was criticised.

Release

The first single released from the album, "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful", peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. It also hit number 2 in the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The UK also saw the release of "You're the One for Me, Fatty" (No. 19) and "Certain People I Know" (No. 35). In the United States, "Glamorous Glue" and "Tomorrow" reached No. 13 and No. 1 on the Modern Rock chart, respectively.

Your Arsenal was released on 27 July 1994 by record label HMV. It reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart.

The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album.

In 2014, Rhino Records issued a "Definitive Master" of the album. This version was remastered and substitutes the original album version of "Tomorrow" for the U.S. single mix. It also includes a bonus DVD of a 1991 concert from Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [5]
Robert Christgau A–[6]
Pitchfork 7.3/10[7]
Q [8]
Rolling Stone [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [10]

Your Arsenal was praised by critics.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote, "A dynamic, invigorating fusion of glam rock and rockabilly, Your Arsenal rocks harder than any other record Morrissey ever made."[5] Robert Christgau called it his "Most consistent solo set to date".[6]

Your Arsenal was listed as one of the top 50 albums of 1992 by Q.[11]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Morrissey, all music composed by Alain Whyte, except as noted.

No. TitleMusic Length
1. "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"  Mark E. Nevin 3:38
2. "Glamorous Glue"    4:01
3. "We'll Let You Know"    5:17
4. "The National Front Disco"    4:23
5. "Certain People I Know"    3:11
6. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"    2:29
7. "You're the One for Me, Fatty"    2:58
8. "Seasick, Yet Still Docked"    5:07
9. "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"  Nevin 4:20
10. "Tomorrow"    4:05

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
Position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 4
US Billboard 200 21
Chart (2014) Peak
Position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 49
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[13] 18

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1
  2. ↑ Pitchfork review
  3. ↑ 2004
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Out Now: Morrissey – Your Arsenal – The Definitive Master | rhino.com". rhino.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Your Arsenal – Morrissey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Morrissey". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Wolk, Douglas (21 February 2014). "Morrissey: Your Arsenal | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Q. July 1992. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ Coleman, Mark (29 October 1992). "[Your Arsenal review]". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 561. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Recordings of the Year". Rocklist.net. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Morrissey | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  13. ↑ "Top 40 album-, DVD- és válogatáslemez-lista – {{{year}}}. {{{week}}}. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. LightMedia.

External links