Morrissey
Viva Hate
1988
It was a sad day for witty, angst-filled teens everywhere when The Smiths called it quits in 1987. Not having the Moz to provide them with the quirky, ambiguous life advice they'd relied on for seven years seemed unbearable. Lucky for them, just six months later, Morrissey released Viva Hate. The jangle-pop giddiness of the album is very similar to any Smiths album, most likely because the band's producer and drummer stayed on board. He discusses the break-up of the band and the widely publicized fallout with guitarist Johnny Marr, but not without the amusing metaphors and OED adjectives that made his croon legendary.
Though it debuted at number one in the UK, Viva Hate has undeservedly been forgotten among mainstream listeners. Singles "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Suedehead" are two of Morrissey's finest songs to date, Smiths material included. Even without his old band, Morrissey's timeless charm lives on - and this album proves it.
