Viva Hate
Morrissey · 1988
69 min · 20 tracks · alternative rock
A melancholic blend of jangle pop and introspective lyrics, capturing the essence of post-Smiths Morrissey.
Top tracks — play these first
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Everyday Is Like Sunday — This track features vivid imagery of desolation and longing, encapsulating the album's overall tone while becoming one of Morrissey's most enduring anthems.
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Suedehead — As the lead single, it blends catchy melodies with introspective lyrics about love and regret, effectively showcasing Morrissey's unique songwriting style.
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Late Night, Maudlin Street — The extended length allows for deeper emotional exploration, highlighting themes of nostalgia and loneliness that resonate throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases Morrissey's lyrical depth and distinct sound, establishing his solo identity post-Smiths.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and arrangements.
- Several tracks prominently feature jangly guitar riffs, creating a distinct sound that aligns with the jangle pop genre.
- Morrissey's vocal delivery often employs a conversational tone, with lyrics that reflect introspection and social commentary.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- introspective late-night reflections
- wave-like pacing variations
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Established Morrissey as a solo artist after The Smiths, gaining critical acclaim.
- Career context
- Released on March 14, 1988, 'Viva Hate' marked Morrissey's debut solo album after disbanding The Smiths. This album established him as a formidable solo artist, showcasing his distinct lyrical voice and musical style independent of his former group.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Smiths· Pulp· Echo & the Bunnymen
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Alsatian Cousin 3:13
- 2 Little Man, What Now? 1:48
- 3 Everyday Is Like Sunday 3:36
- 4 Bengali in Platforms 3:55
- 5 Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together 1:40
- 6 Late Night, Maudlin Street 7:40
- 7 Suedehead 3:56
- 8 Break Up the Family 3:55
- 9 The Ordinary Boys 3:10
- 10 I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me 3:17
- 11 Dial-a-Cliché 2:28
- 12 Margaret on the Guillotine 3:42
- 13 Let the Right One Slip In 2:28
- 14 Pashernate Love 2:16
- 15 At Amber 2:43
- 16 Disappointed (live) 3:07
- 17 Girl Least Likely To 4:51
- 18 I’d Love To 4:49
- 19 Michael’s Bones 3:10
- 20 I’ve Changed My Plea to Guilty 3:42
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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