The iconic British singer Morrissey released his fourteenth studio album, “Make-Up Is a Lie,” on March 6. His first album in six years has infamously languished in purgatory since being recorded in 2023.
Perhaps it should have stayed there.
Before I even discuss the music, I cannot ignore talking about the album’s cover art. Every single one of Morrissey’s solo albums features the singer striking a daring, evocative pose.
On “Make-Up Is a Lie,” Morrissey poses the same way I did last night when talking to my friends about this enormous meatball sub I had one time. It is a hilariously awful cover that distracted me as I tried to listen to the album, which itself didn’t provide much good distraction.
Album opener “You’re Right, It’s Time” is a solid head-bopper that tricks the listener into forgetting that they’re listening to a Morrissey album. The next two songs bring them back to reality: the title track is the only excuse for the cover art, as it is odd in the way that some would call pushing artistic boundaries, and others would simply call it odd. On “Notre-Dame,” which has been the subject of some media attention, Morrissey pushes the debunked claim that the 2019 Notre-Dame fire was an act of terrorism.
“Notre-Dame,” he sings, “we know who tried to kill you.”
Keep singing, Morrissey, I’m sure Paris is listening.
In all seriousness, there are some bright spots on “Make-Up Is a Lie.” The cover of Roxy Music’s “Amazona” is a genuine banger, and “The Night Pop Dropped” lays down some solid guitar riffs. The duo of “Headache” and “Boulevard” is smooth, melancholic bluesfests with just the right amount of “Smiths-ness” without feeling overly pandering.
Overall, though, these bright spots cannot make up for the album’s lack of direction. It truly feels like Morrissey was itching to release an album without having much to give beyond name recognition and conspiracy theories. In today’s age, albums by legacy artists are judged either by how much they innovate or, if they play it safe, how well they can provide the goods that made them famous.
On “Make-Up Is a Lie,” Morrissey sits in this weird spot where he has little new to say, but I don’t feel like anyone beyond diehard Morrissey and Smiths fans would listen to it more than once.
If you aren’t either of those, that meatball sub is probably a better use of your time.
4/10 (Must-listens: “You’re Right, It’s Time,” “Boulevard”)