Your Arsenal

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; 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 1992 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.

Critical reception

Your Arsenal was praised by critics. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice called it his "most consistent solo set to date". Bill Wyman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that guitarist Alain Whyte "provides the very melodic, sometimes rockabilly-inflected settings Morrissey demands, and frequently they end up triumphant."

Referring to the album as "a dynamic, invigorating fusion of glam rock and rockabilly" and noting that it "rocks harder than any other record Morrissey ever made", Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic cited Your Arsenal as Morrissey's "finest solo record and his best work since The Queen Is Dead."

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

Track listing

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

Personnel