CD of The Week

From the tribal didgeridoo and drumbeat opening of the album’s lead (and title) track, it’s clear that on the new album, World Peace Is None of Your Business, Morrissey has picked up a thing or two during his past few years of on-again off-again world touring. The album is rife with hints and nods to world music textures and instrumentation.

Lyrically, Morrissey is doing what he does best these days: pontificating on the causes he believes in and railing against socio/political norms. The track “Neal Cassady is Dead” (clocking in at over eight minutes) derides government and societal acceptance of policies he himself disagrees with, while also paying homage to various beat poets including the title’s poet Cassady (something Mozza has done since the early days ofThe Smiths). To make his point, the song features a repetitive lyrical rhyming bridge that is anything but subtle in its message.

Though the lyrics may be heavy, the music is what really shines on this album: catchy melodies and expert musical backing make World Peace Is None of Your Business an enjoyable listen. “Istanbul” (insert obligatory Constantinople joke here) is pure Morrissey musical gold, with a memorable melodic hook and tight songwriting overall, over top of a churning Middle Eastern-flavored rock vibe. Other tracks that musically shine are “Earth Is The Loneliest Planet” with its nylon string Latin flavor, “Staircase at the University” (a straight ahead Morrissey pop-rocker, albeit dark lyrically), and “Kick The Bride Down the Aisle,” a mid-tempo rocker that obviously does not treat the bride in the story well at all.

Overall, World Peace Is None of Your Business is a musically powerful record while also being a bit self-absorbed lyrically. But what is Morrissey if not self-absorbed; that’s what many love about his songwriting and his unique outlook on life.