Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
349th out of 3,825 books
—
3,997 voters
Mozipedia: The Encyclopedia of Morrissey and The Smiths
Steven Patrick Morrissey is one of the most original and controversial voices in the history of popular music. With The Smiths, he led the most influential British guitar group of the 1980s, his enigmatic wit and style defining a generation. As a solo artist, he has continued to broach subjects no other singer would dare.
Worshipped by some, vilified by others, Morrissey i...more
Worshipped by some, vilified by others, Morrissey i...more
Hardcover, 532 pages
Published
July 1st 2009
by Ebury
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
692)
has their ever been another music better capable of capturing what wordsworth referred to as 'the still, sad music of humanity?'
no.
what daffodils were to wordsworth, what deprivation was to larkin, what the new york dolls are to morrissey = what morrissey is to me.
SMITHS - top 40
40. this night has opened my eyes
39. girlfriend in a coma
38. cemetry gates
37. is it really so strange?
36. paint a vulgar picture
35. unloveable
34. meat is murder
33. death of a disco dancer
32. shakespeare's sister
31. pre...more
no.
what daffodils were to wordsworth, what deprivation was to larkin, what the new york dolls are to morrissey = what morrissey is to me.
SMITHS - top 40
40. this night has opened my eyes
39. girlfriend in a coma
38. cemetry gates
37. is it really so strange?
36. paint a vulgar picture
35. unloveable
34. meat is murder
33. death of a disco dancer
32. shakespeare's sister
31. pre...more
view all 48 comments
Interesting and thorough look at Morrissey's life, solo career and work with The Smiths. There is lots of trivia in here--probably more than a casual fan such as myself *needs*, but much of the material is still enlightening.
My biggest quibble with the volume is the author's entry on "racism," as he comes off sounding like the ultimate apologist for some of Morrissey's more bigoted comments. Goddard suggests that Morrissey cannot POSSIBLY be racist since he is a lonely, sexually ambiguous white...more
My biggest quibble with the volume is the author's entry on "racism," as he comes off sounding like the ultimate apologist for some of Morrissey's more bigoted comments. Goddard suggests that Morrissey cannot POSSIBLY be racist since he is a lonely, sexually ambiguous white...more
This is quite what the title implies: an encyclopaedia on Morrissey and his world, by journalist Simon Goddard. While the his subjective takes on what the songs are about are mostly worthless, as are his way of trying to be funny and witty - just read the end of his bit about Johnny Rogan's "The Severed Alliance" and you'll see what I mean - the real goodness in owning this book is that it serves as a collection of interesting trivia.
I'm your average trainspotter when it comes to music: things l...more
I'm your average trainspotter when it comes to music: things l...more
Since my buddy Craven Rock mocked me for loving this book -- the subject being overexposed, for sure -- I thought I might as well relate to him (and you, the gentle Goodreads reader) why I gave it five stars. Well, you know how Route 19 is a literary fountain gushing trivia, analysis, extrapolation, etc. about The Clash? Goddard does the same thing with Morrissey in Mozipedia, which may seem redundant after all the other goddamned Moz books, but is handled as clearly and deeply as it is obsessiv...more
Totally fascinating and perhaps even perfect. The book is basically Morrissey culture as an encyclopedia and what is great is that you don't even have to like Morrissey to enjoy the book. Of course the author Simon Goddard goes through every Smiths/Morrissey song or album, but more important focuses on Morrissey's influences on his work.
On one level this could be the ultimate biography on Morrissey, but the the great thing about it is that its about the singer's work and what one gets from his m...more
On one level this could be the ultimate biography on Morrissey, but the the great thing about it is that its about the singer's work and what one gets from his m...more
The best book about the best lyricist and the best band that has ever seen fit to grace a speaker.
Quite a phenomenal achievement by the author in managing to track down and gather so many facts, influences and opinions into one place. It is clearly not meant to be a “biography” but the entries are so varied and complete that, if you are aware of the basic timelines involved, you can easily read this as a history.
I was going to ‘dip-in’ to the entries – that lasted about 5 minutes - and I then d...more
Quite a phenomenal achievement by the author in managing to track down and gather so many facts, influences and opinions into one place. It is clearly not meant to be a “biography” but the entries are so varied and complete that, if you are aware of the basic timelines involved, you can easily read this as a history.
I was going to ‘dip-in’ to the entries – that lasted about 5 minutes - and I then d...more
From the preface: "He's one of those rare artists whose impact upon our culture is as irreversibly dramatic as the asteroid which slammed into the surface of the earth some 65 million years ago, snuffing out all dinosaur life in a flash."
Well I'm sure you can see the joke in the last three words of that sentence, which shall one day join "Now I know how Joan of Arc felt" in its magnetic attraction to countless ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
Simon Goddard is already ren...more
Well I'm sure you can see the joke in the last three words of that sentence, which shall one day join "Now I know how Joan of Arc felt" in its magnetic attraction to countless ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
Simon Goddard is already ren...more
I read this straight through even though it is an encyclopedia. Of course it is full or rumors and editorial bias about the music, but I did like it for the insight into the recording of the songs and to get a better idea of when all the early Moz solo career stuff was recorded. I could care less what bad movies from the 50's Moz watched, but on the other hand it was interesting to hear what music he and Johnny were listening to at the time they were making Smiths records.
This book has all you ever wanted to know about the great MOZ. Every song, album, activity, etc. is within this thick volume. I got it for about $15.00 and from the photo, thought it would be a hand-sized, simple book. But when it arrived, I was stunned at how thick each letterd chapter was. I am so glad I took the chance and have this book in my collection!
Likely to be the most exhaustive book on Morrissey ever written - even his own autobiography will probably pale in comparison. A brilliant read from cover to cover and a handy reference book to refer back to when questioning lyrics, influences and philosophies. If this can be classed as a music biography, it is the best I've ever had the pleasure to read.
One primarily for the experienced anoraks but those new to Smithdom will still get a lot from this.
Full of all the history you need, plus a barrage of references and influences: if you've already read Elizabeth Smart, watched a Taste of Honey and listened to the New York Dolls, then now read Radclyffe Hall, watch Billy Liar and listen to Jobraith.
Full of all the history you need, plus a barrage of references and influences: if you've already read Elizabeth Smart, watched a Taste of Honey and listened to the New York Dolls, then now read Radclyffe Hall, watch Billy Liar and listen to Jobraith.
Van wie kan je een hele encyclopedie vullen, behalve over The Beatles en The Rolling Stones? Juist, Morrissey. De held van iedere Britpop-liefhebber en de schrik van ieder koningshuis is iemand die niet te omvatten is in één woord, noch dag, week of maand. Dat je met dit boek Morrissey daarom kan herleiden tot toiletliteratuur is een zegen waar we Simon Goddard enorm dankbaar voor mogen zijn. Van de grootste en meest bepalende gebeurtenissen tot zijn lievelingsauto en favoriete voetbalploeg. Maa...more
I love Morrissey and The Smiths. This book is very interesting and covers topics from The Beatles to Frank Sinatra. A must-have for Smiths fans everywhere.
A brilliant, immaculately researched compendium on nearly every possible bit of information and trivia about Morrissey and The Smiths.
This was a well written and researched book. As a ridiculous Smiths/Morrissey fangirl, I really enjoyed reading through these entries even though I'm not sure that this book was supposed to be read cover to cover. As interesting as it was, by the time I got to the last entries it was a bit tiring to read another entry about a "kitchen sink drama" that Morrissey loved. but still a very good book.
A really great book, with loads of funny and entertaining details. However, I didn't care much for Mr Goddard's judgmental writing style. Music is, as every kind of art, dependent on personal likings. However, this author likes to think that he found the key to "Moz-wisdom" and knows exactly which song is wonderful and which isn't. But the subject of investigation (i.e. Morrissey) makes the book highly enjoyable, of course.
A must for any Smiths/Moz fan. Just an incredible amount of detail and back story.
How could I not love reading about the delightful Morrissey? Luxuriously comprehensive.
For Any TRUE!" Moreissey,Smiths/fan/ This is A Gotta'have" ~
Sandie Shaw, Michael Stipe, Coronation Street, Charles Hawtrey. Sigh.
Brilliant stuff.
Brilliant stuff.
Nov 21, 2010
Kylie Olsen
is currently reading it
How could I not love reading about the god that is Morrissey??
Ferociously interesting. Every Moz fan needs this book.
Always an ongoing read or reference rather.
(Almost) everything a (slightly) obsessed fan wants and needs to know about Morrissey and The Smiths can be found in this terrific encyclopedia. Highly recommended for every fan!
Aug 15, 2010
Tilde
is currently reading it
den vil jeg for evigt være i gang med..
Shame he dies in the end.
When I got this, I thought there was no way I'd read it cover to cover, but I ended up doing just that. Lots of good juicy details and things I didn't know (like who knew that Morrissey took ecstasy in 1992, and said that was one of the only times he liked what he saw when he looked in the mirror?)
not a huge fan of the format, but this is an extremely impressive effort! good on you, simon goddard. i think he should be crowned king of fanboys everywhere.
i'll probably pick it up when I'm feeling more moz-obsessed but that probably won't be happening this year. got up to q.
i'll probably pick it up when I'm feeling more moz-obsessed but that probably won't be happening this year. got up to q.
Goddard se dedica a recolectar en entradas todos los temas de interes sobre los Smiths. Centrandose en las entrevistas de los miembros del grupo, destaca mas el orden y la rigurosidad del compendio que su contenido. Pocas sorpresas para los que se han leido las entrevistas. Moving on.
A Morrissey must but only if you love the Moz.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
