Alma Matters
{{Distinguish|Alma Matters: Inside the IIT Dream|Alma mater}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Alma Matters
| cover = MorrisseyAlmaMatters.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Morrissey
| album = Maladjusted
| B-side =
- "Heir Apparent"
- "I Can Have Both"
| released = 21 July 1997
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Alternative rock
| length = 4:48
| label = Island (UK)
| writer = Morrissey, Alain Whyte
| producer = Steve Lillywhite
| prev_title = Sunny
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Roy's Keen
| next_year = 1997
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite web | last = Rabid | first = Jack | title = Alma Matters Review | publisher = AllMusic | accessdate = October 29, 2012 | url = {{Allmusic|class=album|id=mw0000475296|pure_url=yes}}}}
}}
"Alma Matters" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in July 1997. It was the first single to be taken from the Maladjusted album and was released one week before the album.
The single reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Morrissey's first top 20 hit since "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" in 1994. The song was also notable for seeing Morrissey reference the film A Taste of Honey for the first time since his early days in The Smiths in the line "it's my life to ruin my own way".
The song title is a pun on Alma mater.
Track listings
=7" vinyl and cassette (UK)=
- "Alma Matters" (Morrissey/Alain Whyte)
- "Heir Apparent" (Morrissey/Whyte)
=12" vinyl and CD=
- "Alma Matters"
- "Heir Apparent"
- "I Can Have Both" (Morrissey/Boz Boorer)
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Country
! Record label ! Format ! Catalogue number | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Island | 7" vinyl | IS667 |
| UK | Island | 12" vinyl | 12IS667 |
| UK | Island | Compact disc | CID667 |
| UK | Island | Cassette | CIS667 |
Reviews
Jack Rabid of AllMusic called this single "ho-hum", saying it was "a poor choice to represent Maladjusted". He also criticized guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte, asking when Morrissey was going to part company with them, and declared the B-sides "Heir Apparent" and "I Can Have Both" to be the better songs but still lacking in comparison to previous B-sides "Whatever Happens, I Love You" and "Nobody Loves Us". Rabid concludes his review, writing "Morrissey is a major talent with a special voice atrophying in underwhelming material and backing. To quote Joy Division, 'When will it end?'" Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club, however, listed the song as a highlight of Maladjusted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/morrissey-maladjusted-1798194148|title=Morrissey: Maladjusted|website=Music|date=29 March 2002 |language=en-us|access-date=2019-11-21}}
In a 2009 article Uncut described the song as 'Morrissey's worst single'.{{cite web|date=April 27, 2009|title=Morrissey – Southpaw Grammar/ Maladjusted|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614035638/http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/morrissey-southpaw-grammar-maladjusted|archive-date=2017-06-14|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/morrissey-southpaw-grammar-maladjusted|url-status=dead}}
Spin{{'}}s list of '50 Best Morrissey Songs' from 2017 includes "Alma Matters" as his 12th best solo song.{{cite web|last1=Zaleski|first1=Annie |last2=Anderson |first2=Jason|title=50 Best Morrissey Songs|date=December 28, 2017| url=https://www.spin.com/featured/50-best-morrissey-songs/}}
Personnel
- Morrissey – voice
- Martin "Boz" Boorer – guitar
- Alain Whyte – guitar
- Jonny Bridgwood – bass
- Spencer James Cobrin – drums
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Alma Matters" ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=194}}
| 97 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Sweden|50|artist=Morrissey|song=Alma Matters|rowheader=true|access-date=30 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|UK|16|date=19970727|rowheader=true|access-date=30 August 2022}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Morrissey singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Matthew Rolston
Category:Songs written by Morrissey
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite