Kill Uncle

Kill Uncle was recorded during a transitional phase for Morrissey, having parted ways with record producer Stephen Street but not yet working with his future long-term team of guitarists Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer. The album was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley with most of the music written by Fairground Attraction's guitarist Mark E. Nevin.

The opening track, "Our Frank", describes "frank and open, deep conversations" that get the singer nowhere and leave him disheartened. The final verse, however, sees Morrissey singing "Won't somebody stop me from thinking? From thinking all the time. So deeply, so bleakly ...", which critic David Thompson interprets as indicating that the conversations he so dreads are in fact with himself.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/our-frank-mt0010756890|title=Our Frank – Morrissey | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2015}}

"Asian Rut" tells of the murder of an Asian boy by three English boys, in which Morrissey's vocals are backed only by strings, bass, and sound effects. The song continues the trope of Morrissey writing about English racism from a unique angle, as with "Bengali in Platforms" on his debut solo studio album Viva Hate (1988).

"Sing Your Life" has Morrissey encouraging the listener to express themselves, as he sings, "Walk right up to the microphone and name all the things you love, all the things you loathe."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/sing-your-life-mt0010744346|title=Sing Your Life – Morrissey | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2015}} A rockabilly version of the song also exists, recorded live at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles after Morrissey started working with new guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte.

"Mute Witness" tells of an attempt to get information out of a shocked witness who cannot speak at a trial, featuring piano backing composed by Clive Langer. "King Leer" follows, a relaxed tune with sardonic lyrical puns.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16957786&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=the-worst-lyrics-in-the-world--ever-name_page.html|title=The Worst Lyrics in the World..Ever – The Daily Record|last=Dingwall|first=John|date=18 April 2006|website=Daily Record|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609235908/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid%3D16957786%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D66633%26headline%3Dthe-worst-lyrics-in-the-world--ever-name_page.html|archive-date=9 June 2011|access-date=10 February 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/killuncl/kingleer.htm|title=LASID – King Leer|website=compsoc.man.ac.uk|access-date=10 February 2015}} "Found Found Found", another Langer track, is the only heavy song on the album. Morrissey sings that he's found "someone who's worth it in this murkiness" but ends complaining this person is "somebody who wants to be with me... all the time".

"Driving Your Girlfriend Home" is a ballad in which Morrissey tells of driving home the girlfriend of an unspecified person. He reveals she asks him, "'How did I end up so deeply involved in the very existence I planned on avoiding?'" and that "She's laughing to stop herself crying." These outpourings are interspersed with directional instructions. Morrissey tells us "I can't tell her" the answer to her question and that the ride concludes with them "shaking hands goodnight so politely."{{cite web|url=http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/killuncl/drivingy.htm|title=LASID – Driving Your Girlfriend Home|website=compsoc.man.ac.uk|access-date=10 February 2015}}

The next track, "The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye", is often cited as Morrissey's most misunderstood song.{{cite web|url=http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/killuncl/theharsh.htm|title=LASID – The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye|website=compsoc.man.ac.uk|access-date=10 February 2015}} The lyric is describing the "pain because of the strain of smiling" and the dichotomy between one's public image and private personality. The music consists of a carnival-like synthesizer and also features sound effects like a door slamming and a camera shutter snapping, along with piano accompaniment.

In "(I'm) The End of the Family Line", the singer rues he will never have children, an insult into the "fifteen generations... of mine" that produced him. The lyric is complemented by a subdued guitar backing, and ends with a similar 'false' fadeout similar to such Smiths songs as "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore".

The original album closes with "There Is a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends", a simple piano piece that reflects the existential longing of the album and showcases Morrissey's torch song influence. This version was replaced in the 2013 expanded edition by the recording from the three-song live EP At KROQ.

The 2013 expanded edition of the album added the songs "East West" and "Pashernate Love", as well as changing the running order of some tracks.

Kill Uncle was released on 4 March 1991 by record labels EMI and His Master's Voice.

"Our Frank", the album's lead single and opening track, reached No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 in the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Sing Your Life" was also released as a single, reaching No. 33 in the UK and No. 10 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

On 5 February 2013, Morrissey announced the reissue of the album along with a remastered version of his 1989 single "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", both to be released 8 April 2013. This was as part of a Morrissey reissue campaign by Parlophone. This version of the album includes three additional tracks and is available as a gatefold CD and heavyweight gatefold LP. The picture disc single and album feature new cover artworks. The press release mentioned that "the album has a revitalised quality, which accentuates some of its more subtle, experimental qualities and nuances; in particular, some of the more unusual musical styles which Morrissey explored for the first time".{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_130205_01|title=Press Release: The Last of the Famous International Playboys: Special Edition Single; Kill Uncle: Album Remastered | True to You|date=5 February 2013|website=True to You|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208014039/http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_130205_01|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/kill-uncle-mw0000320509|title=Kill Uncle – Morrissey|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2015|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite journal|url=http://blender.com:80/guide/reviews.aspx?id=2731|title=Morrissey: Kill Uncle|journal=Blender|date=15 September 2004|access-date=18 November 2015|last=Power|first=Tony|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123003419/http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=2731|archive-date=23 November 2005|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Chicago Tribune

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/07/the-smiths-and-solo/|title=The Smiths And Solo|work=Chicago Tribune|date=7 July 1991|access-date=19 November 2015|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = A−{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1991/04/05/kill-uncle|title=Kill Uncle|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=5 April 1991|access-date=10 February 2015|last=Farber|first=Jim}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5Score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-24-ca-1102-story.html|title=Morrissey 'Kill Uncle' Sire/Reprise|work=Los Angeles Times|date=24 March 1991|access-date=19 November 2015|last=Hochman|first=Steve}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 8/10{{cite journal|title=Better Relate Than Never|journal=NME|date=March 1991|last=Quantick|first=David|author-link=David Quantick}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 6.0/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17837-morrissey-kill-uncle/|title=Morrissey: Kill Uncle|work=Pitchfork|date=12 April 2013|access-date=10 February 2015|last=Hogan|first=Mark}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite journal|title=Morrissey: Kill Uncle|journal=Q|issue=55|page=71|date=April 1991|last=Snow|first=Mat}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/morrissey/albums/album/116972/review/5944759/kill_uncle|title=Morrissey: Kill Uncle|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=22 August 1991|access-date=10 February 2015|last=Felder|first=Rachel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026175721/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/morrissey/albums/album/116972/review/5944759/kill_uncle|archive-date=26 October 2009}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10Score = B+{{cite news|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv491-91.php|title=Consumer Guide|work=The Village Voice|date=7 May 1991|access-date=19 November 2015|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

Kill Uncle has generally divided opinion amongst music critics.

In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic panned the album, describing it as "Morrissey's least distinguished record" with "neither melody nor much wit". Mark Hogan of Pitchfork wrote that the album "is best appreciated as a campy celebration of the decorative and artificial." Mat Snow in Q magazine described it as "further evidence of woodworm in the creative rafters" and highlighted the short running time of the album.

{{Track listing

| headline = Kill Uncle track listing

| all_lyrics = Morrissey

| all_music = Mark E. Nevin, except where noted.

| title1 = Our Frank

| length1 = 3:25

| title2 = Asian Rut

| length2 = 3:22

| title3 = Sing Your Life

| length3 = 3:27

| title4 = Mute Witness

| music4 = Clive Langer

| length4 = 3:32

| title5 = King Leer

| length5 = 2:55

| title6 = Found Found Found

| music6 = Langer

| length6 = 1:59

| title7 = Driving Your Girlfriend Home

| length7 = 3:23

| title8 = The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye

| length8 = 5:34

| title9 = (I'm) The End of the Family Line

| length9 = 3:30

| title10 = There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends

| length10 = 1:52

| total_length = 33:02

}}

{{track listing

| headline = US bonus track

| title11 = Tony the Pony

| length11 = 4:11

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 2013 expanded edition

| total_length = 37:56

| title1 = Our Frank

| length1 = 3:22

| title2 = Sing Your Life

| length2 = 3:20

| title3 = Mute Witness

| length3 = 3:31

| title4 = King Leer

| length4 = 2:55

| title5 = Asian Rut

| length5 = 3:19

| title6 = Pashernate Love

| length6 = 2:19

| title7 = East West

| length7 = 2:33

| title8 = Found Found Found

| length8 = 1:58

| title9 = Driving Your Girlfriend Home

| length9 = 3:18

| title10 = The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye

| length10 = 5:34

| title11 = There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends (At KROQ Version)

| length11 = 2:20

| title12 = (I'm) The End of the Family Line

| length12 = 3:27

}}

Credits are adapted from the Kill Uncle liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Kill Uncle|others=Morrissey|year=1991|publisher=His Master's Voice|type=CD booklet}}

Musicians

• Morrissey – vocals
• Mark E. Nevin – guitar
• Mark Bedford – bass guitar
• Andrew Paresi – drums; percussion
• Seamus Beaghen – keyboards
• Steven Heart – keyboards
• Nawazish Ali Khan – violin
• Linder Sterling – backing vocals

Production and artwork

• Alan Winstanley – production
• Clive Langer – production
• Simon Metcalfe – engineering assistance
• Gino Sprio – sleeve photography
• Jo Slee – sleeve art coordinator

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Kill Uncle}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Morrissey|title=Kill Uncle |award=Silver|certyear=1991|relyear=1991|id=3620-2037-2}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

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• {{Discogs master|5043}}

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Category:Morrissey albums

Category:1991 albums

Category:Albums produced by Alan Winstanley

Category:Albums produced by Clive Langer

Category:Sire Records albums

Category:Glam rock albums by English artists