The Best Morrissey Albums of All Time

Reference
Updated July 3, 2024 12 items
Ranked By
1.4K votes
343 voters
Voting Rules
This list includes studio albums only, so if you add an album make sure it's a proper studio release.

Venturing deep into the symphony of sound that is Morrissey's discography, one encounters a blend of post-punk ethos and indie-pop melody. Part poet, part provocateur, Morrissey's prolific career has painted a rich tapestry of music, each album dating its own era of this charismatic artist. This examination promises to shed light on a comprehensive selection of those albums, honed by time and validated by fans, that represent the best of Morrissey's creative output. 

From the melancholic echo of Manchester's industrial landscape to the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles, Morrissey's music evolved as he traversed a multitude of genres. Each album in his discography is a testament to these pulse-taking transitions, echoing the cultural shifts in an evolving music landscape. The grit of punk rock, the lyrical eloquence of folk, and the infectious rhythm of pop all found delightful synthesis in Morrissey's eclectic style. A journey through the best Morrissey albums is akin to retracing the trail of breadcrumbs he left through the course of his musical evolution. 

Take the soulful Vauxhall and I, draped in introspective lyrics and nuanced melodies, or Viva Hate, Morrissey's debut solo album that marked a pivotal moment in his career, offering a stark divergence from his time with the Smiths. The sheer depth and breadth of these albums have rendered them timeless classics in Morrissey's repertoire. Further down the line, we find You Are the Quarry and Your Arsenal, each carrying its distinctive flavor but unified by Morrissey's signature vocal style and lyrical prowess. For those inclined towards a more intimate experience, rest assured, each album featured has a readily available purchase button, ensuring an effortless transition from reading to listening. 

To fully appreciate the best of Morrissey, one must embark on this auditory journey, delving into the cocktail of emotions and themes encapsulated within his music. His discography encapsulates the essence of a man and an artist who continues to push boundaries and provoke thought. As we turn the page and step into the realm of song and lyric that is Morrissey's world, it is certain that these albums' influence and impact will resonate long after the last note has faded into silence. 

  • Your Arsenal
    • Photo:
      • HMV

    1. You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side
    2. Glamorous Glue
    3. We'll Let You Know
    4. The National Front Disco
    5. Certain People I Know
    6. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
    7. You're the One for Me, Fatty
    8. Seasick, Yet Still Docked
    9. I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
    10. Tomorrow

    Pitchfork score: 7.3

    • Release Date: 1992
    137 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Vauxhall and I
    • Photo:
      • Parlophone, Sire

    1. Now My Heart Is Full
    2. Spring-Heeled Jim
    3. Billy Budd
    4. Hold On to Your Friends
    5. The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
    6. Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself
    7. I Am Hated for Loving
    8. Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning
    9. Used to Be a Sweet Boy
    10. The Lazy Sunbathers
    11. Speedway

    Pitchfork score: 7.8

    • Release Date: 1994
    161 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Viva Hate
    • Photo:
      • HMV, Sire

    1. Alsatian Cousin
    2. Little Man, What Now?
    3. Everyday Is Like Sunday
    4. Bengali in Platforms
    5. Angel, Angel Down We Go Together
    6. Late Night, Maudlin Street
    7. Suedehead
    8. Break Up the Family
    9. The Ordinary Boys
    10. I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
    11. Dial-a-Cliché
    12. Margaret on the Guillotine

    Pitchfork score: 7.3

    • Release Date: 1988
    109 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Southpaw Grammar
    • Photo:
      • RCA

    1. The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils
    2. Reader Meet Author
    3. The Boy Racer
    4. The Operation
    5. Dagenham Dave
    6. Do Your Best and Don't Worry
    7. Best Friend on the Payroll
    8. Southpaw

    • Release Date: 1995
    116 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • You Are the Quarry
    • Photo:
      • Sanctuary

    1. America Is Not the World
    2. Irish Blood, English Heart
    3. I Have Forgiven Jesus
    4. Come Back to Camden
    5. I'm Not Sorry
    6. The World Is Full of Crashing Bores
    7. How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?
    8. First of the Gang to Die
    9. Let Me Kiss You
    10. All the Lazy Dykes
    11. I Like You
    12. You Know I Couldn't Last

    Pitchfork score: 8.9
     

    • Release Date: 2004
    120 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Years of Refusal
    • Photo:
      • Decca, Polydor

    1. Something Is Squeezing My Skull
    2. Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed
    3. Black Cloud
    4. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
    5. All You Need Is Me
    6. When Last I Spoke to Carol
    7. That's How People Grow Up
    8. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
    9. It's Not Your Birthday Anymore
    10. You Were Good in Your Time
    11. Sorry Doesn't Help
    12. I'm OK by Myself

    Pitchfork score: 8.1
     

    • Release Date: 2009
    98 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Ringleader of the Tormentors
    • Photo:
      • Sanctuary

    1. I Will See You in Far-Off Places
    2. Dear God Please Help Me
    3. You Have Killed Me
    4. The Youngest Was the Most Loved
    5. In the Future When All's Well
    6. The Father Who Must Be Killed
    7. Life Is a Pigsty
    8. I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now
    9. On the Streets I Ran
    10. To Me You Are a Work of Art
    11. I Just Want to See the Boy Happy
    12. At Last I Am Born

    Pitchfork score: 8.0

    • Release Date: 2006
    92 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Maladjusted
    • Photo:
      • Island

    1. Maladjusted
    2. Alma Matters
    3. Ambitious Outsiders
    4. Trouble Loves Me
    5. Papa Jack
    6. Ammunition
    7. Wide to Receive
    8. Roy's Keen
    9. He Cried
    10. Sorrow Will Come in the End
    11. Satan Rejected My Soul

    • Release Date: 1997
    80 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Kill Uncle
    • Photo:
      • HMV, EMI

    1. Our Frank
    2. Asian Rut
    3. Sing Your Life
    4. Mute Witness
    5. King Leer
    6. Found Found Found
    7. Driving Your Girlfriend Home
    8. The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye
    9. (I'm) The End of the Family Line
    10. There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends

    Pitchfork score: 6.0

    • Release Date: 1991
    88 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • World Peace Is None of Your Business
    • Photo:
      • Harvest, Capitol

    1. World Peace Is None of Your Business
    2. Neal Cassady Drops Dead
    3. I'm Not a Man
    4. Istanbul
    5. Earth Is the Loneliest Planet
    6. Staircase at the University
    7. The Bullfighter Dies
    8. Kiss Me a Lot
    9. Smiler with Knife
    10. Kick the Bride Down the Aisle
    11. Mountjoy
    12. Oboe Concerto

    Pitchfork score: 5.9
     

    • Release Date: 2014
    66 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • Low in High School
    • Photo:
      • BMG, Etienne
    11

    Low in High School

    1. My Love, I'd Do Anything for You
    2. I Wish You Lonely
    3. Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage
    4. Home Is a Question Mark
    5. Spent the Day in Bed
    6. I Bury the Living
    7. In Your Lap
    8. The Girl from Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel"
    9. All the Young People Must Fall in Love
    10. When You Open Your Legs
    11. Who Will Protect Us from the Police?
    12. Israel

    Pitchfork score: 5.7
     

    • Release Date: 2018
    55 votes
    Agree or disagree?
  • California Son
    • Photo:
      • BMG, Etienne
    12

    California Son

    1. Morning Starship
    2. Don't Interrupt the Sorrow
    3. Only a Pawn in Their Game
    4. Suffer the Little Children
    5. Days of Decision
    6. It's Over
    7. Wedding Bell Blues
    8. Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets
    9. Lady Willpower
    10. When You Close Your Eyes
    11. Lenny's Tune
    12. Some Say I Got Devil

    • Release Date: 2019
    47 votes
    Agree or disagree?