| Kill Uncle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 March 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1990–1991 | |||
| Studio | Hook End Manor (Oxfordshire, England) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 33:02 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Morrissey chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Kill Uncle | ||||
| ||||
| 2013 remaster cover | ||||
 | ||||
Kill Uncle is the second solo studio album by the English alternative rock singer Morrissey,released on 4 March 1991 by EMI Records and HMV Records. The title comes from the color black comedy film Let's Kill Uncle (1966). [1]
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 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. [2]
"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 Viva Hate (1988). [3]
"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." [4] 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. [3] "King Leer" follows,a relaxed tune with sardonic lyrical puns. [5] [6] "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. [3] 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." [7]
The next track,"The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye",is often cited as Morrissey's most misunderstood song. [8] 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. [3] This version was replaced in the 2013 expanded edition by the recording from the At KROQ live EP.
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 HMV.
"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". [9]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Blender | [11] |
| Chicago Tribune | [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− [13] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [14] |
| NME | 8/10 [15] |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10 [16] |
| Q | [3] |
| Rolling Stone | [17] |
| The Village Voice | B+ [18] |
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". [10] Mark Hogan of Pitchfork wrote that the album "is best appreciated as a campy celebration of the decorative and artificial." [16] 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. [3]
All lyrics are written by Morrissey; all music is composed by Mark E. Nevin, except where noted
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Our Frank" | 3:25 | |
| 2. | "Asian Rut" | 3:22 | |
| 3. | "Sing Your Life" | 3:27 | |
| 4. | "Mute Witness" | Clive Langer | 3:32 |
| 5. | "King Leer" | 2:55 | |
| 6. | "Found Found Found" | Langer | 1:59 |
| 7. | "Driving Your Girlfriend Home" | 3:23 | |
| 8. | "The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye" | 5:34 | |
| 9. | "(I'm) The End of the Family Line" | 3:30 | |
| 10. | "There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends" | 1:52 | |
| Total length: | 33:02 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Tony the Pony" | 4:11 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Our Frank" | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Sing Your Life" | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Mute Witness" | 3:31 |
| 4. | "King Leer" | 2:55 |
| 5. | "Asian Rut" | 3:19 |
| 6. | "Pashernate Love" | 2:19 |
| 7. | "East West" | 2:33 |
| 8. | "Found Found Found" | 1:58 |
| 9. | "Driving Your Girlfriend Home" | 3:18 |
| 10. | "The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye" | 5:34 |
| 11. | "There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends (At KROQ Version)" | 2:20 |
| 12. | "(I'm) The End of the Family Line" | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 37:56 | |
Credits are adapted from the Kill Uncle liner notes. [19]
Musicians
Production and artwork
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [20] | 45 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [21] | 53 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [22] | 61 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [23] | 30 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [24] | 27 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [25] | 8 |
| US Billboard 200 [26] | 52 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [27] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released on 16 June 1986 in the UK by Rough Trade Records, and on 23 June 1986 in the US by Sire Records.
Vauxhall and I is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock musician Morrissey. It was released on 14 March 1994, by the record label Parlophone in the UK and Sire/Reprise in the US.
Your Arsenal is the third studio album by English singer Morrissey, released on 27 July 1992 by record label HMV.
Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 11 February 1985 by Rough Trade Records. It became the band's only studio album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart, and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks. The album was an international success: it spent 11 weeks in the European Top 100 Albums chart, peaking at number 29. It also reached number 110 on the US Billboard 200 in the United States.
You Are the Quarry is the seventh studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey. It was released on 17 May 2004 by record label Attack, and was his first album in seven years following 1997's Maladjusted. The album was a huge comeback for Morrissey; all four of its singles reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, and the album itself reached number 2. The album also reached number 11 on the Billboard 200, making it Morrissey's highest-charting album in the United States.
Forever Delayed is a greatest hits album and DVD by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released in 2002 by record label Epic. The album included three singles which had never appeared on earlier albums, as well as two new songs, the single "There by the Grace of God" and "Door to the River".
Maladjusted is the sixth studio album by English singer Morrissey, released on 11 August 1997 by Island Records.
At KROQ is a three-song live EP by Morrissey, released on 18 September 1991. It was recorded at a live session in 1991 for Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM, while Morrissey was touring in support of his second album Kill Uncle.
Southpaw Grammar is the fifth studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey, released on 28 August 1995 by record labels RCA in the UK and Reprise in the US.
Fairground Attraction are a London-based folk and soft rock band. They are best known for the 1988 hits "Perfect" and "Find My Love", both from their debut studio album, The First of a Million Kisses. The band won two Brit Awards in 1989, but broke up the following year to pursue solo careers. They reformed in 2024.
Ringleader of the Tormentors is the eighth studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey. It was released on 3 April 2006 by record label Attack. The album was described as showcasing "a thicker, more rock-driven sound", which Morrissey attributed to new guitarist Jesse Tobias.
This is a discography for the English alternative rock singer Morrissey. Since the Smiths disbanded in 1987 he has released 13 studio albums, 2 live albums, 12 compilation albums, 2 extended plays (EPs), 60 singles and 7 video albums on HMV, Sire Records, Parlophone, Polydor, RCA Victor, Island, Mercury, Sanctuary Records, EMI, Reprise Records, Rhino, Decca Records, Harvest Records, Capitol Music Group and BMG.
"Our Frank" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in February 1991. It was the first single taken from the Kill Uncle album. It was also the first of his collaborations with Mark Nevin to be released.
"Sing Your Life" is a single by English singer-songwriter Morrissey released in April 1991. It was the second single taken from the Kill Uncle album. On release this was Morrissey's lowest charting single in the UK charts, reaching only number 33. One of the single's B-sides was a cover version of "That's Entertainment" by The Jam which had backing vocals by Chas Smash, a.k.a. Carl Smyth the second singer of the band Madness. Vic Reeves also recorded backing vocals for the song, but they weren't included in the final version. He is thanked in the sleeve notes.
"Pregnant for the Last Time" is a song by Morrissey, released as a non-album single in July 1991. This was the first time Morrissey worked with guitarist Boz Boorer, who consistently worked with him until 2020. The single reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. B-side "Skin Storm" was originally written and performed by Bradford, while another B-side, "Cosmic Dancer", is a cover of a T. Rex song.
"My Love Life" is a song by Morrissey released in September 1991. It was a stand-alone single rather than taken from any studio album, although it was included on the compilation albums World of Morrissey (1995) and Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey (1997).
Years of Refusal is the ninth studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey. It was released on 16 February 2009 in the UK by record label Decca and on 17 February 2009 in the US by Lost Highway.
World Peace Is None of Your Business is the tenth solo studio album by English singer Morrissey, recorded in February 2014 and released on 15 July 2014. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli and was distributed by record label Harvest. The album entered at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and peaked in the US at number 14 on the Billboard 200.
Time of My Life is the tenth studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating. The album was released on 12 February 2016 by Decca Records.
Low in High School is the eleventh solo studio album by British singer Morrissey, released on 17 November 2017 through BMG. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli, and recorded at La Fabrique Studios in France and at Ennio Morricone's Forum Studios in Italy.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
