Morrissey: From Where He Came to
Where He Went (With and Without the Smiths) (Pride/MVD DVD)
Picture: B- Sound: B- Extras: B Documentary: B
Morrissey: From Where He Came to Where He Went
(With and Without the Smiths) is a
two disc DVD set from Music Video Distributors/Pride DVD contains more than
three hours of material on Morrissey, one of British popular music's most
talented, polarizing, and enigmatic figures.
These discs include interviews with some of the people who know
Morrissey best, including producers Stephen Street, John Porter, Mark Smith,
and Kenny Jones. Music journalists Paul
Morley and John Robb also provide excellent details on the early years of the
Smiths and the band's somewhat contentious break-up in 1987.
Although the set does
include classic footage and some performances of both the Smiths and Morrissey,
the actual documentary sections include no music or vocals from the band or
from Morrissey's solo career. It does
make for strange viewing to watch and listen to these amazing interviews backed
up by music that has no real relation to Morrissey. This comes from the same series of producers
and makers behind the amazing Under
Review series and is up to their usual high standards.
Although not authorized
by Morrissey, this set provides some amazing insight into the man, the Smiths,
and exactly what transpired to end their partnership. Short of hearing it from Morrissey himself,
the principals in these interviews provide the best firsthand accounts of the
man the way he went about making his music.
- Scott R. Pyle
