Morrissey - This Is Morrissey

This Is Morrissey skips the obvious greatest hits route and builds a sharper, stranger portrait of the singer's solo years, mixing classic singles with B-sides, remixes and live cuts.

Released in 2018, the compilation draws mostly on Morrissey's first decade after The Smiths, when he was busy proving that his wit, melancholy and flair for a devastating line could thrive on their own. It works as a curated mixtape rather than a chronological survey, the kind of selection a devoted fan might make for a curious friend.

Everyday Is Like Sunday is the anchor, its grey seaside gloom and sweeping strings still among the finest things he has recorded. The Last of the Famous International Playboys struts with jangling swagger, and Ouija Board, Ouija Board shows off his gift for turning the absurd into something oddly touching. Jack the Ripper, a brooding B-side, has long been a fan favourite, while a live reading of Lou Reed's Satellite of Love and a Mael Mix of Suedehead offer fresh angles on familiar ground.

The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye adds a slice of Your Arsenal to the running order.

For longtime listeners it is a smart sideways look at a remarkable catalogue, and for newcomers it is a fine first step into his world.