Swords
by Morrissey
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. musicOMH.com
    80
    Morrissey's non-album material has traditionally been impeccable, but Swords is not complete in terms of extra material from the past decade. Nevertheless, taken only as a somehwat arbitrary collection of songs, Swords still excels.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    It's almost worth it for the titles alone. [Dec 2009, p. 136]
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  3. Filter
    78
    It's obvious that great pains were taken with the sequencing--starting with the exuberant "Good Looking Man About Town," winding down with Morrissey's twist on Bowie's nostalgic "Drive-In Saturday, " and trailing off with the resigned ode "Because of My Poor Education." The artistry alone is worth the purchase. [Holiday 2009, p.91]
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  5. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    Guilty as charged, then: I’ll gladly let Moz, my all-too-human co-pilot, do my thinking for me.
  6. The A.V. Club
    75
    Yet as good as Morrissey’s throwaways can be, they aren’t all good. Many of the tracks on Swords feel like one more drag through the usual obsessions with crime ('Ganglord'), bad education ('Children In Pieces'), and wilting virgins ('The Never-Played Symphonies'). But the standouts deserve to be rescued from obscurity.
  7. Billboard.com
    72
    From the range of production styles to the bonus disc of live tracks, Swords is a welcome catalog addition
  8. Drowned In Sound
    70
    Certainly on this album class is more straightforward.
  9. PopMatters
    70
    Uneasy expressions or not, Swords will slay if given the chance.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Tokyochuchu
    Aug 26, 2014
    7
    Swords is not perfect. As a B-side compilation album there are inevitably going to be some misfires, and indeed there are (Sweetie Pie springsSwords is not perfect. As a B-side compilation album there are inevitably going to be some misfires, and indeed there are (Sweetie Pie springs to mind immediately). But there is also plenty of wonderful material on offer here and, for whatever reason, I still find this compilation more engaging than Morrissey's studio albums of the same era (namely Ringleader of the Tormentors, Years of Refusal and, to a lesser extent, You are the Quarry). Swords ain't no Bona Drag but it's still a great addition to Morrissey's catalog.… Full Review »
  2. adpirtle
    Jul 31, 2014
    7
    This isn't the strongest Morrissey album of its type - how could it be, with a masterpiece like Bona Drag banging around - but it is artfullyThis isn't the strongest Morrissey album of its type - how could it be, with a masterpiece like Bona Drag banging around - but it is artfully put together, and most of the songs are good enough to merit the effort involved. A few are actually amazing.… Full Review »
  3. sex4free
    Nov 23, 2013
    9
    I dont get the reviews for this one. For me this is maybe my favorite Morrissey solo album, especially in terms of the other intstruments thenI dont get the reviews for this one. For me this is maybe my favorite Morrissey solo album, especially in terms of the other intstruments then Morrisseys voice, but also the singing and lyrics is to me very special on this. Put on "If you dont like me...", "Shame is the name", "I knew I was next" and you will hear what I'm talking about.… Full Review »
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