AMG Review of Ouija Board, Ouija Board

Ned Raggett
All Music Guide

The first of his solo releases not produced by Stephen Street, Ouija Board finds Morrissey allying himself with the crack production team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. One would think such a classically English duo -- consider their successful work with Madness -- would be perfectly suited to Morrissey, but this and the next few releases were somewhat mixed bags since the material wasn't always up to snuff. The lead track itself, though it has some humorous lyrics, is a weird semi-anthem that almost works. Far more successful is the quieter "Yes, I Am Blind," co-written with Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and combining everything from martyr images (at the hands of Christians, no less) to his supposed propensity for pessimism. Morrissey delivers a restrained but sharp performance, while the tearjerker-into-glam music is quite lovely. A slightly quixotic but well-delivered cover of Herman's Hermits' "East West" concludes the release.