Alma Matters
1997 single by Morrissey
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"Alma Matters" is a song by Morrissey, released in July 1997 as the first single from the Maladjusted album. It was released one week before the album.
| "Alma Matters" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Morrissey | ||||
| from the album Maladjusted | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 21 July 1997 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 4:48 | |||
| Label | Island (UK) | |||
| Songwriters | Morrissey, Alain Whyte | |||
| Producer | Steve Lillywhite | |||
| Morrissey singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The single reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Morrissey's first top 20 hit since "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" in 1994. The song was also notable for seeing Morrissey reference the film A Taste of Honey (1961) for the first time since his early days in the Smiths in the line "it's my life to ruin my own way".
The song title is a pun on Alma mater.
Track listings
7-inch vinyl and cassette (UK)
- "Alma Matters" (Morrissey/Alain Whyte)
- "Heir Apparent" (Morrissey/Whyte)
12-inch vinyl and CD
- "Alma Matters"
- "Heir Apparent"
- "I Can Have Both" (Morrissey/Boz Boorer)
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Island | 7-inch vinyl | IS667 |
| UK | Island | 12-inch vinyl | 12IS667 |
| UK | Island | Compact disc | CID667 |
| UK | Island | Cassette | CIS667 |
Reviews
Jack Rabid of AllMusic called this single "ho-hum", saying it was "a poor choice to represent Maladjusted".[1] He also criticized guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte, asking when Morrissey was going to part company with them, and declared the B-sides "Heir Apparent" and "I Can Have Both" to be the better songs but still lacking in comparison to previous B-sides "Whatever Happens, I Love You" and "Nobody Loves Us".[1] Rabid concludes his review, writing "Morrissey is a major talent with a special voice atrophying in underwhelming material and backing. To quote Joy Division, 'When will it end?'"[1] Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club, however, listed the song as a highlight of Maladjusted.[2]
In a 2009 article Uncut described the song as 'Morrissey's worst single'.[3]
Spin's list of '50 Best Morrissey Songs' from 2017 includes "Alma Matters" as his 12th best solo song.[4]
Personnel
- Morrissey – voice
- Martin "Boz" Boorer – guitar
- Alain Whyte – guitar
- Jonny Bridgwood – bass
- Spencer James Cobrin – drums
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[5] | 97 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 16 |