FILTER Issue 34

Morrissey Rising
On stands February 13, 2009

Though Morrissey fits the incongruous mold he holds heaven-high for others, there’s a central irony in his idealization of peculiarity: Droves of nondescripts have, over the years, appropriated his pop-up pompadour, his codified vegetarianism and his boredom with the ordinary; not as their own, but as homage. Fans with this and a different degree of commitment sometimes thrust themselves toward the Morrissey of midlife at concerts, landing on stage and enveloping him in their arms. Each one has become a blip among millions. Here, FILTER finds the man behind the mythology at our very own front door for a closer look.

Elsewhere, in our tribute, Tears for Fears recounts times past, bringing out the best in all that surrounds it. Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons basks in the sunlight above ground. Funny guy Zach Galifianakis grills Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene fame. Also, Sam Spiegel, half of the collabo-mania project, N.A.S.A., and Fatlip of The Pharcyde rap about busting through the musical atmosphere.

Additionally, Henry Selick sets his art in stop-motion, Great Northern heads into new territory, Howling Bells lets its creativity ring, and we take a photographic rail trip to the Trans Musicales de Rennes in the Brittany region of France. Plus: Vetiver, Heartless Bastards, Asobi Seksu, Bell X1, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Sunshine Cleaning, Sugar, and an EndNote to introduce Robert Popper’s literary alter ego, Robin Cooper.