Morrissey: 25Live

Indie rock legend Morrissey—who fronted The Smiths from 1982-87—takes the stage at Hollywood High School for this intimate 19-song set from 2013, celebrating 25 years of a solo career (albeit two-phase: 1988-1997 and 2003-2010). Backed by an almost entirely buff five-piece boy band, the middle-aged bard of the morose opens with “Alma Matters,” lyrically setting the scene for what's to follow (“this is my life to destroy my own way”). Morrissey's velvet vocals (“I have a lovely singing voice,” he says here, and he does) shine on songs that range from the political “Irish Blood, English Heart,” to the heartbreaking “Let Me Kiss You” (“so close your eyes/and think of someone you physically admire/and let me kiss you”), to the aggressively vegetarian in the Smiths' hit “Meat Is Murder” (“and the turkey you festively slice—murder”). What makes Morrissey so much fun is the combination of eloquent Debbie Downer lyrics with infectious pop rock on songs like “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” “Ouija Board, Ouija Board,” “November Spawned a Monster,” “Speedway,” “You're the One for Me Fatty,” and “I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris” (sounds upbeat, I know, but…Paris gets the nod “because only stone and steel accept my love”). Although you wouldn't know it from watching this solid concert, Morrissey was checked into a hospital with double pneumonia five days after the show. Extras include in-session studio recordings of four songs (three of which are also performed during the concert, including the rousing “Action Is My Middle Name”), behind-the-scenes footage, and a brief interview clip with Russell Brand, who introduced the singer at the concert. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is recommended. (R. Pitman)