Home → Morrissey → Back on the Chain Gang
Back on the Chain Gang
Rock · 2018

Back on the Chain Gang

Morrissey

A polished, reverent take on The Pretenders' classic. Morrissey transforms the new wave staple into a bittersweet anthem of late-career reflection and melodic yearning.

November 1, 2018 · BMG Rights Management

Find on Amazon

Back on the Chain Gang finds Morrissey in a rare state of pure, reverent homage. While his late-2010s output was often mired in political friction, this single serves as a sonic sanctuary, leaning into the melodic strengths that defined his early career. The production is undeniably modern, trading the raw, nervous energy of the 1982 original for a lush, hi-fi sheen that feels expensive and deliberate. It sounds like a memory being polished: the guitars jangle with a digital clarity, and the rhythm section provides a sturdy, unwavering foundation that allows his voice to take center stage.

Moments Worth Listening For
The way Morrissey leans into the ooh-ooh backing vocals, adding a layer of theatrical melodrama to the familiar hook.
The crisp, jangly guitar solo that pays homage to James Honeyman-Scott while sounding distinctly more compressed and modern.
The final repetition of the title where his baritone drops into a more intimate, hushed register.
Reviews
AllMusic
Read review
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Back on the Chain Gang sound next to the rest of Morrissey's catalogue?

Autumn Walk+2.4σ

Autumn Walk saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →