Re-issued yet again, Morrissey's debut album was always likely to disappoint some Smiths' afficionados, ridiculing the idea this frail young man could cut it without Johnny Marr to keep him afloat. His albums on the whole have been patchy but 'Viva Hate' was an impressive beginning. The opener 'Alsatian Cousin' featuring howling guitar is unrepresentative of the album as a whole but begins the solo career in a good way; exorcising the ghosts of his former colleagues. The key decision was to employ Vini Reilly - of Durutti Column renown - as a guest guitarist as he elevates the otherwise unspectacular 'Late Night, Maudlin Street' and 'Break Up The Family' into quiet triumphs. The album features two excellent evergreen singles in 'Suedehead' and 'Everyday Is Like Sunday', proving that the artist was very much capable of making records which sell too. Forgetting the largely perfunctory three tracks which conclude the recording it would take some time for Morrissey to surpass this album with the outstanding 'Vauxhall And I'.