Morrissey: Make-Up Is a Lie Zoetrope picture disc

Viva Vinyl

As you know, I streamed Morrissey’s latest album Make-Up Is a Lie in March 2026 and did not like it. I said that it was probably the only Morrissey album that I’m not going to buy, but, of course, for the collection, I did eventually pick up the Make-Up Is a Lie Zoetrope picture disc version recently for a discount.

For collectors, there are three official vinyl variants – the most common is the Blue vinyl (which is currently on sale for $18 on Amazon), and the so-called “Indie” Red vinyl is harder to come by, but reasonably priced for a modern color vinyl.

I decided to get the Zoetrope version. I believe this may be Morrissey’s first, and to be perfectly honest, this is my first Zoetrope. I have own several picture discs, but the Zoetrope is supposed to create an animated picture when you spin the record at 33 1/3. It works, if only my eyes had the shutter speed – but my aging eyes cannot distinguish the animation.

The flip side you can see a spiraling illusion, and it is neat, but it’s not nearly as much as Sire Records is asking fans to pay ($40). I didn’t pay that much, so just shop around for the best price, if you must have the Zoetrope. Personally speaking, I think the Red or Blue looks just as good, and with modern heavy 180g vinyl pressing, the sound is very clean with no imperfection.

I think part of why I really prefer to listen to music on vinyl is the limitation. One side of the album is only about 20 minutes, which, as it turns out, at least for me, is just enough for me to absorb the music. Once the side ends, it’s up to you to manual flip over the album to continue with the album… or if you’re lazy, like me, you just end up listening one side until I’m tired of it.

After listening and re-listening to the album, I still stand behind my statement that I still do not like Make-Up Is a Lie. Usually, Morrissey would have one or two stand-out great songs, but Make-Up Is a Lie just sounds like a random collection of songs. I am aware that most of these songs were recorded pre-2025, but the record indicated that they were recorded at La Fabrique Studios, Saint-Rémy de Provence in 2025.

Singles Life

I think Morrissey is on the right track, concentrating on singles, instead of album. That’s how The Smiths did it, they were a singles-band (many of their best songs weren’t on any album). Every single was exciting, because every artwork (usually a still image from an old film) were clues to who and what The Smiths were all about. You have to remember, this was before the internet, so seeing new singles for the first time was very exciting and it was fun to collect them all.

Now that Morrissey is back on Sire Records, and that Vinyl Records are in fashion again… they’re releasing singles again.

This October 16, 2026, Morrissey is releasing two vinyl singles: Kerching Kerching with Isle Of Dogs and Zoom Zoom The Little Boy with Without Music The World Dies. The A-Side are on Make-Up Is A Lie album, so the only new songs are the B-Sides… so basically you’re paying $20 for one (new) song. That is too steep for me, even though I am (or was) a Smiths and Morrissey collector. Back in the day when singles were $4 for 7” (with one b-side) and $8 for 12” singles (usually with two or three B-Sides). Vinyl Albums were $12-$15. I would wait until it was on sale for a tenner. The good old days.

Now, with no record stores and these new records are priced at $30-$40 or more, it’s just gotten out of hand. So, no, I’ll probably not pick up these vinyl singles. I don’t want to pay for digital bits and bytes, so that just leaves me with CD singles… which I do not believe are being released in the modern age.

Meanwhile, I’m kind of on a search for the re-mastered The Smiths albums, but they are so expensive on vinyl. I already own the album when they first came out, so there’s no rush for me to get the remastered version. If I can find them for under $20, I will definitely buy them, but so far, no luck.

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