The first of the gang to die

Though the effete strains of Stephen Patrick Morrissey are always more than welcome in my life, this single lacks the vital, ‘mission statement’ qualities of the wonderful ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’. Still, the song is upbeat, and characteristically wry. The overall effect is not dissimilar to Gene - a paradox, given that Gene have been endlessly compared to The Smiths. When you sound like a version of a band that sound like a weak version of you, what exactly does that mean?