New Morrissey album tomorrow - Ringleader of the Tormentors!!!

[Scobie]

In case you've been listening exclusively to the Arctic Monkeys and chewing on plastic as of late, you should know that something more deeply satisfying is on the immediate musical horizon -- something that is certainly less likely to make you feel your age than the "gee whiz, I can drink legally" fervor of "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not."

It's Morrissey's new album "Ringleader of the Tormentors," out tomorrow on Attack Records, produced by the legendary Tony Visconti.

I've had the pleasure of hearing it in advance, and it's nothing less than the greatest artistic achievement of Morrissey's mercurial career. The opening track "I Will See You In Far Off Places" is more of a statement of intent than a serious pop song, but things take a sharp turn for the better on "Dear God Please Help Me," the most accommodating and affecting musical backing that the old man's had since the Mick Ronson-produced "Seasick, Yet Still Docked." Credit Visconti for dusting off the great Italian composer Ennio Morricone who provides some impressive orchestration to urge on the religious mood of the proceedings.

Somehow in his new life in Rome, the punishing air emanating from the Vatican that restricts so many has filled Morrissey's lungs with freedom, and "Dear God Please Help Me" is drenched with liberation. It's a song that makes his earlier musical statement that "Now My Heart Is Full" sound like a miserable lie. It's a new sensation for Morrissey, but he wears it remarkably well. It's a transcendent moment, so rare in pop music these days, and gives the hope that any other tortured soul might be able to find a measure of peace as well.

Worthy of equal praise is the soaring, combustible "Life Is A Pigsty," which is a breathtaking three-part epic that starts at a measured pace and then goes a little bit Bowie-weird with explosive cascades collapsing all around Morrissey's plaintive vocal before rising up with fuzzed out guitars and epic timpani and cymbal splashes. If it hadn't been made clear earlier, this is the moment when you realize "Ringleader" is as much Visconti's album as it is Morrissey's, and thank goodness for that.

On other less-ambitious tracks, Morrissey still sounds as good as ever, flaunting the best vocal melodies in the business and some unique phrasings that serve to illuminate his words and capture the listener's ear. The production plays with his voice throughout the course of the album, allowing him plenty of space to breathe, but at other times plunging him into the depths of the songs, letting him thrash about a bit, and then yanking him back to the fore (note how the way his voice warps on "At Last I Am Born" harkens back to Bowie's intro to the "Diamond Dogs" album).

Still, it's the band who benefit the most from the production. Indeed, the Moz-by-numbers tunes from his unfortunately mostly artless backing musicians are really made to sparkle by Visconti's creative touches -- a dabbling piano here, a chiming vibraphone there, groaning metal, ambulance sirens, a perfectly timed church organ, even an Italian children's choir (best utilized when singing the refrain of "there is no such thing in life as normal" in "The Youngest Was The Most Loved").

Any fan of the best of 1970s rock - T.Rex, Bowie, the NY Dolls, Mott The Hoople, Iggy Pop, Sparks, et al., will find much to love throughout "Ringleader." The little touches and knowing glances are priceless and the album is rich with them (check the bass breakdown in "In The Future When All's Well" that nods to T.Rex's seminal "Get It On"). Even when Visconti's playing it straight, as on the lead-off single "You Have Killed Me," there's an urgency that is essential for Morrissey to get over.

Surely, "Ringleader of the Tormentors" will prove to be one of the best and most significant releases of 2006.

[DJ K8E]

Butch Walker > Morrissey

[Ledhed]

The breadth of human existence > Morrisey

[Brak]

I've tried Morrisey... didn't like it. Not my cup of urine. I listened to "You are the Quarry", and, I have to ask, was that a concept album? It didn't sound like '70s rock (which you've mentioned, and I love); to me, anyway.

You mentioned Arctic Monkeys, as well. I gave them a try... and, ditto. Hype is usually wrong.

Let me make note that those two "tries" didn't involve any forms of currency, or sexual favors.

[Scobie]

Butch Walker > Morrissey

Three albums with the Marvelous 3 (with diminishing returns) and two inconsistent solo albums of only moderate worth doesn't equate to Morrissey's 22+ year career which legitimized independent music in the dark days of the early 1980s, heralded the overdue death of new wave, spawned countless hit singles and sold-out tours throughout the world, and lead thousands to vegetarianism.

Butch Walker, on the other hand, is responsible at least in part for the crime against humanity that is/was Bowling For Soup, which is enough to justify a swift knee to the groin.

Morrissey, though, is remarkable for bridging unusual cultural gaps (lonely poets to punks and skinheads to rockabilly greasers to Latinos, from Europe to Japan and South America) with a genuine understanding and empathy for the outsiders in society, and his independence and determination to never sell out is legendary.

Assuming there was sufficient public outcry (and there simply never will be), would Butch Walker turn down $5 million to reunite with the Marvelous 3 for one night at a festival? Morrissey did just that when the Smiths were asked to reform at Coachella. He's cancelled numerous concerts and appearances throughout his career for ethical and moral reasons, rightfully ignored publicity opportunities at key moments that would have propelled him, and even went through a 7-year recording drought because no label offer was to his liking.

He's provided a musical and lyrical legacy that has so far inspired two generations of musicians and singers and he regularly champions upcoming bands of worth like the late Libertines (too bad about Pete).

That he finds himself to still be on top of his game as he nears age 50 is remarkable in pop music, and there are absolutely no signs of him slowing down or half-assing it in any way now.

There are few people who have genuinely changed the course of popular music or impacted it in any significant way at all. Morrissey is one of them. Please show a little respect.

[priest_ridden]

While I'm impressed that he is still puttin out albums, the following statement prettty much what I think of the man's music:

Morrisey the father of whiney emo asexual crap.

[Apossum]

While I'm impressed that he is still puttin out albums, the following statement prettty much what I think of the man's music:

Morrisey the father of whiney emo asexual crap.


such a cop out. a very old and overused one, at best.

[DJ K8E]

Three albums with the Marvelous 3 (with diminishing returns) and two inconsistent solo albums of only moderate worth doesn't equate to Morrissey's 22+ year career which legitimized BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH (ad nauseum, ad infinitum, ad ad ad ad add add add, ad omgshutthefuckup)

Butch Walker > Morrissey

End of story.

I could argue it, but I don't argue with people who are wrong. It's like beating a dead horse. Fun, but largely pointless.

[priest_ridden]

such a cop out. a very old and overused one, at best.
So if it's not whiney emo crap, then what is it?

[jmcc]

The breadth of human existence > Morrisey
Second.

[Javery]

The Smiths >>>>>> Morrissey

[willardhaven]

Yeah, nobody with a brain and some dignity enjoys this fellow.

Sorry for the flame, but there are some things that demand it.

[Apossum]

So if it's not whiney emo crap, then what is it?

I got nothing that would convince you otherwise, I'm not a huge morrisey fan myself. I'm just saying it seems like when anyone wants to criticize an artist nowadays, the word of choice is always "emo."

[mykevermin]

Rites of Spring and Fugazi ushered in the era of emo. It would also be foolish to overlook the influence of bubblegum punk rock in terms of infusing normally aggressive and poorly organized music with the kind of teenage depression that somehow because associated with a certain subculture that all look and dress like "Peppermint Patty."

I suppose that priest would like to discredit the entire body of work of every post punk synth band as "emo" and thus useless? Joy Division, Bauhaus/Peter Murphy, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Sisters of Mercy (ad nauseum)? Don't forget, of course, what crap The Cure is. They're emo, after all.

Whomever is talking about Butch Walker or whatever his name is, anybody associated with "Bowling for Soup" is guilty of a war crime. Morrissey hasn't had a perfect career, but he certainly lacks very public and very embarrassing blemishes like *that*.

On the contrary, he managed to reuinite the New York Dolls for his birthday party a few years ago (and there was a fantastic movie about them reuinting titled, strangely enough, "New York Doll"). Show the motherfucker some respect!

Now I want to listen to Slapshot's cover of "Bigmouth Strikes Again."

[I AM WILLIAM H. MACY]

As I live and breathe, you have killed me, Morrissey. Your new album is fucking amazing.

[Brak]

Speaking of emo, any idea why the royal "they" still classifies At the Drive-In as emo? Oh, well...

Also, on www.last.fm, why is virtually every musician, artist and group tagged as emo? It's disgusting. Andrew W.K. is not emo.

[Apossum]

Speaking of emo, any idea why the royal "they" still classifies At the Drive-In as emo? Oh, well...

Also, on www.last.fm, why is virtually every musician, artist and group tagged as emo? It's disgusting. Andrew W.K. is not emo.


any music that isn't completely devoid of emotion must be "emo" right? cause there are two kinds of music in this world-- emo and stoic :roll:

[mykevermin]

any music that isn't completely devoid of emotion must be "emo" right? cause there are two kinds of music in this world-- emo and stoic :roll:

emo and kraftwerk. ;)

[Brak]

any music that isn't completely devoid of emotion must be "emo" right? cause there are two kinds of music in this world-- emo and stoic :roll:

Well, it's ironic and contradictory that music that is actually classified as "emo" is, usually, devoid of emotion or consists of simpleton, one dimensional emotions. "I am sad. :("

Edit: And it doesn't help that the music is extremely basic and / or unlistenable.

[Mr. Anderson]

Honestly, you either love Morrissey to death, or hate him with an eternal passion. Most are the latter, but I am a big a fan as there ever was. I do agree the The Smiths career was far more impressive than Morrissey's solo romp, but both are incredible. I'm not going to try and convince any haters to give Morrissey a second try, because I honestly don't care what they (or you, if you are a hater) think. I jazzed for the new album.

[Apossum]

Well, it's ironic and contradictory that music that is actually classified as "emo" is, usually, devoid of emotion or consists of simpleton, one dimensional emotions. "I am sad. :("

Edit: And it doesn't help that the music is extremely basic and / or unlistenable.


yeah, it certainly has devolved from its 80s DC hardcore roots. the weird part is how its infected the mainstream vocab-- I thought the term was a bit of a misnomer a few years ago when certain indie groups were being labelled "emo" simply for their lyrics, but now...well, now shit is all fucked up :lol:

emo and kraftwerk. ;)

:lol: "We go into a club and then we start to dance. We are showroom dummies"

[norkusa]

Excellent review, Scobie. It's comforting to know that some people here still appreciate good music. I'll admit his last few albums weren't that great and he whores out "Best Of" compilations like no other person in the business, but Ringleader totally makes up for it all.

Anyone know if Morrissey is going to tour the US for this album? I saw the old fart on the Malajusted and Oy Esteban tours and even got up on stage once (got tackled by security before I could get close to Moz though).

And I totally agree with you, Mr. Anderson. You are either a lover or hater when it comes to Morrissey. There are no in-betweens. I remember this Morrissey interview I read once. He said that it's easy to say your are a fan of someones music and not be questioned about it. But if you say you are a Morrissey fan, you always have to explain WHY you like Morrissey, which is so true.

[DJ K8E]

I can like some of Morrisseys stuff, but that's not the mark of a great artist. A great artist is someone who you hear a time or two, and they just worm their way into your head, and make you to where you absolutely have to listen to all of their stuff, and though you may try, you just can't bring yourself to dislike any of their music. I've tried to like Morrissey the exact same way I tried with everyone else, and it just doesn't happen.

Butch Walker has achieved this. Any music he touches, turns to gold, yeah, Bowling For Soup may not be your thing... whoop dee doo, they may not be his... he also worked with Avril Lavigne, wanna bitch about that too? The guy has to do things to get money. Like he says in his video for "Rich People Die Unhappy", he's got enough money to make music however he wants, and as much as he wants... so he doesn't give a flying fuck.

The truth of the matter is Butch can write songs that everyone can associate with, everyone wants to sing along with. Any normal person who hasn't completely turned into an indie (or other specific style, like say, metal) snob can appreciate him. Can Morrissey do this? No, as others have said, you either love him or hate him. With Butch, in my experience, it's ranged from like to absolutely love. As long as you have an open mind about music, you can't hate him.

So yeah, you can say Morrissey is the best ever, whatever, you don't have an open mind to music man. Maybe Butch isn't the best ever either, but this is a guy that you can actually meet, talk to, jam with, whatever. He's animated, he breaks strings from rocking out too hard, he blows his monitors, he brings fans on stage and has them sing songs with him, people call their exes and hand him the phone and he sings to them at the top of his lungs, he'll sit and rap with you about who his 20 favorite bands are and recommend you some song so you can put together a mix CD, you want to sing something with him after the show a cappella, he'll do it. He'll help you get a record deal if he thinks you're good, he'll play Guitar Hero with you until he leaves town, go get drinks with you after a show, teach you how to play a riff of his, he's jumped down into the crowd and played a song from the MIDDLE of the crowd, he's jumped down there and asked that the whole audience sit down, and they DID. And he can do all this, himself, with just his guitar and a smile. Would Morrissey do all that? No. Butch Walker is God to his fans, but his fans are Gods to him. It's not just a one-way street like with Morrissey. You think he'd be that nice to his fans? No. The fucking $$$$er hasn't even been making decent music since the 80's and that's a FACT.

Discussion over.

[Apossum]

The fucking $$$$er hasn't even been making decent music since the 80's and that's a FACT.


#-o #-o #-o i knew you'd be trouble...

[mykevermin]

#-o #-o #-o i knew you'd be trouble...

I knew it from the thread where she wanted Stephen Dorff in her sig.

Judging from the 75 photographs of her she wanted made into a wallpaper in that thread, she's a musician of some sort. It's a shame that, from her writing above, it's not clear to me at all that she knows anything about music. Her criticisms are focused on emotive responses to music (which is forgivable, as all of us have them), subjective opinions as to when Morrissey started to suck (of which I'm sure even she isn't clear about her own opinions - was it Viva Hate or Bona Drag? ;)), and wantonly forgiving of the cardinal sin of any and every artist (compromising the integrity of your work in order to acheive financial stability).

That's all fine and dandy, but she lacks any coherent explanation, one that I would expect from a *musician*, as to why one is superior to the other. For instance, I'll withhold you from my diatribe on why Gene Simmons sucks, but the short version is this: he is a musical simpleton who only knows how to play at one tempo, and everything he produces sounds like fucking arena rock . He absolutely *ruined* Wendy O William's solo album (save "It's My Life") by making her into "Wendy meets Def Leppard" instead of "Wendy still fucking rules you even without The Plasmatics." I want detail from a musician (though I may be too liberal in my application of that phrase, as with a screen name involving "DJ," she probably thinks that "hard house" or whatever nintendo bullshit the kids roll to these days is music), not "they suck and that's a fact."

Fucking seriously. You don't expect a video game producer to say "PS2 is teh suzzor adn that's a FACT JACK!!?!!" You expect them to provide you with a precise analysis as to why it's bad. I refuse to accept someone's opinion if they can't provide a shred of evidence as to why Morrissey sucks and Butch whatshistoast rules.

The fucker worked with Avril Lavigne? That dipshit country singer? Nobody's been able to do anything with her to make her sound like anything more than LeAnn Rimes to a fucking three-chord progression. Seriously, listen to her fucking harmonies. I'll put that shit in the taste test up with Shania Twain or Sissy McHillbilly, and you'll be able to see that they're the fucking same. There's no credibility in that. "Aw, but he gets to do what he wants." Well, no, no he doesn't. He made shit, and he helped foist shit on the idiot public. That shit is as much a part of his body of work as is his "piece de la resistance" or whatever bullshit it is.

Hmm. Rather angry, no? Anyway, back to annotating research (that's the fuel of my aggression tonite, FWIW).

[VanillaGorilla]

This is why I never post about music. 95% of the people who reply only do so to tell you how much your favorite band/artist sucks.

[Apossum]

Don't fret Myke, in the year 2020, refworks (or monkey butlers) will pull the data from the books and our heads and do everything for us!

I liked this paragraph:

Butch Walker has achieved this. Any music he touches, turns to gold, yeah, Bowling For Soup may not be your thing... whoop dee doo, they may not be his... he also worked with Avril Lavigne, wanna bitch about that too? The guy has to do things to get money. Like he says in his video for "Rich People Die Unhappy", he's got enough money to make music however he wants, and as much as he wants... so he doesn't give a flying .

I'd like to know the chronology behind the highlighted points...

[jmcc]

Ye gods! Wannabe Pitchfork writers!

[norkusa]

Hang the DJ

[Brak]

Ye gods! Wannabe Pitchfork writers!

I thought this was one of those Vincent Price "the Earth vs. Me" moments, where, univocally (on my behalf), I was wondering if I was fucking crazy... or if it was the rest of the fucking world. Thank God there is other Man to help me slay the embittered vampires (although I think this should be singular), so to speak.

To be so condescending and not afraid of heights is a wondrous thing.

And, oddly on the same note, thank God I wasn't the only one who noticed that Avril Lavigne was pop-country music.

[Scobie]

Would Morrissey do all that? No. Butch Walker is God to his fans, but his fans are Gods to him. It's not just a one-way street like with Morrissey. You think he'd be that nice to his fans? No. The fucking $$$$er hasn't even been making decent music since the 80's and that's a FACT.

Discussion over.

Hrm... the world really *is* full of crashing bores! Point to Morrissey; game, set, match.

[jmcc]

Hrm... the world really *is* full of crashing bores! Point to Morrissey; game, set, match.
Would you mind stating your age, for the record?

[DJ K8E]

I knew it from the thread where she wanted Stephen Dorff in her sig.

That was a joke, for your information. I thought you should know what a joke is, since you are one.

[Scobie]

Would you mind stating your age, for the record?

Sure, but only if you can point out any relevance that my age may have to the topic.

[jmcc]

Sure, but only if you can point out any relevance that my age may have to the topic.
I want to know if you're in the key Morrissey demographic.

[Pookymeister]

The fucker worked with Avril Lavigne? That dipshit country singer?

I think you got her mixed up with someone else

[Scobie]

I want to know if you're in the key Morrissey demographic.

Well, sure. Anything to further sociological understanding. I'm 23, Mexican, and in a gang.

[mykevermin]

I think you got her mixed up with someone else

Not in the slightest. I know precisely what I'm talking about.

[mykevermin]

Mexican

That puts you in the moz's demo for sure.

Truth be told, there was a fantastic article in the NY Times a few years ago about the fanaticism many people of hispanic ethnic background have for Morrissey. 'tis a shame they cover their asses when it comes to accessing archived articles.

[Pookymeister]

Not in the slightest. I know precisely what I'm talking about.

No, you don't. I don't think anyone who has heard an Avril Lavigne song would call her country.
Let's square dance to Sk8tr Boi, aight?

[mykevermin]

And I don't think anyone who knows about songwriting and production would call her harmonies anything but country.

EDIT: I also think that you mistake "country" for what *used* to be country. Gingham skirts, the Grand Ol' Opry, Nashville (or Memphis, if you want a touch of Rockabilliy influence), Hank Williams, banjos, fiddles, and lapsteel gee-tars. Right?

The mistake you make is considering contemporary country to be musically related to classical country, which it isn't (outside of the modern-day pretenders, even the Canadian ones, singing with a southern twang in order to retain their credibility). While I don't condone it, watching a few minutes of "CMT" music videos will show you just how far from David Allen Coe and Minnie Pearl (well, she wasn't a musician but she was more country than Toby Fucking Keith) modern country music truly is.

In a similar vein, her music is not "punk" for the very same reasons (with the exception of the beat, but it's nothing more than a basic 4/4 sped up to resemble punk rock; it's the same beat you learn on day 3 of drum lessons).

[willardhaven]

This thread is awesome.

[jmcc]

Well, sure. Anything to further sociological understanding. I'm 23, Mexican, and in a gang.
Do your fellow gang members know you listen to Morrissey?

[DJ K8E]

Do your fellow gang members know you listen to Morrissey?

Now, now, I'm sure only hardcore gangastaZ listen to Morrissey. Where do you think the nickname Moz came from? Let alone the Pope of Mope. I just wish he'd collaborate with Lil' Jon... then we could have both sides of the annoyance meter, the loud and annoying... and the boring and annoying!

[Brak]

... and in a gang.

You are on the way to destruction. Make your time.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

[Scobie]

Do your fellow gang members know you listen to Morrissey?

Sure. They mainly listen to rock operas but have no problem with Morrissey. Does your rabbi know you're a Cheap Ass Gamer?

[jmcc]

Sure. They mainly listen to rock operas but have no problem with Morrissey. Does your rabbi know you're a Cheap Ass Gamer?
Rabbi? I don't follow. Is that a shout-out to Morrissey's hilarious joke about Canada's seal hunting being comparable to the holocaust?

[DJ K8E]

Sure. They mainly listen to rock operas but have no problem with Morrissey. Does your rabbi know you're a Cheap Ass Gamer?

Gang members that listen to rock operas and Morrissey?

Oh, my, God, you guys... it's the real-life Jets!

[mykevermin]

Yinz don't seem to understand the fixation that many, many, many Hispanics have with Le Moz.

[Scobie]

Yinz don't seem to understand the fixation that many, many, many Hispanics have with Le Moz.

Yeah, Morrissey does have a substantial Hispanic audience, and I think it's great. Just goes back to my earlier comment about how Moz understands cultural outsiders and they understand him. The "Quarry" b-sides "Mexico," "It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small," and "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice" were a nice nod to them. It's a little sad that he's moved on so abruptly to Italian culture now.

"Ringleader of the Tormentors" just gets better and better with each listen. I sure hope there's an extensive U.S. tour!