... the preorder numbers??

6000 copies sold so far in the UK.
Looks like it is going to be his worst selling album ever. Oh well.

His voice has never sounded better. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the reviewer that his backup band is simply adequate. Boz and company come off. at best, as merely performing session musicians. Where is the heart? Where is the rockin'?
I think Deano and Gary are the strongest live on this album, but that's not saying much. If you listen to Still Ill played live on "Rank" and compare it to any of the songs on this album, I think you will wholeheartedly agree.
His voice has never sounded better, though.
Mannix

his voice is sooooo bad on this album anyone can hear that...

coupled with the low mix on the bad and what you have is blind self indulgement on Morrisseys part

maybe he is becoming just a little too smug these days...

its not so much that the backing band is inadequate, its the mix. why somebody made the decesion not to take the desk tapes and play around with the individual channels to give an overall more listenable album (like they did with beethoven is deaf) is beyond me. the resulting album just sounds like a bootleg with the interesting moz talkie bits cut out.

having said that - the louder you listen to it the better it sounds.

The band are just lost! Morrissey should have handpicked some better people. But, he usually leaves this up to Boz. He is the musical director and gets paid the most. It was depressing to see these other guys at the show. Heck, I can't stand Gary Day either. He is such a pompus pie hole. Boz is the best and all the others need to get the boot! I want the Lads back (minus GD)! These American twats are hurting Morrissey's live performance and image. I love "Redondo Beach" but that 'shopping mall reggae' comment was dead on. Why is it that when a new song comes out everyone is more interested in the cover versions than the other b-sides. Remember when the b-side paled in comparisson? "Moon River","East West" and so on.

One U2 gig left me completely broke. So I wont be able to buy the album in about a month.

I don't care about the negative reviews in this board I'm still going to get it.

But I feel ripped off. I have bootlegs that have more energy ... The album is sub-par ...

what is the difference between the digipack and the original live at earls court? - apart from the price that is, i can't work it out...

Over at mod lang records (http://www.modlang.com/) in Berkeley, at least he is showing up in the sales charts.

Mod Lang Sales Chart for week ending 04/03/05:

Top Ten LPs/Albums
1.Beck - Guero - geffen
2.The Bravery - s/t -island
3.Bloc Party - Silent Alarm - vice
4.Morrissey - Live At Earl's Court - attack
5.M.I.A - Arular - beggars banquet
6.Lcd Soundsystem - s/t - capitol
7.Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze - interscope 8.Decemberists - Picaresque - kill rock stars 9.Yo La Tengo - Prisoners Of Love - matador 10.M.Ward - Transister Radio - merge

Top Five EPs/Singles
1. Death Cab For Cutie - John Byrd e.p - barsuk
2. Morrissey - There is a light - attack
3. New Order - Krafty - london
4. Queens Of The Stone Age - little sister - interscope
5. DJ Shadow Vs Keane - might as well be strange - interscope

Finally my cd arrived and it's fine. Being quite a fan now, I already have all the songs on it except Redondo Beach which I think is a wonderful version. I'm pretty sure though that when the DVD finally arrives, I'll feel that this was just the warm up. What seems to be happening is that the music press is giving the CD a generally warm reception but not the long-term fans. The CD is a comprehensive genuinely representative round-up of great songs from both Morrissey's solo career and years with the Smiths. If we remember that last year was a 'comeback' year for him whereby he regained lapsed fans and made new ones, then this CD is perfect for them. The loyal fans however like the quirkiness of banter, encounters, locations, improvisations etc, and this is why I can't wait for the DVD. So there's something for everyone!

got the earls court cd, after reading these pages, did'nt know what to expect, but as live albums go this is pretty damn good, fans buy bootlegs to which no money goes to the artist, so hence live lp's, nothing new, but for the fans, an official reminder of 2004, mozz live, to which most of us must of seen him. As time goes on this will be looked back on as an essential mozz release, thanks mozz, the cd & dvd round of a great return.

I think the album is great actually. I never really liked Rank, to which this is being compared to for some reason.

I like Earl's Court better than Quarry. People are bitching about the mix, but I think it sounds better than Quarry's mix which I think it too rawk......

I guess to each his/her own.

Having said that, these sales figures are pretty pathetic. I am glad it got released though, and I have listened to the hell out of it, like I do with ost of Morrissey stuff.

As an aside, I just got the new Beck album which is awesome. I also got the new British Sea Power which is more accessible thant the first BSP album. It has been given some comparisons to the Smiths, which I do not hear, but some reviewer heard it in there apparently....

i think it's a damn good album! maybe not the best he's ever put out, but still, it doesn't derserve all the negativity it's been receiving here. Moz's singing is sublime throughout the whole album, and i think the band play the songs a lot better than everyone is making out. after reading the comments on the site, and listening to the preview things, i was expecting the album to be really quite terrible, but this was not the case! people have said that the band lack energy- bull. you listen to 'shoplifters...' and turn it up loud. you are not listening to a drab, dreary old band. admittedly, the mix isn't up to scratch, but to write the album off because of that, is, in my opinion, over the top. and as for those who slate the band for being 'unimaginative', (you know who you are!) i'm sure you'd be the first to complain if they started trying to put their own stamp on a Smiths song. the lads are still great, and Moz is on fine form. the great mans comments are sorely missed, but Live At Earl's Court is a cracking album, and you'd be foolish to miss out on it.

sounds like poop

The set list should have included "All the Lazy Dykes." I never cared for the song musically or lyrically- that is, until I heard the song performed live!

This song is a heart-stopper performed live. I am not sure why. Morrissey puts an incredible amount of energy into this song when performed live. I thought at one point he was going to fall down on his knees during the song- it was that intense (the ending of the song). You really need to see him sing it live.

Sincerely,
Ken Stavitzke

thud heard absolutley nowhere. oh well.

mostly rubbish, not because of the setlist, not because of the band but because of the man responsible for mixing the record, who in my opinion should just be imprisoned for the next ten years at least cos the mix is absolute rubbish: no ambience, no guitars, only morrissey´s voice, crap crap crap. "beethoven was deaf" sounded much better, in fact, there are many bootlegs from the last tour that sound a lot better than this, take the Chile fm broadcast in example, it sounds fantastic (and the band is the same), like a million times better than this official recording, what a shame!.

This is a superb album. If you don't like it I can only suggest that you revisit the Bon Jovi albums that you so sincerely loved.

I love this album.

listen loud on ipod while drunk and alone, wave arms, move around and pretend to be vocalist... and enjoy. moaning minnies.

I was about 100 chart positions off on this one. I thought it would at least get in the top 20. How did the DVD do? The British album charts?

RB is down from 11 to 27.

With a new release, isn't it normally the case that the artist promotes the wears around the same time, to ideally lend a boost to publicity and sales? I know that Morrissey dislikes 'hot fuss' at such junctures more than most, but have there been any interviews, TV appearances etc at all for the singles, CD and DVD? Considering that lack, and the allergy to airplay, they're doing ok. Incidentally what country is he in these days, and has anyone spotted him out and about, to give us an extra smile?!

....... or bring back Johnny Marr.

It's gotta be one or the other if Moz is to be great again.

Some of us like hearing the b-sides. It makes it more special. I bet if you did an audit the singles get played the most overall anyway.

b-sides are the fan favourites you tosspot. More smiths songs? yeah it would be nice if he did a whole new live show with smiths songs but this one has 5. I would consider myself lucky now to see a show of his these days with 5 fucking smiths songs.

whingers are so hard to please!

I am sorry but I enjoy hearing the b-sides. Actually, I am pretty happy hearing him.