Martin Söderström writes:
Impressions of Ringleader of the Tormentors after the listening party in Stockholm, January 12th 2006.
Sorry about all the grammatical errors and all that stuff, but I’m on a real buzz right now and English isn’t my first language anyway so.... But I thought that this could be interesting for quite a few people out there.
So. Finally. The Big Day came. After a sleepless night 15-odd of us (journalists, pop stars and well known die hard fans of the Moz) finally got to sit in the office of SonyBMG Sweden for a listening session of Ringleader.
After a few words from the man from Sanctuary UK about how Sweden is one of Morrissey's best countries they actually put the record into the stereo. Here is my track by track thoughts of it:
01. I Will See You In Far-Off Places.
Middle-eastern strings – and metal! Wtf is this really Morrissey?!?!
Think America is not the world meets a really pissed of System of a Down in a crowdy market in Beirut. Sort of.
The track is rock hard – but with a really passionate vocal from Morrissey.
“The heart knows why I grieve, and yes – one day I will close my eyes forever”.
He slags off the US involvement in the Middle East really heavy and it’s easy to see this as a relly pissed of sister song to America from Quarry. With the Marshall amps turned up to 11.
Without a doubt the hardest and heaviest track The Moz has ever released.
02. Dear God Please Help Me
His singing is fantastic on this one! It starts off really smoothly with just an organ and an acoustic guitar. The Moz croons “and I’m so very tired of doing the right thing”.
And lyric wise.... God Damn – Mozzer got laid!!
“then he notions to me with his hand on my knee – Dear God, did this kind of thing ever happen to you?”
Later on he sings about how he spreads this guy’s legs and lies with his own right in between. Morrissey finally pulled!!
A really atmospheric track with beautiful strings and the line that really blew me away was “There are explosive kegs between my legs – Dear God please help me!”.
03. You Have Killed Me
The first uptempo track.
A straight on, poppy track with a chorus that just steams of hit potential! An obvious choice for a first single.
“As i live and breathe – You have killed me”
Opens with the line: “Passolini is me” wich he later in the song changes to “Visconti is me”. Strange but quite funny.
He ends it with a crooning “There is no point in saying this again – but I forgive you, I forgive you”.
04. The Youngest Was The Most Loved
The uptempo continues. Could very well be a future single – the chorus once again is really straight to the point, no fuss pop.
In the chorus Moz sings something like “There is no such thing in life as ‘normal’” backed by a chilrens choir. He yoddels quite a bit towards the end kind of in the same way as in the end of Rubber Ring. The track closes abruptly with some distorted strings.
05. In The Future When All’s Well
Starts with a western-movie sort of guitar riff. A midtempo track and Morrissey sings “Living longer than I intended – something must have gone right”.
A nice piano in the background and beautiful “aaaaaah”-backing vocals from the band. A straight on pop track with quite a bit of rock nerve to it. Jesse Tobias even pulls of a distorted guitar solo with lots of feedback towards the end!
06. The Father Who Must Be Killed
Starts with a drum intro. Visconti has added almost a gravelike echo effect to Mozzer's voice. Feels a bit like a b-side, actually. Quite riff heavy towards the chorus and the lyrics are relly straight on and seem a bit... forced and sometimes quite silly. Melody wise the track never really happens and it ends with the drummer having quite a go at the old gong. The low point of the album in my opinion.
07. Life Is A Pigsty
The masterpiece!!!
Starts off with a real heavy rain effect and thunder in the background. Really dramatic. Gets a bit uptempo towards the chorus and Morrissey sings at one point “It’s the same old SOS but with brand new broken fortunes”.
The songs has a kind of acoustic refrain in the same vein as “The edges are no longer parallel” but with quite heavy drums and rain.
The Moz singing on this is... astonishing. He croons, the falsetto is just perfect and the track really sent chills down my spine.
“Every second of my life I live only for you”, he croons and it’s hard to keep the tears away.
A very dramatic and typical Visconti production and maybe a career best from Morrissey.
Think big. Think Widescreen. Think drama.
A brave, brave track in all it’s seven and a half minutes majesty.
08. I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now
A midtempo track kind of in the same vein as Crashing Bores sounded on the 2002 tour (before the studio version went all ballady).
“I’ll never be anybody’s hero now, they who should love me walk right through me”.
The singing is marvellous on this one! A bit of falsetto, a bit of Sinatra croon. Morrissey does his best singing ever on this album actually!
“I am a ghost / And as far as I know / I haven’t even died” is a stand out lyric line.
The chorus is a killer – I was just beaming in my seat because it's so darn good!
“I’ll never be anybody’s hero now – it only hurts because it’s true”.
09. On The Streets I Ran
Starts off quite fumbling but finds it’s way into a nice poppy verse. A fantastic track – quite possibly a single in my book!
Straight on, lightly distorted rock/pop kind of in the same vein as Reader Meet Author. Morrissey sings about how he “turned sickness into popular song” only to change his mind in the last verse where he “turned sickness into unpopular song”. Haha!
The lyrics are amazingly funny. He has a go at the people of Pittsburgh and sings at some stage “if you don’t leave you will kill / or be killed – which isn’t very nice”.
“Take anyone – take the people of Pittsburgh, PA – just spare me”.
10. To Me You Are A Work Of Art
A good midtempo track. Sound a bit Oasis actually. The vocal melody seemed kind of tricky at first but his singing here is just fantastic! Nice strings and a really catchy chorus.
“To me you are a work of art / And I’d give you my heart / That’s if I had one”. Could very well work as a single.
11. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
“Let’s face it – soon I will be dead” sings Morrissey on this really great pop tune. Sounds very much early seventies Bowie meets Oasis “Some Might Say”. Has “single” stamped all over it’s forehead. A great song!
12. At Last I Am Born
Oh dear, the drama isn’t quite over yet. A string heavy, Morricone sounding weird track with some marching band kind of drumming in it. Very peculiar indeed. Has quite a bit of talked lyrics and feels a bit too much like a piece of radio theatre for my taste. Think “Sorrow will come in the end” meets “You know I couldn’t last”. The children are back, singing in the background and Moz croons “I was once a mess because of guilt of the flesh”.
Although we only got to hear it once (and the single twice) it made me feel rally good. Make no mistake about it though: this IS a difficult album and I’m quite sure it will divide the fanbase quite a bit.
As after Vauxhall – a very likeable and popular album – he followed up with the too strange for some people Southpaw Grammar.
I feel as if he’s doing quite the same thing again – following up Quarry with a strange, big, dramatic and often quite strangley sounding Ringleader. It has it’s obvious singles, but it’s a daring, risk taking epic sounding sort of record and I’m sure he will recive quite a lot of flak for it. And quite possibly lose quite a few of the festival going, First of the gang to die-liking younger audience that he gained with Quarry. For this is a dark, dramatic and quite difficult record to get ones head around. It feels very much as a grower, actually. It will take quite a few listens before it “sits” in once heart and mind.
We never got any info on which track was written by whom (and we had to leave the printed out lyric sheets in the room as we left) but I’d say that Jesse Tobias's songwriting isn’t that different from say Alain Whyte's. Maybe it’s a bit poopier (but at the same time a bit harder) but the songs still very much feel as Morrissey songs. So no dramatic departure there.
The guy from Sanctuary also said that a video for “Killed” is being shot in Rome right about now and that the tour dates are being worked on as of now. He couldn’t confirm anything though.
He also said that they have b-side to at least three singles, and it hasn’t really been decided which songs are to be released as singles, but he thought that The Youngest Was The Most Loved and In The Future When All’s Well were good candidates to be picked as singles. “But then again, you never really know with Morrissey”, he smiled.
Too right.
/ Martin Söderström, Stockholm, Sweden.
Whytegrrl might agree: (Score:1, Funny)
(User #36 Info)
thanks for that, Swedish dude. (Score:0)
you seemed to rate a lot of the tracks really highly and then at the end you were expressing serious doubt!
'he's gonna lose half his fans, it's a really difficult album' etc...
J
Be excellent to eachother. (Score:0)
I think it was just too much musical experiment and not enough voice for some. Perhaps a little lacking in lyrics, but a good time nonetheless.
I'm glad he takes chances. I wasn't big into the Quarry because it was so incredibly safe in every way, even when it pretended not to be. I'm not saying I don't like it. A safe Morrissey album is better than most. I guess that's just what he needed at the time. I'm happy to get the Artist back though. Good Art should be risky and will always divide the public opinion.
Man of Vision
Song 2...Why Moz? why? (Score:0)
Re:Song 2...Why Moz? why? (Score:2, Funny)
my life is over.
(User #36 Info)
Parent
Re:Song 2...Get over it! (Score:2, Insightful)
(User #2713 Info)
Parent
Typo... (Score:1)
Seriously, thanks for the insightful comments!!
(User #8735 Info)
The lyrics sound bloody marevellous (Score:0)
I love the idea of experimentation.
Everything bodes wonderfully.
This never 'sounded' so good (Score:0)
I can't wait (Score:1)
I'm frightened of the children's choir, mainly as children singing to me sounds like a flock of seagulls, and not in the bighairpopstars way.
(User #13344 Info)
Perfect (Score:0)
good review (Score:1)
(User #14079 Info)
Question(s) for Martin: (Score:3, Insightful)
On Life is a Pigsty, we're reading that Morrissey's vocal performance is perhaps the best of his career...could you elaborate a bit more on your review of this song, please? For example, on Come Back to Camden played at high volume, his voice has never sounded more crip and full and skilled...are the traits similar on 'Pigsty?
Which of the songs, now obviously locked in the vault of your memory bank, would you go to right now if you could only play one track for someone else?
Compare the first time you heard the entire You Are the Quarry to your first listen to this new album.
I thought "then you lounged with knees up and apart..." was a pretty obvious declaration, with a little ambiguity as he doesn't say, "then he lounged" or "then she lounged..." Are you saying that on this new track there is no more ambiguity, and he is actually specifically saying "He" or "Him" or "His" in reference to some physicality? If so, I have to say I'm a little worried that my fear of Morrissey growing old the same way Oscar Wilde did seems to be coming true. It's actually a bit disappointing because the mystery of his private life added to the universal appeal of his lyrics, for me. I have no experience with "I laid behind him with my legs in between his..." But I do have experience with "I laid behind you with my legs in between yours..." It never used to be important to clarify in the past...in fact, he built his art on not clarifying. It's from this vantage point where I can see how this could start to contribute to "difficult" acceptance of this record. In the past, Morrissey was subtle about geo-politics, now he's actually pointing out specific world events, i.e., war in the Middle East, America not being the world, etc. While using an indirect path to make your statements, you don't time-stamp yourself to an era. Just look at "Ask"..."If it's not love, then it's the bomb that will bring us together..." That was true in 1986, 1886, and will be true in 2086. "America Brought You the Hamburger" and "If the USA doesn't Bomb You" will not do very well when put in the cd player in 2020. It will remind most of his fans of the time "way back when" when it became popular and modern for rock stars to spout their hatred for leaders who admitted to their belief in Jesus. (Sidenote: In 2020, most of the people who, on this site participate in Christianity bashing, will themselves be church-goers who have strong beliefs that they will defend. Then, don't be surprised when the Oscar Wilde comparison plays out with Morrissey embracing The Church later in life...)
On sexuality..."Stretch Out and Wait" has an incredibly diminished effect on the legions of heterosexual fans of Mozzer's had he blatantly stated in the song he was bedding a man/boy. He probably wrote the song with a man/boy in mind...the overwhelming majority of Morrissey's fans cannot believe he is anything other than gay--that's not the point I'm trying to make, though. His fans (me included) don't care, because, c'mon...grow up and worry about something else already! What I'm concerned about, given a few reviews that I've read, is some of the things that added to Morrissey's appeal, and therefore added to his unbelievable talent, are being abandoned. Listening to this brand of Morrissey will be more about admiring his talent and word play while he sings about himself-- versus what listening has been in the past: admiring his talent and word play while he sings about...me/us.
We shall see, we shall see...
Thanks again, Martin...
(User #2326 Info)
Re:Question(s) for Martin: (Score:2, Insightful)
My comments and thoughts have nothing to do with gay or straight or anyone's preference.
Instead, they have everything to do with my personal observation that in 2006, there is nothing suggestive or subtle anywhere in art or pop culture. A movie can't be popular without loads of violence, skin, and explosions. Music can't be sold unless it's "provocative". It's nothing but noise surrounding the shitty output by horrible acts that is considered good in 2006. If you don't blast from the microphone that you're gay and against war, then you just aren't playing by the rules of decent popstar behavior. It's shameful that someone like you, who probably considers yourself a Morrissey fan, has fallen under the spell of this modern phenomenon.
For anyone to read what I wrote and come up with your conclusion can not have been listening to Morrissey and The Smiths for a long time. That's fine, we're not getting into the whole "I've been listening for 18 years so I'm better" crap...
I'm just saying my preference for poetry and art and music and entertainment is for the witty and subtle approach--bordering on the heavily emotional and introspective side of revelation...instead of the "HEY I'M GAY! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, THEN YOU'RE HOMOPHOBIC!!! I'LL DO WHAT I WANT!!! SHOW ME WHERE IT'S WRITTEN THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT!!!! IT'S YOUR JUDGMENTAL NATURE THAT IS WRONG!!!! I HAVE FEELINGS TOO!!!! FUCK YOU AND ALL OF YOUR DAMN RIGHT-WING ASSHOLE GEORGE BUSH LOVING FRIENDS!!! EVERYONE KNOWS YOU ARE ALL JUST REALLY CLOSET GAYS!!!! YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIME!!!! YOU BITCH!!!"
I am hopeful that Morrissey has not strayed from his greatness and look forward to further analysis...and further spankings from you...
"HEY! YOU SAID....! HEY! I KNEW IT!!!!! HE IS!!!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!!"
Moron.
(User #2326 Info)
Parent
just can´t wait!!!!!!! (Score:0)
Pittsburgh! (Score:0)
Just to review: he played here during the TQID tour, but cancelled the last 2 shows.
Don't get me wrong-- he will always be welcomed here.
Wow. (Score:1)
(User #9532 Info)
Handsome Devil - Homosexual or No ??? (Score:0)
Well, I've been thinking about Handsome Devil as I've been noticing women reffered too as handsome more often in books I've been reading lately. I asked myself if any of the lyrics in this song are specifically gay, even though this song is widely recognized as a possible early coming out song of sorts...
He may be telling a young girl that "a boy in the bush is worth 2 in the hand..." All that's implied is that he's saying it to someone. Especially the "Let me get my hands on your Mammory glands"... Isn't that mainly a reference for a womans breasts ? And does Conjugal bed mean marriage ? Was Gay marriage legal or really talked about in 1983 ? Maybe. I'm from Canada. I'm not too ed-ja-ma-cated... Just thinking about it as I await the new album.
Go ahead and prove me right or wrong or fight me strong. I await your blistering attacks with great anticipation !!
Man of Vision
Bring on Another Southpaw (Score:0)
Explicit songs lead to a rounding of character (Score:1)
One song about loving the guys does not make him gay after all. He obviously has a great respect for women as shown by his deep rooted, strong relationship with his mother and his love of feminist literature in his youth.
If we are worried that declaring sexual attraction for men will ruin his career then we are way too late. He declared such leanings in the dawning days of the Smiths quite clearly for anyone who was listening. And to some extent this is the natural position of the artistic temperament, if you can lay in the bath for hours composing lyrics you have the nouse to wonder what it would be like to sleep with someone of the same sex and wonder if you would enjoy it. Is it just that we are little prudish? sceptical or squeamish about some one we respect talking about sex. I was talking to my fellow Mozza fan at work the other day and he declared that asking Morrissey about his sex life was tantamount to knowing what your parents got up to in bed or, worst, asking God. While I don't think M is deity material, people's affections are fickle and, personally, as a female fan, this song which everyone is agonising over doesn't make me lust after him or love him any the less, quite the opposite because he isn't saying, "look guys, I'm gay, you girls don't have a chance." There's still room for him in my imagination. He is simply saying, look guys, I'm sexual.
And, finally, let's face it, this guy has more ******* credibility and talent than George Michael had or ever has had so let's keep those comparisons realistic much as I appreciate GM's limited musical contribution.
I'm just frankly pleased that there is something earthy in the album, something more than ambiguous ethereal, skirting around the issue talk, because I do want to know what he really feels.
(User #13384 Info)
Yes, he pulled, Martin: (Score:0)
(That said, sexual intercourse with God must be quite something. That must be worth writing, something like, I dunno, a really long journal entry. And I was thinking just the other day, "it's such a shame that Morrissey doesn't have a journal on Msolow"...)
Anyway; yes: Morrissey: one point/ Sweden: must try harder, but don't give up.
Your friend,
Peter Hooker (biggest Morrissey fan in Malmö).
Gayness is nice, but gaynes can stop you from doin (Score:0)
I found the review kind of odd. He raves about the album then goes on to say that Morrissey fans are going to be divided. Need to read more reviews.
(User #10818 Info)
interesting (Score:1)
“then he notions to me with his hand on my knee – Dear God, did this kind of thing ever happen to you?”
(User #1665 Info | http://www.cherryplucker.com/)
pittsburgh (Score:0)
you canceled on them the last two times
you were supposed to play there but it wasn't
because of the people of pittsburgh. they never
did anything to hurt you. in fact i'm sure they would
still like to see you play a show there on your next tour.
maybe pittsburgh reminds you of manchester but so what?
hopefully, this review is actually a hoax,
because it makes the album sound really lame.
Here is your answer (Score:0)
"Will you send me some pornography? Do you HAVE a girlfriend? Do you LIKE girls? I have a girlfriend called Annalisa. We're both bisexual. Real hip, huh? I hate sex."
Yes, dear friends, that is our beloved hero speaking. Could that Annalisa perhaps be the background vocalist on Pretty Girls Make Graves? Hrm...
Also, Morrissey makes it known in a little ditty he composed titled "I Can Have Both"...we all know what THAT means!
So PLEASE stop talking about this - we've known the answer for YEARS - it's writ in the songs we love!!
xoxo
To the naive, and jilted (Score:0)
Whether it be intense sexuality, or a low libido, such variations on sexual identity influence art greatly. So, it's a relevant topic.
No (Score:0)
Personally, Morrissey is beginning to sound as repetetive, and self-absorbed as ever.
He once mentioned that the greatest problem with pop stars is that they are obsessed with using "I" in their songs, which makes them sound self-absorbed, and difficult to relate to.
Apparently Morrissey has been doing just that over the past two albums, which unsurprisingly makes the songs sound whiney, and difficult to relate to. We don't need another song about the court case, or how everyday is difficult for you, or how you beat the odds by remianing alive, or how the world is out to get you, and so on and so on, ad nauseum. It sounds like he's parodying himself.
The problem with this forum is that there is very little intellectual critique. People are either overtly bitter, or they are childishly defensive of Morrissey. The man who just took a healthy shit on his fanbase in Pittsburgh, as if they were the ones who flaked out on him twice in a row, with no concern shown for making up those dates. In Morrissey's world, this is acceptable, and even empowering. In a mature world, it's just pathetic. Of course, his fans will continue to support him like the sad, co-dependent spouses that many of them are.
Also, do we need another shitty political rant from a man who knows very little about politics in general? Stick with what you know. This vanity political crooning is just embarassing. Morrrissey has totally lost touch.
Thankfully The Smiths stayed away from overt politics for the most part. The Queen is Dead was mostly humorous, but Meat Is Murder is one of the worst Smith songs both musically and, most certainly lyrically. It has that cringe-inducing quality that makes you lower the volume immediately.
Anyway, many of you are setting yourself up for disappointment, or at the very least, delusion.
Is Jessie Renting His Own Bus?! (Score:1)
I've been described as "poopier" but it had nothing to do with my guitar playing.
signed,
Dave Matthews
Thanks Martin, you have provided a much more in-depth review than we have read so far. I have to admit, it's getting to me. We are still two months away from the release, and i'm sure all you clones are feeling the buzz as well. Not sure why he would "have a go" at the people of Pittsburgh. I mean, is there some kind of huge slaughterhouse there or something? Might he be confusing them with the people of Philadelphia and their beloved Cheese Steak? Belvedere had no problems living in Pittsburgh did he?
(User #720 Info | http://www.jimrome.com/)
Oh no! A rock album! (Score:0)
You all make me sick! (Score:0)
Abou the sex thing,,, come on STUPID MORONS!!!!! He´s been singing about gayness since his first single with The Smiths. That he is making it more obvious now is very natural. I am happy he is doing that. He deserves to know the flavors of sex and all the good things a relationship can bring to a person.
relax, have fun...
When you write offensive things about Morrissey it´s like you know you are ugly to the point of no-one wanting you. The problem is that Morrissey IS not ugly and he can actually be loved.If that does not happen to you, let it happen to other people, even if this person is the one who supported you all the way through your I-am-ugky-Nobody-can-like-me existence. He´s definetely gone over that....
You should do the same...
I am gay, happy, good-looking, intelligent, and couldn´t be any happier with this new album.
And yes!!! I don´t wanna know of this site any longer.It makes me hate you.
Read all about it! (Score:0)
Thank You, Martin. (Score:1)
That is some powerful art, and one powerful artist.
Thank goodness you're still around, Moz
(User #14203 Info)
This CD sounds like terrific fun! (Score:0)
i am particularly intrigued by all the favorable comments about MOZ's singing on this one too! it sounds like he really pushed it, which is exciting!
i love the wide expanse of SOUTHPAW. sounds like this is up that alley. YAY!
And your predjudice won`t keep you warm tonight (Score:1, Insightful)
(User #2713 Info)
Thank You Martin (Score:1)
I can't wait to hear it for myself
(User #4932 Info)
Never be Anybody’s Hero Now? (Score:1)
I’m just back from Manchester where there’s a strong sense of civic pride, in a city renowned for its inventiveness, vision and creative assertiveness. For those worried about tickets, the Lowry booking office confirmed Morrissey’s show but by yesterday weren't yet in a position to open sales. The “Morrissey’s Manchester” book is also available in the shop there. I found out Longsford Park and sang a few lines of EDILS and IBEH to exorcise the cc evil, though the only torture we came across there was the closure of WCs due to vandalisation! We also stumbled upon King’s Road, and, in Salford, clapped eyes on the Lad’s Club, which looks rather deserted, and not near much, but at least the closest pub “The Wellington” – drab but welcoming – had The Smiths playing on the radio. Stephen Fretwell headlined the Ritz, supported by promising “Morning Runner”. There’s a nice buzz in the city and the transport system is very good, especially the metro trams,. We ate very well at veggie-friendly “Velvet” on Canal Street which also seems like the zestful gay quarters. There’s plenty to see and do; art galleries, shops, Old Trafford etc.
I was impressed by previous visits to Stirling and Edinburgh too: I'm sure all the towns chosen have their own attractions. The trickles of concert date information build suspense; where next?! Ireland please? This generously full preview of ROTT satisfies and tantalizes. I wouldn’t be surprised if the film world come knocking on the door for some of this stirring stuff. So far, and indeed like many previous Smiths/Morrissey compositions, it’s like Joyce gloated about Ulysses: “I’ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries over what I meant!”
(User #12673 Info)
"Morrissey dupes school children into singing gay (Score:0)
This is a made-up tabloid report headline but is it really so unrealistic? Has Moz overstepped the mark? According to this month's Mojo, Morricone did not understand the lyrical implications of the song 'Dear God, please help me' as he is a non-english speaker. Visconti explained that Morricone had misjudged the mood of the song through not understanding the explicit lyrics and Visconti had to embellish Morricone's work to make it suitable to the lyrical tone.
Is it not pretty obvious that the Italian school children's choir would also therefore not have understood what they were contributing to?
Of course the issue should not be that it is about gay sex but that it is an explicitly sexual song that children singing in another language would not have understood. Have they been exploited? Has Moz overstepped the line this time?
Let's all have a heated debate!
On The Streets I Ran... (Score:1)
If you did, what's your take on how different it was to the final track?
If you didn't, I can email it to you.
Cheers
(User #80 Info)
sceptical about early "reviews" (Score:0)
If there are a few "Teachers" "Maudlins" or "Maladjusteds" on this record, in among the gentler and poppier stuff, I will be very happy indeed!
For the record, I don't think Southpaw Grammar is a bad record - it's actually quite exciting and interesting in places; the main problem with SG was the simple fact it only had 8 songs - meaning the filler really made a difference. Most albums have 3 or 4 songs you aren't going to love, or possibly even like - so when it's only 8 songs long, it makes the remaining 4 or 5 songs seem insubstantial.
These are exciting times to be a Morrissey fan.
broken
Pas(s)olini? (Score:1)
“Pier Paolo Pasolini
POET, WRITER, THINKER
Pasolini is not known only as a film maker. A prominent poet, writer and thinker who made his first feature film at the age of 40, he had previously written or co-written dialogue for several films, among them Fellini’s “Cabirian Nights” and Bertolucci’s “La Commare Secca”.
His directorial debut is the beautifully shot and simply directed “Accattone” that tells the story of a young man trying to make some kind of living among the low-lifes of Rome. Based on Pasolini’s own novel, the film is characterised by mesmerising black and white photography and beautiful images inspired by various Renaissance paintings. With this work and subsequent works he immediately attracted the attention of the Church and the State. His third project “La Ricotta”, a medium-length film about a film-crew filming “Christ’s Crucifixion” was banned, and Pasolini was tried because of it.
His outspokenness and unconventional beliefs were always guaranteed to cause a reaction of some kind. However, he persisted in his own strong and recognisable style and some real masterpieces of cinematography followed: “The Passion According to St Matthew”, filmed in the beautiful landscapes of the Middle East, ”Uccellacci e Uccellini”, a comedy with Toto set in 60’s Italy, when Marxism and the Church were binary opposites, and his films based on Greek mythology – “Oedipus Rex” and “Medea”.
Towards the end of his fruitful career in cinema, he completed his unofficial trilogy based on the Arabian Nights, The Decameron of Boccaccio and the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. His last film before being brutally murdered in mysterious circumstances – a crime which remains unsolved to this day - was based on de Sade’s “Salo” and he portrays the brutality and masochism of the upper classes and the aristocracy. Dismissed by many as a completely awful and unwatchable film, it is nevertheless worth seeing.
Thanks to Filmworld UK for the above information.”
(User #12673 Info)
Beer is pretty good (Score:0)
Beer is pretty good!
No One Knows the Truth. OR the Real Lyrics. (Score:0)
No one has bothered to question the reliability of the lyrics reported! He only heard them once, for god's sake!
Let's hear the album ourselves before we start making assumptions.
Moz not might be saying 'he' at all - he might be saying 'you'
This is a swede we're talking about here
Fuck Morrisey (Score:0)
Thank you so much! (Score:1)
(User #14522 Info)
Underbart! (Score:0)