i like the font, but this is too gimmicky. the tommy gun was pushing it as far as props go. i'm hoping this is just a mock-up for online cd outlets until the real cover art comes in...

that is unless he plays violin on the lp.

Served me at the Vouve Le Headbanger last jizz whoops!

i was hoping for this after seeing the poster last week!

I advocate it wholly.
Entirely appropriate outrageousness.

really funny.

That is such a great picture! I am really excited to see the single as well!

The photo that Guillaume Métayer posted was beautiful. Very late Smith - Strangeways - or Vauxhall era. It's an absolutely beautiful photo of Moz on a Vespa. It should have been the cover for ROTT.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/ZooPoo/Ring leaderVespa.jpg

http://www.morrissey-solo.com/article.pl?sid=06/01 /06/1554230

You read my mind - again.

Sorry, but I simply cannot resist making the connexion of ROTT being recorded in Rome along with this cover of him playing a violin. According to legend, Nero played said instrument whilst Rome burned.

There's a joke in here somewhere, lol! :D

Although Nero did consider himself a musician, mostly on the Lyre, it is impossible that Nero "fiddled" while Rome burned, as most people have come to think of it - the violin wasn't invented until about 15 centuries later. In fact, the legend that Nero "fiddled" while Rome burned itself began centuries after Nero's time, in referring to how Nero fiddled away his time on frivolous pursuits. As a noun, "fiddle" came to refer to a violin, but as a verb, "fiddle" originally meant either to avoid one's responsibilities, or to commit fraud. The verb form of fiddle was what was originally meant about what Nero was doing when the great fire of Rome began; it later came to mean that he was playing the violin, which wasn't even invented in his time. Rest of article [keyway.ca]

More trivia: In certain parts of Manchester (and other surrounding northern areas?), the verb "fiddle" is used quite liberally to describe one doing some work on the side unbeknownst to the tax-man!

but not by much.

He is getting quite weird isn't he?

This is too bad - I actually prefer the sleeves to Southpaw and Maladjusted than this & Quarry.

But Moz says those sleeves were horrible....how funny.

...So spaketh Emperor Nero; supposedly his modest last words.

Fiddling About! [atrium-media.com]

Too bad about the font, though, specifically its color.

Whomever is in charge of the graphic design for the last oh, 7 or 10 albums and singles should be SHOT.

The image for the Earl's Court live album was HORRENDOUS at best.

i don't really care what the cover looks like. it could be a picture of shit on a stick for all i care. i just wanna hear the damn album already!

i just shat my pants.

This cover is sophisticated, classy, handsome... and melodramatic! Just look at the track list for ROTT:

1. I Will See You In Far Off Places
2. Dear God Please Help Me
3. You Have Killed Me
4. The Youngest Was The Most Loved
5. In The Future When All's Well
6. The Father Who Must Be Killed
7. Life In A Pigsty
8. I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now
9. On The Streets I Ran
10. To Me You Are A Work Of Art
11. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
12. At Last I Am Born

These titles are over the top--screaming tradgedy and pain! OK, maybe that was a little melodramatic. But isn't that exactly what the violin symbolizes?!

Melodrama: "when the writer is taking themselves or the subject matter too seriously--trying to force extra drama into a situation in a desperate kind of attempt to get the reader or audience to ‘feel’ for the characters. ...the sound of violins in the background... have become a cliche to signal drama... ."

source [rukhsanakhan.com]

It is fittingly perfect!!!

With all those rome streets, buildings, small bikes everywhere, people looking at you funny, this is the cover?... well never mind -just come back to eugene soon.

-teddy bear band-aid cover shot fan

 

Crikey. Who the FUCK let this go out the door? Another BAD ORDINARY CHEAP SHITE FONT slathered in two minutes on a CRAP PHOTO! Anyone on this fuckin board could do better in 15 minutes with the free software they got with their scanner.
DISGRACEFUL....
And this from a man who designed some of the most iconic sleeves during TWO decades! What the Fuck happened to his taste?

The cover is THE BEST!

The cover art- when presented with the title of the album- is ironic, clever, intriguiging, and dramatic.

What could the concept be? Conflict, victimization, and survival are themes that come to mind.

What would you say if Morrissey actually made it to the Grammys or some other award show? Would we even want that to happen in the first place?

Love always,
Ken Stavitzke

I think it's a great cover - very stylish, irnoic and so unexpected, clearly signalling a change of direction and life for our dear Morrissey. I'm glad to see that he agrees that the cover for Maladjusted was dreadful, and the tongue-in-cheek covers of Quarry and this one are a definite improvement.

The only thing I don't quite understand is how this ties in with the title, "Ringleader of the tormentors". The title and the picture seem to clash somehow, which doesn't quite make sense. But of course, maybe that's the point. Or is there a link I haven't spotted?

I can't see it...

Stunning.

I am happy he's moving away from the gay angst, boxing gangster image. This is much better.

I think this cover is super fantastic!
Though, I wonder why most of the coverart is black these days. Definitely for commercial (copy/print) reasons! We had that with the latest Strokes and (C)oldplay albums aswell.

But where's the Cat ?

Not in the bag, I hope.

...it's been changed for a photo of Moz, at least for now. I liked it, hopefully it'll come back up.

...for what it's worth, I'm 99% sure this is not the cover of ROTT. It's just a mock up, produced for no other reason than the absence of the real thing. Don't you think it's worth pointing out that thousands of us probably went on that site to have a look? A very good marketing ploy on the website's part methinks! New album cover?? Ooh let's all rush there and have a look!!! Abracadabra, lots of pre orders on that site!
Or am I being cynical?

TT

Regardless of what one thinks of the actual photo (personally I reckon it looks fine, much better than YATQ) I think there is a kind of ironic tie-in to the title.

Ringleader of the Tormenters kinda implies a sort of simmering ultra violence. And yet what do you get when when you look at the cover?

A kind of beatific serenity, Moz instrument in hand about to make beautiful music.

I think it ties in perfectly with Moz's whole outlook on art. I've always believed he's gravitated to art that is both violent and yet poetic and fragile.

Think of "the Queen is Dead" where Moz sings about some reasonably violent and revolutionary ideas to amped up music and yet........there's great poetry in that song.

Maybe I'm extrapilating the point out a little but that's what I see in the album cover. A sense of violence in the title combined with an image of beatific serenity.

Oh Moz you're such a ironic wag!

I've always cringed at artists that strike silly poses for their album album covers.(ie. On Will Youngs' last album he decided to dress up as a US army pilot - as if!) And now this - i stated last week that it was bad, and was one of the few that did.
If the new album, as previews put it show a 'happy Moz' then the picture being used for the UK tour poster would be better as it has a warmer feel.

...been thinking about this one...and I like it!

By the way, is there ANY artist in the world who is held up to such analytical scrutiny as Moz? Every lyric is dissected, every facial expression discussed. I'd have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. That I do anyway is besides the point...

i think it's a beautiful picture, contrasting with "the violence conveyed by the title, it's also funny, there is something noel coward-esque in there, tragedy, comedy, irony etc...I thought it was great to use it as the tour ad pic but whether that should be used as the front cover for the album is another story. I don't think it's a mock up, i think this is it!

...this artwork is a real piece of shit. Moz is now so mainstream that he's using the same marketing devices as Elton John. I'm asd, very sad, and really afraid of what this LP will sound like.

The same picture is used on play.com, but they also list a version with a bonus DVD of the first single.

I don't know why, but with the lighting, the slightly camp theatricality and mannered pose, it does have a certain Nomi quality too it.
I don't know if it is the Visconti influence, but it somehow has that Bowie in Berlin feel; shades of Weimar Germany and Sally Bowles.
Drop that font though.

I loved Quarry's sleeve art and this one is just as amusing.

broken

I think it's fantastic..... so serene, so beautiful... and yet, he's the Ringleader of the Tormentors.......

he will torment you with his violin playing, perhaps..... :)

but I wonder how many people will pick this up thinking it's a classical music cd?
my mom would, for one, I'm sure.... her and her friends are all in love with Andre Rieu......

That reminds me: Valentine's day soon. Will need to organise romantic meal

The font is a great choice!!!. Is called "Dalliance", and is designed by Frank Heine in 2000, the inspiration came from an early 19th century hand lettering specimen.

...truly GORGEOUS!!!

Moz i am yours forever.

which was hideous.

Live Earl's Court was also atrocious.

BUT - Vauxhall, Arsenal and Southpaw all have better covers than this, by far.

He should dispense with using his photo and return to the old monochrome stills. It would look much better.

Do you think that's really what the cover will look like? Somehow I have my doubts.

This must be a Joey Ramone/Ramones tribute from an old fan.

From a designer perspective, this cover is decent. I like how it uses space well, it isn't clustered at all and has one base image for the power. Also, I've seen complaints about the type, but how can this be said when compared to Quarry's? I didn't MIND Quarry's photographs too much, but the typesetting was diabolical on a legendary scale. Decent.

When I first looked at this I said, "what is Morrissey doing on a Jethro Tull album cover"? I actually LOVE IT!

...the classic department? (true story by the way)

So, another ton of comments of little consequence....but some interesting musings !

Reminds me of The Queen Is Dead a bit. I am stoned.

Hope he does it on the new tour, the title track that is. 20yrs of TQID and all that!

Oh well looking forward to my doctors appointment tomorrow am!

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous
Can't wait to hear the album

Yep.....that's our man....both being "on the fiddle" (Mike, did you ever sort out that Smiths contract business successfully?.....no?) and "having a fiddle"....on his own.

Your Arsenal

Sheridan

does he mean to torment us with his violin playing?

Very Morrissey. Not as good as the YATQ cover but still good. I smell a #1 album (UK)!
thetexasbloke