So Boz hasn;t talked to Moz in 6 mos yet Morrissey claims the new album was ready to go? Very interesting- perhaps Moz finally found some new collaborators (I hope) but didn't bother to tell Boz? It really wouldn't surprise me. The man is not one for loyalty.

This whole thing is very disenchanting.

This whole record deal situation is, as the poster above says, disenchanting, but even more dispiriting is the reality of the co-writing situation.

Boz has written some songs that are ready for Morrissey - made to order, if you like. But then you read further down the main page and you see him referring to the new album as "more of the same". Thoroughly dispiriting for those of us who found Quarry rather average, and even for those who liked Quarry but know Moz needs to try something new after two albums on the trot harnessing a similar approach.

I think it's becoming evident that Boz is the sole co-writer now. He's certainly talking that way, with no mention of Alain. If you look back at the history of Morrissey albums, the most melodic songs were usually Alain's. Indeed, Alain always wrote more songs on each album. Now, 'Gang' aside, I thought that Quarry was an average effort, and 'Maladjusted' even worse, so I'm not saying that Alain's recent songwriting has been perfect - far from it. But some of the most glorious moments of M's solo career are his ('Boxers', 'Nobody Loves Us', much of the brilliant 'Vauxhall' and 'Arsenal' albums). Now, I'm well aware that Boz has some brilliant songs too - 'Now My Heart', 'Speedway', the ever-fantastic 'Jack The Ripper'. The problem is that I've found his recent contributions to M's canon decidedly lacking - most recently, 'Noise', an utterly uninspired dirge if ever there was one. 'Crashing Bores' too has a terrible backing track - seriously mundane, if you strip away Morrissey's vocals.

As I see it, one of two things can now happen:

a) Boz comes up with the goods. He writes an album's worth of 'Rippers' and 'Speedways'. It is a harder edged album than Quarry (Boz's songs tend to be harder) and the right producer emphasises this and we get a great album.

b) Boz isn't up to the task of filling a whole album - he comes up with one, maybe two, good tunes, and the rest are dirges along the lines of his recent work. Unfortunately, his "more of the same" comment hardly fills you with the feeling that he's truly excited about his work, or that he's pushing the barriers to create something new and interesting for Morrissey.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's clear that the new album is going to be Morrissey/Boorer, and it seems to me that there's little chance of any musical progression from Boz's comments.

We may be in for a letdown.

We'll never find out what really happened with IOW and I think it is rather odd that Moz would not bother communicate with his own musicians at all for months, they're obviously not friends as such. If he doesn't speak to his musicians, he probably doesn't return calls from his record company either hence the IOW fiasco.So Moz is not signed to Sanctuary anymore but Boz is (he has just signed a deal with them) how is this going to work?. And by the way we absolutely don't need another YATQ album. It's about time Moz writes songs himself or alternatively he should just change his band altogether. I think he has a very lazy approach to music.

Yo!
Very interesting indeed....Mr Moz got a new album - all in hand and ready - without Boz or Alain. It's getting really exciting....
New label, new collaborator(s), new album.
Somebody must know something about all this.
Please keep us posted.
I love the man he'll always surprise me.

Early in Nico's career, she relied on others (mostly friends and lovers) to write songs for her. She'd supply the lyrics and melody and that's it (not to scoff at that contribution, though).

Although she had no experience with musical instruments, she began writing songs on a mellotron (http://www.rockprojekt.de/Keyboards/Images/mellot ron.jpg) and developing her own sound. While she did continue to collaborate with other acclaimed musicians and producers, she no longer needed someone else to get the ball rolling.

Morrissey certainly adores and admires Nico, he should take a cue from her. How interesting would it be to hear him write his own music? Nico's own songs were much darker and less poppy than on her first record, I wonder if Morrissey would be the same?

He could also really use a new producer, someone with balls, someone who thinks "outside the box". Makes you wonder what an Eno-Morrissey record or a Cale-Morrissey record would sound like...

Boz is a very talented musician.He is capable of greatness.After all he wrote One of Morrissey`s most successful singles"The more you ignore me the closer I get.And about the new album I`m sure it will be great.After all Morrissey knows what he`s doing.

Regarding the above comment, am I the only one that could care less about J Marr coming back from the dead? I mean, I will always, always be enamoured with The Smiths, but it's 2005 ffs......

Boz's interviews, like his web site's tour diary, have always been superficial and don't answer or give insight into anything. Is this a rule when you're in Morrissey's band?

could this mean waiting another seven years.

(As for the Marr comment Boom Slang was great, none of the current Brit bands Keane, Franz, etc. etc. have created any new ground breaking sounds that would make me think Marr couldn't easily smash the competition.)
If Hatfull of Hollow came out today instead of then I think it would have done as well as if not better than many of the new bands.

One you know and dont like
The other one you dont know
And you dont want to

Well at least he was honest

Everyone knows really that You Are The Quarry was inferior to most of his solo output. It received a massive amount of promotion, much much more than any previous solo (or Smiths) work ever did in the past. And omnly because of that, it was his most commercial release to date.

YEt, artistically, his decline seems sharp. Of course he will always come up with a great tune or two. But, please Morrissey, you were always so special to end up like a parody of yourself, like the likes of Bowie, the Stones, Pink Floys, all those fat old ones who don't want to concede defeat and retire gracefully...

You were so different, you had to say no

Well I saw him having drinks with Jesse T. and Mikey just last week in LA. He may not be in touch with Boz because of geographical differences. He's known to not be much of a phone person. And besides, Boz is busy with his side project and family. Makes sense to me...

Just watching the Hacienda gig - I know this is a bit offtopic, but, it made me feel a bit sad.
Moz, what's happened to you? Where's that guy from Manchester?
A proper statement is in order.

I can't help but think a Moz - Tim Booth collaboration would be really cool.

I know some of you aren't exactly bright, but if you actually re-read what Boz said I think you may realise he didn't say the album would SOUND the same as Quarry. He was asked this question:

  You Are The Quarry was amazingly successful, what do we hope to see from the new album..?

And he replied:
BB: "Erm ........... more of the same I think is the right answer"

In other words, another "amazingly successful album."

Why don't people read what is said?

broken

Dear David:

I'd sure like to see stories posted without commentary attached to the story (unless the commentary *is* the story).

I know sometimes I submit stories with extra comments, but it's because that part is for the addressee of my submission (you), and not necessarily for the post itself.

Thanks,

Alainsane

I just bought "Louder than Bombs" in CD, and I am sitting here, listening to it, and remembering when things were much more simpler back when this album came out... It was just me, my bedroom, the vinil turning and Morrissey's ethereal voice. Nowadays, there's the internet, with all this gibberish around music, which is not at all about music, Morrissey's bones and buns have been filled, and mine too; he's a sexy middle-age man, and his shyness, together with mine, and that helpless candidness that overtook him (and me) in the eighties, is gone... I am an assertive person who cares less and less about what the world thinks, because I made my niche too in this crazy world. Is this a good thing, or a bad one? I don't know... But the initial flight is always the most painful but the most unforgettable one... It is interesting to see how not only time, but technological ways to "hyperventilate" internernet users with pointless information can leave candidness without any room to breathe...I think that is why Morrissey sometimes runs away into retreat again - so he won't loose himself from his self. Not that he means to be egotistical, or unfriendly. There is just too much yapping, specially cyber yapping going around - much more than when "Louder than bombs" exploded. Morrissey, I will be waiting for your next album. But take your time. We ain't going to the nursing home yet...

Love,
Mrs. Woolf

I've always been under the impression that while Boz is super-proud of his collaboration with Morrissey, he's completely satisfied and excited by his other countless partnerships and his legendary status in the rockabilly world. Morrissey is certainly the highest profile work he's ever had, and I hope they keep working together, but Boz will keep rockin' whether it's to crowds of 20 or 20,000.

Alain, on the other hand, contributed a lot more tracks to the Morrissey canon and is not as active in outside collaborations (although there is his new band now). I'm under the impression that his illness was psychosomatic, caused by the pressures of The World of Morrissey. Was it about money, or credit, or the future, or...?

Happy to hear different (intelligent) opinions about all of this.

the new co-writer IS jesse

Voice: Morrissey
Guitars: Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead - along with Boz
Bass: Day
Drums: Deano
Production: Brian Eno

He should go for a heavier glammy sound like Daddy's Voice, and a few experimental-type songs a la "Teachers" and perhaps take a few tips from Roxy Music and Nico.

broken

I can't believe the speculation that goes on on this site!

You want the ACTUAL line up for the next album?

Vocals/Lyrics Morrissey
Guitars Boz Boorer/Jesse Tobias
Bass Gary Day
Drums Dean Butterworth
Production Jerry Finn.

That really is IT folks. There's no great chance afoot. Just a minor one (Alain out, Jesse in).

While I cannot specualte much on the new line up,I feel Boz's comments are definetly leaning towards the next alblum being as good if not better than Quarry.

I felt the best songs to come out of the Quarry Sessions were:

No one can hold a candle (even if it's a cover)
NPS
Teenage Dad on His Estate
My life is a """"
FOTGTD

Sounds similiar to this would set the next alblum up fine in my opinion. The Moz's voice is becoming suitably well-fitted for Ballads, Crooner's beware. Yet he can still mix it up like his younger counterparts and go back to his canon of sounds (vocally) from the Smiths.

BeeWee~

written by Morrissey and Tobias:

1 Hand in my Puppet
2 Sardonic (don't ya think?)
3 All I Really Wanted
4 Not Forgiven
5 You Ought To Die
6 Head Over Feat
7 Queen of Pain
8 No Pressure Over Light Ale

Alain White has written some of the most beautiful songs that Morrissey's ever done. Why is he out? Did he step on Morrisseys insane ego? Did he ask for hes rights. Did he eat a hamburger? Or was he just sick? Has Morrissey the ego ever told us what happened to Alain, if he will be back?

My guess is that Morrissey is a genius but an unreliable son of a b to work with.

off subject but found a website in french http://mozfan.free.fr/home.html
  moz's old house in bowden road,is it morrisseys mother in the last pic or just a friend or neighbour?
It seems rare ive not ever seen a pic of moz with his mum

In '82 I heard Hand in Glove and since then it has always been the Smiths (or later Moz solo) for me. I saw the Smiths in '86 and Moz a few times live. No artist had such an impact and it seemed that it would never happen again. After all, I literally tossed out all my records because nothing was worth listening to except the Smiths. Enter Keane. I was dumbstruck when I first heard "Somewhere only we know" and the Hopes and Fears CD hasn't left my stereo. I saw them last week in Montreal and that sealed it for me. If Moz never puts out another record, then I will fondly remember the past and look forward to what Keane will be up to next. As for Boz...let it be said that he is THE classiest guy in the music biz. Back in the mid '90s, I actually wrote him emails asking for recommendations on setting up my own home studio and on rockabilly artists to listen to. He answered every single email. In the final analysis, Boz wrote some of the bext songs in Moz's repertoire...in my opinion, Ammunition, I can have both are some of the very best. This is not to take away anything from Alain who has been a trooper from day one. But, good things never last.

And I didn't hear anything about Boz not having seen Moz for 6 months. What I thought he said was that Moz hadn't been contracted to Sanctuary for 6 months, but that they were still writing in preparation for the next album.

I can't get the BBC radio player to work at the moment, but if someone cares to go to www.bbc.co.uk/6music and navigate for the relevant part of Steve Lamacq's show, you'll be able to hear for yourselves.

I'd take Maladjusted over You Are The Quarry any and every day.

Alain has been writing for the next album - FACT! Whether it gets used or not remains to be seen.

You lie. But I hope you're right!

Please don't post things like this about Johnny Marr! For some of us (ie me) that event would be an utter dream come true, so whenever I see such a post, though I know it's lies, a tingle of excitement inevitably flows. And then there's the comedown seconds later, when I accept it's not true. The Johnny Marr rumour is always the cruellest!

You are so boring.

But I suppose some idiots will get their knickers in a twist about this. The numbskulls on here normally do.

I heard this the other day. Good God, I hope it's true. Lord knows, I've heard so many rumours before, and posted them here, and been shown up to be a fool by passing on erroneous information. In this case, I heard it from someone who was sure they meant every word. Doesn't mean it's true, but we can hope...

Sk.

Sorry, no way in hell Marr plays with a hack bass player like Gary. Johnny's much too good a musician for that...

It would certainly make it easier for Morrissey to sign a new record deal if this was true.

Ya, right. The only one that would actually survive to work with Marr would be Dean & Mike.
It will not happen anyhow and even if it did it will never be the 80's again.
Glad I saw The Smiths. A glorious time.
You all remind of 80's hippies 20 years too late
and missing the present. Dude I wish Zeppelin would find a new drummer and play again. Got your tickets for Styx yet ?

i didn't know that you can give moderation points for wishful thinking!

who's mickey farrell? (*scoffs*)
Were you speaking of mikey? Oh, ok.
Yes, let's give a rumour credibility, ESPECIALLY when the poster can't even get the names of the majors right. (At least we weren't subjected to the oft-mispelt 'Morrisey' - small favors and all that)

ozo

A new album of M&M would be beyond my dreams. And a tour with old and new tunes???

I'll swim across the pond to see Moz sing "Well I Wonder" with Johnny on guitar.

Not one for rumours generally but don't reject this one out of hand.

I don't believe that Mr Anonymous has any insider knowledge or that these details in the original post have been as ironed out as suggested but it could be that a grain of truth has been stumbled across.

The only facts we know are that Morrissey is no longer with Sanctuary & he is not playing Isle of Wight. If we choose to believe what has been said by individuals then we know that Morrissey still regards Deano as part of his band, he is planning a new album and that Boz says he hasn't spoken to him for 6 months. Thats all.

If all this is true (a big IF, its Morrissey afterall) it suggests that Morrissey is planning an album, possibly without Boz on guitar but with Deano on drums. Therefore, a new guitarist.

As regards Marr, its generally assumed they are in contact and neither has ever COMPLETELY dismissed the possibility of working with each other in some capacity again.

I don't think Morrissey would want to be seen to be using The Smiths to revive his flagging career and he is at a place now where he has had some massive commercial success so could easily carry on as he is, and so a reunion with Marr would be just because he wants to rather than to make a quick buck.

The Sanctuary deal was considered fantastic last year, now it is dead. Why has it not been renewed? Maybe because Morrissey is not looking for a solo deal but rather Morrissey/Marr are looking for a deal? Any Morrissey/Marr collaboration would not be released under the name Morrisey.

Thoughts and theories all. It'll probably just be same old same old for the new album but worth a thought anyway.

I heard the news from a VERY reliable and close source that Morrissey and Marr were going to collaborate again a few months ago. I posted this news in the forums of this site.
Marr has possibly been inspired by the successful reunion of Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler. Butler is one of Johnny's best friends....
It looks like its really going to happen... :-)