He's a bit handsy with the Johnny statue though, no?

... That lots of people are going to slag this off.

So I'm gonna get in early doors and say how much I like it. The colours are good and rich, it's quite funny in a way, it's irreverent, Moz looks good (yeah, he's been brushed up but so what?) and the typography is strangely suited.

Best sleeve since... Well since the last one. I liked 'Paris' and 'Refusal' too.

Anyone who wants to take a blowtorch to this should think back to 'First Of The Gang To Die' and a sleeve so bad that I honestly think it stopped it from getting to No.1.

All in all.... good.

Dee Dee Ramone!!

Great cover. Great single. Shame about the extra tracks!

There must be an hidden message there.

Has the well run dry?

Thank God, a relatively gentle retouching. He looks very sexy and relaxed.

Don't know what's up with the live b-sides. I suspect something like the forum speculation that J. Finn was meant to record them later; I wonder also if Polydor doesn't have faith in his new writing, since these are Smiths songs. If so, how stupid do they think people are?

I really like this song a lot, I wanted it to be the lead off single. I hope it does well and gets the airplay it deserves, knowing the radio stations it flipping won't!

taken after his amazing weight loss I bet. No need for touch up, unless it's off screen :)

The statue looks like Andy Rourke

These B-sides are a *joke*.

C'mon Morrissey: Quality Control please! These aren't very good...

Morrissey definitely knows how to do a shoot. Killer sleeve. RIP Johnny and Viva Moz for honoring the Ramones!!

What are the sales to date to get a Gold record?
Gold means 500,000 copies.
Is good for him if he has sold that many.

The B-sides are the worst in Morrissey history. Maybe he knows what he's doing....wrecking his career - his own way. I really wasn't expecting "This Charming Man" Live version as a B-side. I thought Morrissey -as an ARTIST - could deliver so so so much more.

Why WHY resort to lousy Smiths live hits as B-sides?

Morrissey's singles were something WORTH waiting for.....now we get boring "Playboys" live versions, etc.

Anyone else notice the position of the top arm in the first photo? It appears as if someone is standing behind the Johnny Ramone statue with their arm wrapped around. Odd thing is that Morrissey is sitting next to the statue with another arm/hand resting naturally. Maybe that explains the two watches in the second photo.

KMH is one the worst Smiths songs - alongside "Work is a Four Letter Word" (cover). What on earth is Morrissey thinking releasing these old songs as B-sides??? I always thought he was the one wanting to bury the past?

I was also expecting some new material as B-sides....I mean Morrissey used to be a profilic lyricist. Where are the good b-sides??

These photos are from the FILTER Magazine session. They were taken at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in December 2008. These two photos are at the gravesite of Johnny Ramone. The photo on the cover of FILTER magazine shows Moz resting on the tombstone of Dee Dee Ramone.

Great cover photography. This is one of the punkiest tracks Moz has ever done so it's appropriate he's showing some love for Johnny Ramone (hardline republican that he was!).

I wouldn't underestimate casual fans (ie. nobody on this site) or Smiths fans who aren't really into the solo material being curious about what This Charming Man 2009 sounds like. It's not a bad choice to get it down as an official recording. But each live track definitely should've been coupled with a new b-side.

I think the artwork is great, if I saw it in store (which will never happen) it would grab my attention and might result in a sale. Well...until I looked at the track listing that is. Not even one new song....Shame. Maybe they think the song is so strong it doesn't need backup. I'm not really on board with it as a single at all. It's a bit too OTT towards the end even if it starts out great.

Back in 1987 when I was a 14 year old kid living in an anonymous suburb on Long Island, I was into The Ramones in a serious way. I loved them because their tunes were perfect, their image just right, and they were local boys made good from Queens.

While browsing a record store in a tired and old strip mall 22 years ago, I stumbled upon a bunch of Smiths cassettes displayed next to a bunch of Ramones cassettes. I imagined it was a thematic thing for bands named after family names.

But back in the days before the internet and other forms of mass saturation, I was fascinated by all the Smiths album covers and song titles. I knew I would be leaving the store that day with my first Smiths album. I didn't shoplift from that particular store and I only had enough dough for one cassette; which one? The Ramones fan in me chose the most Ramonesesque Smiths album there was: Meat Is Murder. The cover and the title were enough.

Within weeks I had the rest of the Smiths albums, some imports, and even a few bootlegs. I wouldn't find out The Smiths had broken up until I saw a Morrissey video on MTV (very late at night) and put the pieces together. It destroyed me but Viva Hate cured me.

Anyway, without The Ramones I wouldn't have had The Smiths. To me, the cover art for this single is just about perfect. Although Dee Dee was my favorite.

Next stop, Mt. Saint Mary's Cemetery in Flushing, Queens where Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan, and my great-grandmother are buried, watching over the Long Island Expressway.

DAM IT IT IS TRUE. I always look forward to the B-sides but this time I'm pissed. This should be on the very last single, or is this the last single. It is number 4.

Well It was a good album. So I am thinking that's it for Stephen. No new B sides that's just so unlike him. Those Quarry B sides were fantastic.

I recall something about him buying a plot next to one of the passed on Ramones. Not sure if it's this one. He seems to spend a fair amount of time in the cemetery. I wonder if he is thinking about his end.
Will he have a statue also? What would it look like? A pose of him whipping the microphone cord?
Long Live Morrissey!!

can someone in the USA order this offer as well? Or is it only open to those in the UK?

Is there a video for SISMS ??? Or will we just have another 'live' montague? Or maybe Moz walking around with the band following? (I have forgiven Jesus,Tomorrow,All You Need Is Me etc) ;-)

You think the cover could be a hidden meaning/message about Johnny Marr?? Smiths guitarist? perhaps a hint to something? Just an observation.

But does anyone know if there is an extended version of Skull on these?

I always thought it needed another chorus run through.

good song though.

it has come to this.

another mediocre single with cheap artwork and laughable b-sides. It seems that Morrissey's day as a relevant artist are over.

Let's face it, "Skull" is not a great single. It's just less horrible than the other mediocre stuff on Years of Refusal. The songs on YOR sound like unfinished rejects from the Offspring.

"Skull" song will do even worse in the charts than "Paris".

broken

Loads of bands issue live songs as b-sides so I have no idea what people are so shocked about. The Smiths did it on `That Joke...` (I think) and Morrissey has done it solo before too so let it go people.

That little arm just does not look right in that first photo.

Not good planning on the part of the record company. You think they would have spread out the studio b-sides they had across the four singles so far. CD1 of the four singles should have been something like the list below. Then they could have spread out the live stuff on the CD2/7inch. It would have made it more appealing for fans to have a new studio track, i think.

That’s How People Grow Up
Children In Pieces

All You Need Is Me
My Dearest Love

I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Shame Is The Name

Something Is Squeezing My Skull
Because Of My Poor Education

There may not be any more studio stuff from the YOR sessions. The other titles that we know about (I Was Bully ect) may have not been completed cause of Jerry’s untimely death. If there is another single, we may be in for more live cuts.

Is Morrissey wearing TWO watches? Two Rolex?