that he had a new album coming out?
Maurice

He's got a new album?????

There is also a vinyl edition of the album, isn't there?

Ennio Morricone is me!It's a masterpiece.

Class,class,class!

Rob Sharples
[email protected]

Ringleader Of The Tormentors: Album released today in the U.K.
3 April 2006

Morrissey's glorious new album Ringleader Of The Tormentors is released on Attack Records today in the U.K. (on the 4th of April in the U.S.).

The album is available on three formats in the U.K.: Standard CD (standard jewel case packaging); Limited Edition CD/DVD (special gatefold digipak, with poster and bonus DVD featuring the "You Have Killed Me" video plus two exclusive behind the scenes videos); and Limited Edition 12" vinyl.

The U.K. Standard CD tracklisting is:

"I Will See You In Far-off Places"
"Dear God Please Help Me"
"You Have Killed Me"
"The Youngest Was The Most Loved"
"In The Future When All's Well"
"The Father Who Must Be Killed"
"Life Is A Pigsty"
"I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now"
"On The Streets I Ran"
"To Me You Are A Work Of Art"
"I Just Want To See The Boy Happy"
"At Last I Am Born"

The U.K. Limited Edition CD/DVD tracklisting is:

"I Will See You In Far-off Places"
"Dear God Please Help Me"
"You Have Killed Me"
"The Youngest Was The Most Loved"
"In The Future When All's Well"
"The Father Who Must Be Killed"
"Life Is A Pigsty"
"I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now"
"On The Streets I Ran"
"To Me You Are A Work Of Art"
"I Just Want To See The Boy Happy"
"At Last I Am Born"
"You Have Killed Me" (video)
"You Have Killed Me" (behind the scenes video)
"In The Future When All's Well" (behind the scenes video)

The U.K. Limited Edition 12" vinyl tracklisting is:

"I Will See You In Far-off Places"
"Dear God Please Help Me"
"You Have Killed Me"
"The Youngest Was The Most Loved"
"In The Future When All's Well"
"The Father Who Must Be Killed"
"Life Is A Pigsty"
"I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now"
"On The Streets I Ran"
"To Me You Are A Work Of Art"
"I Just Want To See The Boy Happy"
"At Last I Am Born"

You Have Killed Me: Single chart position in the U.K.
2 April 2006

"You Have Killed Me" has entered the U.K. singles chart at #3.

As I hadn't downloaded the album, (other than DGPHM and IWSYIFOP) I had my first entire listen this morning. I think it's a wonderfully produced, layered record that is (in my opinion) far superior to YATHQ. It's in no way a Malajusted/Southpaw hybrid! I'll give it 9/10. What do you think you morrissey solowers?

Given the momentum (i.e. "YHKM" went to #3 on the UK singles chart) right now and taking into account that Keane's debut album which kept QUARRY from going to the top of the chart was one of the best, if not the best, selling UK album of 2004, is there any way ROTT won't take the #1 spot?

How happy am I right now...listening to the new album, watching 'From The Smiths to Morrissey' on VH2 and with 4 concerts to look forward to. Could life get any better?
The album - well, I think it's amazing.I loved YATQ but this is even better, vital, vibrant, full of life. From the opening I Will See You.. I was hooked. He's never sounded better than on tracks such as The Youngest and Pigsty which just builds...and builds.
All killer, no filler. Once again, how happy am I?

but still several "celestial circles" as Mark Simpson put it, beneath YA and VaI

Morrissey sings beautifully and the lyrics range from reasonable to very good throughout but the band just don't cut it - AGAIN! Give them their dues for the earlier work then get new musicians. Trouble is, Morrissey seems to think he has hired maestros - his comment that people don't talk about his band because they're so good that people must think he's used a different band for each record is seriously laughable. Wake up Moz! But, sadly, from his Les Inrockuptibles interview it appears that Jesse is now favoured greatly and so will probably be on board for the next album. Until Morrissey takes the brave step to change his band, greatness will be a thing of the past.

i've just been to the shop and bought the album (been at work all day) and i can't believe how excited i am. going to have tea, then lie back and listen (as loud as possible without annoying the neighbours!). hoping it's a lot better than "you are the quarry"; i thought most of it was muck.

been a fan since 1984 and can't quite believe how excited i get. haven't heard any, yet, apart from the single (which i thought was passable) and "i will see you in far off places", which i liked a lot.

fuck, i think i'm going to ejaculate and i haven't even opened the sleeve, yet. (wish my dinner would hurry up!)

HIM

Does anyone have information on them? I really like classical music and I like the violin player on the cover. he's kindof cute, but like old-cute...kindof like Benny Hill. Ok, maybe not as cute as benny Hill...but cute like that short bald guy Benny kept slapping on the head.

The nice people at Amazon delivered a copy of the original format album to me this morning. But I'd like to know, is it worth getting the limited edition for the behind the scenes video's? Are they very long? Because I have the YHKM video on the single, and I don't want to buy this format if he's going to do what he did last time and bring out another edition of the album with b-sides. Three copies of one album would seem rather silly, especially since I'm far from minted.

Bought my copy from HMV about 4:45 today.... Playing At Last I Am Born over the tannoy. Sorry speakers!!!

First time I've heard Moz played in a record shop since Novemebr Spawned A Monster.

And the albums great. Luxurious is how I'd describe it in a word. If that is a word.

One week till I see Life Is A Pigsty played live........

BLUEBIRDS

For those of you outside the UK, I just wanted to add some cheer. This amazing release is number 1 in woolworths today. Yes, it's selling rather well.

Somewhere, there is someone, who can smooch me.

Mrs Jacopetti
(if only!)

The highlight of the year so far. A new Morrissey album. Love the inside gatefold pic of Moz on a scooter but the front cover is really bad. Maybe not as bad as the cover of Maladjusted but that wouldn't be hard. The songs? Moz's best album, or certainly his best-produced album. Maybe not his best lyrics but the wonderful production makes each song rich and intense. The songs have so many layers and textures that you will keep going back to them again and again. Beautiful and mesmeric. Thank God for Tony Visconti!

The only one I am not massively keen on is "At Last I am Born" but that is rescued by great production and the quirky talky bits which are the only talky bits Morrissey has ever done that I don't cringe at.

The rest of it is wonderful. Really rich and rewards repeated listening.

I bought both CD versions - the Limited and "Standard". I Love the design of the Limited one, Beautifully Designed but as someone said before these Digipacks tend to wear out Quickly.
It sounds Great on my stereo, Fantastically produced album and his voice is - well, better than ever! This feels like a PROPER album for a change. As Moz would Love it: Attention to detail, a proper affair!
I'm just worried: When Moz packs it in there will be NO-ONE left to do this anymore....

Hi. First post on the board. Hullo!

I've heard the CD three times, my thoughts.

1) The tunes are more immediately catchy than YATQ, which I thought was good, much better than I expected, but suffered from too much filler.

2) ROTT is a tad more experimental soundwise, (which usually means a few silly sounds thrown in, but here there's stuff that works. Finger clicking on last track, the little cymbals, nice layers of sound).

3) Lyrically stronger than YATQ, but still not as strong as his best post-Smiths lyrics (Viva and perhaps Vauxhall). But there’s still some good lines.

4) Lovely opener! Bit arty and loud like Alsatian Cousin. I approve!

5) The single is middling. But then, they usually are I think. I cant remember the last time the strongest track on the album was used as the pre-release single.

6) The Youngest Was The Most Loved is single material.

7) He’s still got it. This is a good record. I’m happy.

How long till the deluxe edition with a second disc of B-sides comes out? Perhaps I will stick to my burned copy for now and buy that in June when it is released.

Tormented ? Well, if Mr Joyce wasn't then, then he is now. I'm laughing at Mr Joyce and I cannot stop myself....Ha Ha Ha....

Best,

Strawberry

After buying the album today I burnt it onto a CD along with the b-sides from You Have Killed Me.

Hey Presto, my very own 'deluxe' edition, and weeks before it's released.

I am ace.

ROTT have a bit of a karaoke vibe.
Sounds compressed and metalic... perhaps the mp3's qualtiy got compromised somewhere in transfer.............. i bet the CD is bound to be better quality.

the songs are great! i think i like Tobias more than those pole cat dudes

Although there are a few good highlights (Pigsty and the opener mainly), musically the album is an average bore. Worse than any Smiths album and only better than Kill Uncle, Southpaw Grammar and Maladjusted in his solo career.

Lyrically it is the worst of any Smiths/Morrissey release. Tony the Pony would be one of the highlights on this album and that is saying something! "The music says nothing to me about my life" -- at least though he isn't droning on about JP's as much. A couple songs are relatable -- Life is a Pigsty, At Last, but other songs are atrocious -- e.g. Dear God.

His singing is extremely good, probably the best to date, so that helps to save the album a little bit.

In my humble opinion, this is a great letdown after the promise of YATQ -- which had a half dozen very good songs, including some of his best solo stuff yet.

I hope a couple of the B sides are as good as The Neverplayed Symphonies.

Moz in top form, great music to work with, production is stellar, lyrics as hysterical and tragic as ever.

This might be my favorite Moz CD!!!!

I'm still waiting on for my CD to arrive here in the US :\. I've got a message from amanzon.com saying it should arrive by April 7. So it's good thing to read such good opinions here. I've got the music bonus, that one that allows me to listen to the album prior to its release, but my foot stomped into the wire of the earphone plugged into my computer, and I've been listening to a very weak, one-side-only, ROTT. I can hardly wait to see what it really sounds like, once I put it into my stereo! :)

Anyone no?

Can someone who has the album kindly post who co-wrote what songs?

Your input is greatly appreciated!

From watching the two video's on the DVD I am a bit disappointed that they have both been filmed on exactly the same stage in the same format, the only difference being that the lighting on ITFWAW is yellow as opposed to the red from YHKM. It would have been nice to see something different apart from all their suits!

Great vid though seeing the boys messing around

I just cannot fathom those commentators who have written off 'Dear God Please Help Me' as a poor song.
        From its very commencement it is captivating: a stately, gorgeously arranged, and earnest song; delivered with palpable emotional conviction, and gifted with a mesmerizing production sound.
        Also, it strikes me as odd that whilst many detractors have singled out the lack of musical innovation on the LP as a whole, they have broadly failed to acknowledge the distinctiveness of this remarkable recording.
        Morrissey is justly proud of this one.

thanks to ilegal downlowding.

fuck you for boycotting canada.

I certainly hope so although the godawful Now 21 compilation, plus new cds from Pink, Rascal Flatts, and the only actual other worthy release from this week-The Flaming Lips could give the Mozzer a run for his money. Quarry debuted at number 11 and sold i think 50-60K its first week.(210K now i think-total US SALES--Bummer-- I thought he might have been on his way to a gold record with Quarry!(=0(
  So everyone c'mon GO OUT and get the single cd for your car/walkman(does anyone even still own these!?) AS a knock around and then get the double disc w/ the DVD for the house as a spare. Morrissey deserves at least one lousy US Top 10 in his lifetime! Cheers!

but this is album is lyrically rubbish. he thinks saying 'stepchild' instead of child makes its somehow stylised and deeper, more speaking for the unspoken.

it's musically so boring, and the first track is an embarassment. as is in the future when all's well. it sounds like alan partridge...especially the 'something must have gone...right' bit. it's cornball.

heres some advice---lose the politics (but if you must, make it funny ala The Queen...), go back to being ambiguous (we really don't want to know), and sing to us again, not everyone else...you've been with me a long time and I long to go back

A poor album by Moz standards I'm afriad. Even the lyrics are weak in places.

Probably the Morrissey album I'll listen to least in the years to come (Kills Uncle is poor too but it has Mute Witness and End of the Family Line which are both great tracks).

There seems to be a lot of 'Quarry' bashing going on in the reviews and on this board saying that album suffered from 'thin production' and 'cheap strings' etc. That doesn't wash with me. The production is fine and the songs are mostly great (compared to the mostly average songs on this effort).

There are ten songs from the Quarry sessions that I prefer to anything from the new one:
America
Jesus
First of the Gang
Crashing Bores
Let me kiss you
Lazy Dykes
I Like You
Munich Air
Symphonies
Friday Mourning
(Eleven, if you throw in the unreleased 'Playing Hard to Get')

That's my honest opinion, though I appreciate I am in a minority here. The songs I think I could have liked more on this album suffer from a lack of songwriting editing. 'I'll never be anybody's hero' could do with a bridge, The first part of 'Dear God' is much stronger that the second part. 'In the Future' has a brilliant start but kind of looses my interest a bit in the last 40% of the song. 'Pigsty' too fades in quality as the song progresses.

I mean there's not even a decent guitar riff here -say like 'Let Me Kiss You'. There's a lot of lazy playing here. I don't hear a lot of work gone into the arrangements by the three guitarists.

That said I'm glad loads of people love the album and hope sales are really good.

If Morrissey never does anything of brilliance again it doesn't matter. He is a songwriting genius and my favourite artist of alltime.

Tuesday Suffocation...

Ross

Almost every review singles this song out as below par. Is this really the case?

This is bloody brilliant. There's a few songs, maybe 3 or 4 which I'm not into at the moment, but only time will tell if this feeling remains, but apart from that, there are 6 really good songs, 2 of which are in my opinion quite simply some of the best things he's EVER done, and yes that includes The Smiths. Dear God and Life Is are quite simply out of this world awesome, and they're on a different level to any of his other work I think. With Morrissey/Smiths, it's always been extremely difficult for me to say a "favourite" song, because there are so many that are brilliant, yet none that you could say that are in a different league to the others.. With Life particularly, I could say that easily.. But whereas Life is immense. Dear God is PERFECT. The song lasts the perfect amount of time, the words are sung in a manner which is unworldly, and the music is quite simply gorgeous and subtle in places. Wonderful, wonderful.

Five twinkling stars! The ultimate veridct from the ultimate authority!
There are 11 good songs out of 12, apparently. The reviewer does admit, however, to being a diehard Morrissey fan...
J

As with most good/very good Morrissey albums, the lovers of his work (like myself) tend to get a bit overexcited on hearing his voice on some new tunes. I fell into this trap as per usual labelling this album "very good" and putting it straight into my top 10.

On repeated listens, a few problems arise.

Firstly, the playing is lazy at times - I agree with the above comments by an astute so-lower. In fact, the most ridiculous thing about this album's reviews was when someone compared jesse tobias with mick ronson (!). There's not a great riff in sight, and apart from the end of pigsty, which rips off exit music by radiohead, there's very little in the way of any dynamic or exciting playing.

Secondly, the bass is plodding and frankly boring. Listen to the bass playing on pigsty - bordering on the pathetic.

Thirdly, some of the songs sound lovely on the first few listens, but lack the depth or melodic complexity to really fly.

In spite of these shortcomings, it's a good album worthy of at least 7 or 8 out of 10 by anyone's estimation. "Dear God" is majestic and touching; Pigsty builds into a turbulent crescendo of sound; "The Father" has fantastic words and a jaunty driving feel; and "At Last I am Born" is like a superior "Kill Uncle" cut. Morrissey's voice sounds better than ever and the production moves it on beyond the plodding (which was quarry's main (and perhaps only) problem).

But songs like "youngest" "on the streets" and "work of art" are moz on autopilot. "in the future" lacks the riff it needs to propel itself forward into the realms of T rex, "I'll Never Be" sounds hmmm... nice but well, a bit cliched. Hasn't he said this a hundred times before and sometimes with better playing? Nice melody and rather melodramatic but it's sloppy and not amazingly original. It's no "trouble loves me."

So when you ignore the hype, and the pleasant surprise of hearing Morrissey singing again on some new material, you're left with a good-very good album with 3 or 4 excellent songs and too many fillers.

He needs new musicians desperately - this is the last time I'll post on this site regularly until he gets some. I might pop back to post a live review or whatever. I'm bored of morrissey for the first time in my life. So if he wants to remain relevant and make some steps forward as an artist, I'd suggest searching himself and asking himself whether he'd have respected this album when he was 30. He says Bowie was only relevant from 1970-1972 ish. Well, this album is just as cliched in parts - and I stress parts - as some of bowie's recent stuff.

3 or 4 original, moving songs is not enough for a great morrissey album, and the playing - well it's lazy and unimaginative. Listen to it.

broken

I love morrissey and always will. he's the greatest living artist, for me. The problem as I see it is this:

Morrissey retains the passion and excitement of an adolescent when it comes to music. He's a big baby, and that's why he's still capable of greatness in his 40s. No other artist of his stature has pulled that off.

The problem is Boz and Alain (and jesse) - however much they love music - just don't seem to have that vision or flair anymore. They still have talent and i'm sure they're in love with music. They're both great guys, and very good musicians and songwriters who have provided me with hours of pleasure and pain, while listening to moz's poetry. But, in 2006, they are not capable of world class music. It's that simple.

So, Morrissey needs to find some new artists to work with who can INSPIRE him rather than merely doing what he says and providing a nice melodic backdrop for another indie rock album.

Morrissey needs to do this for the good of his art and for his own good. He's become the musical equivalent of what he has always seemed to despise - the middle class person stuck in a rut.

Why not work with brian Eno and create some sort of glammy, grrove-driven cacophony with Morrissey's words and voice? Why not find a guitar genius somewhere to work with? John Squire? He needs some musical direction anda challenge, too. Perfect. Why not find some artists who want to change the world? WHy can he only stand on stage with some other middle aged men?

Morrissey still has it within him to be the most important artist on the planet, incredibly enough.

But not with Jesse and "the lads."

It's time for a change.

broken

I only played my DVD once yesterday but I'm sure the only films on there are the YHKM video and then behind the scenes footage of that shoot and the ITFWAW shoot? According to others there should be 3 videos plus 3 behind the scenes? Have I missed something?

Even though I have heard half of it already, this album has so many beautiful, {heavy and soft}chord arrangements that Morrissey's vocals compliments each song. His vocals are reaching new levels and the band sounds super as well. Its definately the best bass riffs that I ever heard from Gary Day so far. He is a very underated player. "The Youngest Was.." is my favorite at the moment. Sounds just great, just GREAT! I hope everyone on the East Coast in the USA is waiting in line for the stores to open? If you want to come to Boston {Newbury}, they are giving a free copy of the 7" {promo} when you buy the CD. Hurry up though, they are only allowing 10 to be given out at each store.
      Enjoy it, RSP
   

Moz we will be there to welcome you to Ireland for your first Irish show 13th April 06.(Killarney) Counting down the hours...
Long live the Tormentor.

ROTT is overproduced; the lyrics are trite. The only thing good about the album is the cover art, and even that is sub par. Is this album meant to be a joke? Because I've been laughing since my first listen last night.

Advice to those considering buying ROTT: Even free is to expensive for this album!

but I think this is easily the best thing he's done since Vauxhall. I didn't really rate the single but in the context of the album it sounds great. I love the production - the piano is a nice touch and the quality and range of his voice these days really shines through. I played YATQ about three times before I tired of 80% of it and never really went back. I know this will grow and grow. Really can't wait for the Palladium gigs now!

At least we're all agreed.

It's definetely shit / brilliant.

Contradictory reports had me worried, many claiming it was Morrissey's "Rockiest yet" giving me visions of a lesser version of his 1995 eight track album Southpaw Grammar - many would claim Morrissey couldn't go any lower than that album, I personally think its grand. Others, Morrissey mainly said it was his "serene (est) collection of songs" and that it was influenced by Rome - now this got me excited - dreams of songs on the same level of Late Night, Maudlin Street, I know its over and I've changed my plea to Guilty. Then the reports came in stating that famed producer Tony Visconti (Bowie, T.Rex Fame) was to produce with Ennio Morricone at the orchestration helm - with that I had had hopes for the album.
This is a work of art - one of his best albums ever - and yes it requires more listens than You are the Quarry.
Lush orchestration, amazingly produced - Morrissey sounds so empassioned and the songs are so immediate and emotional. The mans genius remains intact, his fans singing praises and Artic Monkeys fans riled by his comments - ahhhhhhhh all is well in the world of Morrissey!

The tone of this album is very different from any of Morrissey's back catalogue - more sexually explicit than ever and fuelling those gay rumours once more. Musically, its also somewhat of a departure - yes the cutting, sarcastic passionatic lyrics stay - but then there are the voice samplings akin to Vauxhall and I's and a savagely alive arrangement - gone is the cold sterility of You are the Quarry and here we have a warm, elaborate, tender piece of work.

Dear God please help me is one of his best tracks - EVER!! With an affecting Morrissey, his voice cracking with emotion "the heart feels free" - my heart feels like its going to fail!!! Immense - well done Moz. 10/10
Life is a pigsty truly is the centrepiece of the album - with the proclamation "Even now, in the final hour of my life, im falling in love again" this is one of the loveliest and most affecting moments of his entire career. Stunning and remarkable - Morrissey, you should be proud.

This album is almost epic with the presence of Morricone and Visconti - wise move Morrissey getting those two at the helm. Rome seems to agree with him, and its inspiration is apparent here - gone are the tales of Mexican gangs and here we have tales of walking through lonely streets in Rome seeking answers from god, and songs oozing with emotional conviction. Now what I find is that with the right inspiration and people behind him - Morrissey can come up with something quite remararkable. It worry's me that Morricone and Visconti are not going to be there for the next album and Moz is going to rely on the inspiration from Boz Boorer etc. As fantastic as these guys are - I feel Morrissey has to branch out - find some new people to play with - people that will inspire him to make interesting, challenging music again - because the last thing I want when it seems Morrissey is at the height of his powers, is to release something along the lines of Kill Uncle which was pelted by the critics - he needs to follow with something just as good as ringleader;

This album is clearly the best thing Morrissey has done since Vauxhall and I and I think a bit better than Your Arsenal or anything else from his solo catalogue.
1. Vauxhall and I
2. Ringleader of the Tormentors
3. Your Arsenal
  I truly cannot wait to see the Morrissey Live again - working himself and the audience into and emotional frenzy and reassuring everyone that his legend status in intact - The Grand Dame lives one -

RINGLEADER OF THE TORMENTORS 9/10

Thank you.

my copy didn't include the poster and it's the one with the bonus dvd...i bought it at a futureshop...does that matter? are they selling different versions at hmv?

just finished my first listen. a little more "rocking" than YATQ. thanks to The Waiting Room i was able to get my copy last night after work but thought i better wait until now to listen to it. didn't want to wake the old lady that lives under me. if she complains at 4 in the afternoon, she's going to complain at 1 or 2 in the morning. any ways, i love the album. also loved the YHKM b-sides. "Good Looking Man About Town" is my favorite song so far. can't wait for the next batch of b-sides and the tour.

Ok...im heard the album....so..i can say that its fabolous great!!!!
I think its much simple that YATQ....

i cant heard "rocker guitars" but its ok!!..

mozz performance its the best in a long long time.

see youu

I don't know whether anyone has said this before... can't be bothered reading every single comment.

Musically, i think the album is tremendous.

However i think Morrissey's voice is sounding strained. There's not many difficult notes to reach on there (i can sing along to it without too much problem... and i'm not a professional singer).

The singing on the album seems to be done with one take.. I suppose this can give an album a live feel, but it makes Morrissey push for every note.

It's not up to his singing on other albums, maybe because he was younger then?

Is it my ears or has Tony Visconti placed the Bass Riff from T.Rex's 20th Century Boy on "In The Future..." very Cigarettes & Alcohol...