Ringleader of the Mozzers

[RJman]

Anyone have thoughts on the new Morrissey album? I bought it and am still letting it sink in... Not sure what all the hype was about, still...

 

[LabelKing]

It must be that Deutsch Grammophon reference.

 

[shoreman1782]

Well, since you asked...

It's not his best work. If you enjoy Morrissey's work on a biographical, so-this-is-what's-going-on-in-Morrissey's-life level (did you like "Maladjusted"?), you'll enjoy the whole thing. But it's not as consistent as "You are the Quarry," and lacks both the genuinely good songs on there ("First of the Gang To Die," "Irish Blood...," "How Could Anyobdy Say...") and the good-natured melodrama ("I Like You," "You Know I Couldn't Last"). If you pay attention to Moz (and lord knows that's what he wants), you've probably already heard the best songs on the new one, "You Have Killed Me" and "I Will See You in Far Off Places."

It's worth it, maybe, just for the cover art and the lyrics to "On the Streets I Ran":

"No, not me, this cannot be,
Dear God, take him, take them, take anyone
The stillborn,
The newborn
The infirmed,
Take anyone
Take people from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Just spare me!"

 

[RJman]

I stopped listening to Moz after Southpaw Grammar, which I just found trite. Maladjusted didn't do much for me either, is that the one with "Alma Matters"? Maybe I'll look for You Are the Quarry. Since Your Arsenal, it feels his sound hasn't really evolved much from that sort of rockabilly shoegazer thing he had going, and it hasn't really been as good as it was on Your Arsenal either...

 

[Thracozaag]

I liked the Smiths a great deal, but haven't been able to get into Morissey.

koji

 

[Tck13]

I haven't gotten the new cd but I did download some of the songs from itunes. It sounds good and I will def. buy the cd. I've always like Morrissey and The Smiths. Some CD's are better, some are worse.

I think this cd is one of the better. You are the quarry sounds great also.

The only thing I don't understand is his recent release of several cd's so close together and some with only a couple of songs.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by Tck13

I haven't gotten the new cd but I did download some of the songs from itunes. It sounds good and I will def. buy the cd. I've always like Morrissey and The Smiths. Some CD's are better, some are worse.

I think this cd is one of the better. You are the quarry sounds great also.

The only thing I don't understand is his recent release of several cd's so close together and some with only a couple of songs.
I think he's been doing that for a while --releasing singles as well as EPs with extra tracks. I have some from the Bona Drag- Kill Uncle period (My Love Life, etc.).

 

[GreyFlannelMan]

"Quarry" marked a return to form for Moz after some very lackluster albums, and I renewed my interest in his music with that album. I generally like "Ringleader," although I will don't agree with all of the hype -- I like "Quarry" much much more. It was a rarity for me: just about every song on that album was strong. With Ringleader, I like half, and find the other half blah.

Strong songs to me include:
I will see you in far off places
You have killed me
The Youngest was the most loved
The father who must be killed

Less strong but still decent:
In the future when all's well
Life is a pigsty (I waver on this one; could be in the above category)
At last I am born


There does seem to be a bit of a fascination with homicide on this album...

 

[shoreman1782]

Trite is Morrissey's middle name (Stephen T. Morrissey). I thought on Quarry, he made it a little clearer that he knew his pathos was at least a little funny, and that wink seems a little more absent on Ringleader. I dunno if it's just nostalgia, but nothing seems to measure up to pre-Grammar albums (and it's false nostalgia on my part, considering I was, like, 12). I blame the rockabilly tilt on his band of Americans.

Maladjusted did have Alma Matters, and Satan Rejected my Soul, which was pretty good.

Really, I celebrate the guy's entire catalog.

 

[RJman]

Well, he's been mocking his pathos for the last twenty years... in recent interviews he had spoken of being happy at last, and that seemed so novel I was hoping it had seeped into his work.

His middle name is Patrick.

What got you into Morrissey back when you did? He certainly wasn't at his peak with Southpaw.

 

[GreyFlannelMan]

Originally Posted by shoreman1782

I blame the rockabilly tilt on his band of Americans.


His band isn't made up of Americans. The current keyboardist is (and he only joined with the last album).

 

[shoreman1782]

I got into the smiths well after they were making music. My coked out, Ian Curtis-obsessed friend who wore smiths or bauhaus tees under his shirt and tie lent me The Queen Is Dead .... this was maybe mid-90s. I was not a fan of Morrissey solo at the time (around Vauxhall, I think). It wasn't until I got to college that I heard Viva Hate, etc., and gave Vauxhall and I another listen.

The Quarry tour was the first time I saw Morrissey live, and it was a great great show.

His band isn't made up of Americans.

Wow, I'm dumb. Why did I think a guy named Boz Boorer was American?

 

[Get Smart]

Boz Boorer was the guitarist for The Polecats, who had some hits in the 80s and still occasionally reunite for a show (last saw em about 4 years ago). I believe another member (the bassist) was also in some prominent psychobilly bands.

I'm with Koji that while I love the Smiths, never got into solo Morrisey other than a couple songs.