Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentors

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 17 / 3 / 2006

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Review

Where were you Dear Morrissey? Stephen Patrick Morrissey ,to give him his full name, took a whole year off and cancelled his only gig at the Isle of Wight Festival. I personally would have been well hacked off with him if I had paid for a festival and the headliner cancelled. But he is back with, cough, cough, his best album since the last proper the Smiths album, 'Strangeways, Here We Come'. I have always felt that Morrissey solo albums of which this is his eighth, not including compilations, have apart from the odd occasion always been something of a disapppoinment. 'Vauxhall and I' from 1994, was a classic so much that he even did two signings for it in HMV. There was a lot of sickies those days to meet the dude. I first him Morrissey at Camden's now closed The Falcon, a smelly pub which hosted the cream of the crop. The essence of this venue is now carried on, up the road, at The Barfly. On that occasion, I went to see a New York grunge band called the Werefrogs, an average grunge outfit. As I was leaving who did I see in the queue but Morrissey. At the Falcon ? Man,I had to stay now. The band Morrissey was there for did nothing for me at all. They were thrashy, and loud and they signed their record deal to Nude that night. They were Suede. I spoke to Morrissey , got his autograph twice, once for me and once for my ex. Needless to say, I chatted to him. He was pleasant, very shy, and there with some rockabillies whom became his band, and Kirsty MacColl if my memory is correct. It was an honour to meet a guy who had changed my life for the better, and it is an honour to review a CD now that is worthy of his earlier work. He recently said "I'm not a musician." He can't play an instrument at all, but the current sleeve has him dressed up playing a violin in classical fashion. It is out in three formats-standard single CD, double vinyl, which is lovely and will please Smiths vinyl completists ,and a double CD and DVD package which is very reasonablly priced with a nice booklet and a poster, The CD looks like a mini piece of vinyl, and the side that plays the music keeps the classical vibe and is black in colour. I think I have painted a good enough picture of Morrissey, so onto the disc itself. It all starts off with 'I Will See You in Far Off Places' which is big sounding, dramatic, and full of itself. It basically shouts "I'm Morrissey and I'm back. Did you miss me ?" There are lots of power chords, and those wonderful, waffling la, la, la-ing vocals which Morrissey can get away with, but which very other few people can. 'Dear God, Please Help Me' is the opposite and sounds like a prayer, with only an organ to help start it. On this Morrissey also finally comes out. We all knew he was anyhow, but it's done really well. Good luck to the guy. He's getting laid at last. 'You Have Killed Me', the first single from the album, follows and has Morrissey going back to being ballsy. He is based in Italy now, so it's a tribute to 70's European mainstream Saturday night shows for families. The song is a grower, and will be a hand waver at the gigs, possibly a good one to faint too. 'The Youngest Was the Most Loved' starts off in classical full-on speed and includes the brilliant line "there is no such thing in life as normal" and is backed by a children's choir. 'In the Future When All's Well' has a glam feel and recalls the New York Dolls. It is probably one of the weakest tracks here. 'The Father Whom Must Be Killed' is next. Everyone must of felt like this at times. It is a song about being a stepchild, and again features a children's choir. It works well and will become a classic crowd pleaser. 'Life is a Pigsty' is the longest track here at over 7 minutes, and starts off with a groove. Morrissey isn't stating new words here but it is done in such a powerful manner that it is life changing. This track is delivered with the style of the lyrics of Jack's Anthony Reynolds. As it progresses it develops a T Rex style glam feel and is full on and dramatic. 'I'll Never Be Anyone's Hero Now' is familiar material and has Morrissey stating that his love is under the ground. 'To Me, You are a Work of Art' is much slower, and more moody, and has some great guitar lines, as good as Johnny Marr. 'I Just Want to See the Boy Happy' finds Morrissey on fire and is a song about sex. Familiar Morrissey territory really ? You make up your own mind. It all ends with 'At Last I Am Born' which is much slower and more moody and, recalling the 50's with its twangy guitar, is a fine closer for what is easily, the best album of this month and maybe of the year. Enjoy !

Track Listing:-

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 Is 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

Band Links:-

http://www.true-to-you.net/
http://www.morrissey-solo.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrissey
https://www.facebook.com/Morrissey
https://twitter.com/morrisseysolo