Morrissey – Ringleader Of The Tormentors

Found this promo cd today and the last track #12 At Last I Am Born is not on it ?

Found this one in pristine condition today for only €29,90.
I'm a happy man.

IMO the best Morrissey solo album. It has it all: catchy pop, meloncholic drear, lush rock. It's the climactic peak of maturity of song writing, themes and arrangement, without losing any quality. The style being more richly invested in alternative rock than indie rock, giving it a fuller, heavier feel, complementing equally deep lyrics. You are constantly torn between the feeling of being chained down by lyrics, while the songwriting gives release and an air of freedom. Each lyric a lock and chain, each riff a key. This album has so many hits like Youngest Was The Most Loved, I Will See You In Far Off Places, You Have Killed Me and Life Is A Pigsty, which musically sits alongside the other wonderfully depressing Morrissey anthems like Yes I Am Blind and Seaside Yet Still Docked. While we'll never get another Your Arsenal, this album is what it would see while looking at itself in the mirror after years of loss and acceptance. Carrying a certain weight of loneliness that can only be defined with age.

I love these songs. What a treat for us, the listeners. Any one can be a critic but try being something more. At first I thought this album sounded like a bunch of b-sides with a few stronger songs but after many listens, it is a great album. The lyrical content alone is worth great praise. "On the streets I ran" is a strong song as well as tracks, 1, 3, 4, 8, etc

This would have to be one more of a number of Morrissey albums, where you get the feeling Morrissey didn't bring the same ion with him into the studio as he has on other releases. It's all very nice, it's all very pleasing, and it's all very ..., well. The single You Have Killed Me sums it up perfectly. A catchy pop song out of hundreds Morrissey writes in his sleep. And no way near the beauties on his former album You Are The quarry, notably, I Have Forgiven Jesus which You Have Killed Me sounds like a bleak take from.

Fans of Morrissey will, of course, love this album as much as anything else the Mozzer releases. And get a chance to hear a Morrissey in love (Dear God Please Help Me) which is both very pathetic, very annoying, and very painstakingly beautiful. All at once. But newcomers should look elsewhere to get an introduction to Moz' world. Viva Hate (the amazing, breathtaking, untouchable solo debut album) or the aforementioned You Are The Quarry for starters. These have far more edge, fun, and presence than Ringleader, which - do forgive me! - for now lands in the pile of to-do cds :o(

Oh, I might add that the complimentary dvd doesn't add anything special, so be happy to go with the first "for sale" cd-only issue of Ringleader you come across. I mean, it IS Morrissey, so ... ;o)