Morr-iss-ey -Celibate Free!
Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors
If I had to choose a previous Morrissey album that “Ringleader” most resembles, I would have to say “Your Arsenal,” though not nearly as good.
Still, it’s better than his last few albums.
“Ringleader” kicks off with “I Will See You In Far Off Places,” which sounds like “Shoplifters of the World” gone Bollywood! It is followed by the sexually suggestive “Dear God Please Help Me,” that pretty much sounds like a drawn out “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday.”
Things pick up after that with the “You Have Killed Me” single. What “kills me” is that Morrissey doesn’t have more songs like this! Next up, Morrissey is joined by a bratty kids choir on “The Youngest Was The Most Loved.” The kids are useless, sound terrible, and ruin what might have been the best song on the album.
“In the Future When All’s Well” returns Morrissey to form. Some splendid harmonies make this song an album highlight. But a lowlight follows with “The Father Who Must Be Killed.” Lyrically the song is compelling enough, that of a girl who kills her molesting Step-dad and then herself. The problem is that the music doesn’t fit at all. It would have played much better with a “There Is A Light…” or an “Angel, Angel…” background.
Unfortunate, as I like the words.
“Life Is A Pigsty” has a “Seasick, Yet Still Docked” feeling, but drags on... Fade out already! ”I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero” starts off promising enough with a “Jack The Ripper” beat, but the Scott Walker-esque chorus is WAY over the top… to the point you’re ready for the song to end as Moz whines on for far too long.
He redeems himself with the poppy “On The Streets I Ran” despite the lame “til the day that you croak, it’s no joke” line. “To Me You Are A Work Of Art” begins sounding a lot like “How Soon Is Now” but comes into its own with one of the better choruses you’ll find on the record. “I Just Want To See The Boy Happy” is similar to “Tomorrow,” but the chorus is practically nonexistent and there’s a lame horn solo to end the song.
The album ends optimistically with “At Last I Am Born” as Morrissey rejoices in finally getting laid and leaving his celibate existence in the past. This will piss off some Mozzer disciples, but he won’t lose his Hispanic greaser gangster fan base until he finally comes out of the closet once and for all!
While “Ringleaders” doesn’t break any new ground musically, Morrissey proves once again he is not a “Dead Star…” and this album is still better than the Johnny Marr and The Healers album.
Take that, Mr. Smiths Ruiner!
If I had to choose a previous Morrissey album that “Ringleader” most resembles, I would have to say “Your Arsenal,” though not nearly as good.
Still, it’s better than his last few albums.
“Ringleader” kicks off with “I Will See You In Far Off Places,” which sounds like “Shoplifters of the World” gone Bollywood! It is followed by the sexually suggestive “Dear God Please Help Me,” that pretty much sounds like a drawn out “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday.”
Things pick up after that with the “You Have Killed Me” single. What “kills me” is that Morrissey doesn’t have more songs like this! Next up, Morrissey is joined by a bratty kids choir on “The Youngest Was The Most Loved.” The kids are useless, sound terrible, and ruin what might have been the best song on the album.
“In the Future When All’s Well” returns Morrissey to form. Some splendid harmonies make this song an album highlight. But a lowlight follows with “The Father Who Must Be Killed.” Lyrically the song is compelling enough, that of a girl who kills her molesting Step-dad and then herself. The problem is that the music doesn’t fit at all. It would have played much better with a “There Is A Light…” or an “Angel, Angel…” background.
Unfortunate, as I like the words.
“Life Is A Pigsty” has a “Seasick, Yet Still Docked” feeling, but drags on... Fade out already! ”I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero” starts off promising enough with a “Jack The Ripper” beat, but the Scott Walker-esque chorus is WAY over the top… to the point you’re ready for the song to end as Moz whines on for far too long.
He redeems himself with the poppy “On The Streets I Ran” despite the lame “til the day that you croak, it’s no joke” line. “To Me You Are A Work Of Art” begins sounding a lot like “How Soon Is Now” but comes into its own with one of the better choruses you’ll find on the record. “I Just Want To See The Boy Happy” is similar to “Tomorrow,” but the chorus is practically nonexistent and there’s a lame horn solo to end the song.
The album ends optimistically with “At Last I Am Born” as Morrissey rejoices in finally getting laid and leaving his celibate existence in the past. This will piss off some Mozzer disciples, but he won’t lose his Hispanic greaser gangster fan base until he finally comes out of the closet once and for all!
While “Ringleaders” doesn’t break any new ground musically, Morrissey proves once again he is not a “Dead Star…” and this album is still better than the Johnny Marr and The Healers album.
Take that, Mr. Smiths Ruiner!
posted by Michael Charming at 12:12 PM
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