Product Description

'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' is the eighth album from theiconic Mancunian vocalist Morrissey. In a departure from his previous albums, Morrissey has chosen to incorporate Morricone-esque strings and arrangements into these songs. This makes for a sound that is both sweeping and cinematic, however, his usual themes of rejection and redemption are as prevelant as on his 2004 'comeback' album, 'You Are The Quarry'. Includes the single 'You Have Killed Me'.

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
9. On The Street's 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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15446 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 50 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Take a long hard look at that man gracing the cover of Ringleader of the Tormentors; caught mid-concerto, tempered by lofty eloquence, gliding towards a crescendo of instrumental distinction. Who’s he trying to kid exactly!? Ever since The Smiths disbanded and he was deserted by Johnny Marr, Morrissey’s work has only really been musical by association. He’s more parts lyricist than he is straight poet, you see, relying as much on the emotive reach of his mighty vocal as his articulate depression. He needs melodic accompaniment, but it’s hardly been the focus. The image does still work though, as a metaphor. Name, if you can, a greater performer of pathos, a finer maestro of the maudlin.

If he is widely accepted as having been through a fallow period of creativity prior to 2004s comeback classic You Are The Quarry then he’s hammering the counterpoint now. Two albums into his renaissance and we find Moz more tender, more cinematic and, if possible, more serious than ever.

Fittingly it is much more orchestral too. Take "Dear God, Please Help Me", as self pitying as expected, only bound in silk and suspended just above the depths you’d otherwise expect to find him in. And album centrepiece, the equally dolefully titled "Life is a Pigsty", which begins with a peaking "How Soon Is Now" template before descending into a spellbinding Prozac-comedown in the orchestra pit, with bruises as evidence. The emotion feels that much rawer this time. This is not an indie disco record, it has more timeless aspirations. --James Berry

Customer Reviews

I Forgive You (again)
There were noises coming out of 'You Are The Quarry' which suggested Morrissey might be on the cusp of some kind of renaissance. There were enough signs to nourish cautious optimism that something strong was about to emerge from Camp-Mozzer, and us long-standing (long-suffering!?) fans might at last have something impressive and substantial to cheer.
Unfortunately, no.
Rock music has the disarming knack of smacking you across the brow when you least need or expect it, and any hopes of a splendid Moz rebirth, are dashed on the rocks by 'Ringleader of the Tormentors'. A big brassy album full of hot air and not much else.
I can't see why he allows this stuff to exist. Perhaps he's one of these 'genius' types that never listens to his own work. If he has any kind of conscience or ear, he must realise this stuff is acutely substandard.
Tony Visconti's production is fine. A big sound like this suit's a robust, mature artist like Morrissey, where-as it can (and did!) DESTROY a young group like Altered Images many moons ago. Morrissey is his element with kids choirs, (more like 'kinder spiel') church organs and kettle drums, and incredibly, Ennio Morricone is involved at one stage. (now there's guy with a hook or two) Thankfully, there's a marked decline in that annoying rip-roaring guitar, but Moz just hasn't got the base material to take advantage; he needs to spend a lot more time at his Devonport before he even thinks about approaching a microphone.
Previous album's have screamed his collaborators (session muso's to a man) intent to achieve, or at least vie for Marr-style accomplishment, (impossible - that's like Stan Laurel teaming up with someone else.) but they've all gone down the 'standard old rock' road, (under Moz's instruction I assume) to failure and disappointment. It's no coincidence that the only song on 'ROTT' worth a second listen, 'Life is a Pigsty', is the one furthest removed from Mozzer's dicey, trad-rock saturated diatonic.
I feel a rotter coming on here all the time clobbering Moz. I was gonna temper this review by saying 'he's trying his best' but that's patently untrue. It's because I care about him still, that I stand harsh and uncompromising. He can do better. I know it, you know it, and Steven Patrick Morrissey MUST know it.
It's down to him.

'He'll ALWAYS Be Somebody's Hero Now'
'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' is a record of quite stunning emotional potency. In a way it is also a departure for Morrissey in the respect that there are parts of it where it feels as if the great man is singing for his own satisfaction as a kind of therapy. Songs like 'Dear God Please Help Me', 'In The Future when All's Well' and opener 'I Will see You In Far Off Places' have an exclusivity to the lyrics almost as if Morrissey feels wary of the fact that they give way too much away about himself. For a man that has built a (thoroughly deserved) reputation as the champion of the lost and the lonely, this is a little strange to adapt to for a while and for once you find yourself trying hard to relate to him. The stench of fear and death are everywhere on this record and you feel the aging Morrissey is becoming ever more aware of his own mortality. Best track for me is the very passionately sung 'I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now' where all of these fears are expressed to greatest effect. 'Ringleader' then is a more personal record than any that has gone before it but this is not to say that it is not another great album! Of the 12 tracks on offer all are memorable in their own right and only the overlong 'Life Is A Pigsty' really fails to sparkle. 'To Me You Are A Work Of Art' surely has to be the nearest thing to a love song that the great man has written, yet 'Ringleader' is also a good old fashioned rock and roll album chock full of zesty guitar playing and drum hitting! Summing up then, this is another reputation enhancing album. It's also just possible that its one where, at last, we are witness to the real Steven Patrick Morrissey publicly revealing himself. EXCELLENT.

Ringleader Of The Tormentors/Morrissey
So,the Morrissey solo career motors on.This,his first effort with Tony Visconti continues with his recent revival.He still does'nt have a song better than his Smith's work.This is still a very good album with three classics for the future best of.You Have Killed Me a swirling guitar masterpiece,written to be a hit.Dear God,Please Help Me is as emotional song we HAVEN'T come to expect from Moz.In fact,it can be uncomfortable to lsten to.Life Is A Pigsty is an epic seven minute piece of misery,befitting of his life work.

Highly recommended.