Hatchy strikes an artful pose
Publisher: Shock Records
Mon, 17 April 2006
by: Hatchy
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At times autobiographical, others political, one thing is for certain, this is Morrissey's most rocking album ever. The album was recorded in Italy and features Toni Visconti (of David Bowie and T-Rex fame) as the producer. Before writing and recording this album Morrissey decided to leave LA and set up shop in Rome. You could discern that the move has brightened him up a little; the music is bolder and very up-tempo, quite uncharacteristic of his earlier work. But a more obvious pointer to the relocation is in the lyrics themselves, several refer to the people, places and art of the city.
I was frightened initially, when I opened the CD. The first thing that greets you is a picture of Morrissey astride a parked Vespa scooter with a camera in hand. It appeared to me this could be a "Roman Holiday" moment and Morrissey had ditched his cathartic music style to go all pop-music romance happy! However, looking closer, I noticed behind him a graffitied declaration, "Smash Bush". This Gregory Peck evil twin image serves as an introduction to Ringleader of the Tormentors, indicating that Morrissey has lost none of his touch.
The first track, which complements the graffiti, takes a very candid swipe at the current state of world affairs. It is entitled I will see you in far off places and it begins with a menacing industrial style intro before exploding into a big riffing rock song. Included in the mayhem are layered Arabian style chords, gunshots and what appears to be sampled Arabic chanting taken from a mosque. You could never accuse Morrissey of being a stranger to conveying a political statement in his music and this song makes a very clear one indeed.
On the streets I ran is another big rock song and features some self-reflective lyrics such as, "forgive me, on the streets I ran, turned sickness into popular song". Morrissey is referring to his low socio-economic background hailing from Manchester England. This was where he formed his band The Smiths in the early eighties and he drew much of his lyrical inspiration from the despairing and depressive conditions of the times.
Life is a pigsty is trademark Morrissey, imbued with a constant background loop of pouring rain. It begins with a soulful piano introduction only to then be followed by wailing feedback-driven guitars. It's quite an ominous and intricate song. It pauses a third of the way through and Morrissey begins to chant the songs title repeatedly before it picks up and takes off again. I actually found it very beautiful, the haunting nature of the music complements the loathing nature of the lyrics amazingly well.
There is also a deliciously twisted tune on this album. The Father that must be killed (which has a bit of the Greek Tragedy theme to it), is about a stepchild that commits patricide before turning the blade on herself. It's rather wicked because it is quite an upbeat song and features a children's choir singing along in the chorus!
If I had to pick one song that could have been left as a b-side to a single it would have to be the last song, At last I am born. It has a very irritating chorus of Morrissey repeatedly chanting "I am born, born, born" He sounds a bit like someone who has just had a religious epiphany of sorts. However, considering the very up-beat nature of this album when compared to his earlier work, perhaps he has.
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The best song on the album is To me you are a work of art. It's a great rock song and it has a beautiful bridge of violins and a wailing guitar solo. I was actually a little surprised that this song was not the first single from the album. That honour has been reserved for You have killed me, which is the most "Roman" song from the collection. It features a few lyrical references to some Roman landmarks and a film reference can be heard to Pier Paulo Passolini's 1961 Italian film, Accatone. It's not a bad choice for a first single, maybe just a little "safe" for my liking. It doesn't really stand out compared to the others.
Not all the tracks are rock songs either, Morrissey enlisted Italian film composer Ennio Morricone to help on the track, Dear God Please Help Me. It is the album's slowest song and is reminiscent of a church hymn at times, with its soft organ and classical instruments. It is quite beautiful and, although it is short on lyrics, they do correspond well.
Ringleader of the Tormentors, as well as being the best record title I have heard in years, is an accomplished and thoroughly modern rock album. Well served by Morrissey's unique lyrical talents it is unlike the slower, disconsolate music of his previous releases. Rome has definitely put a more positive spin on his music but it is no Trevi Fountain postcard moment either. Some of the songs still illustrate Morrissey hasn't lost his disdain for the modern world and his political standpoints certainly have not softened either. He built a career out of making this nihilistic music and old habits do die-hard.
by: Hatchy
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Whichever way you look at it; this will still be considered Morrissey's best solo release to date. | |
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