Morrissey - 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' (Attack) Released 03/04/06

Morrissey: Man. Myth. Legend. Take your pick of words to describe his status, but from his latest offering it’s quite evident that he’s merely a man with gripes and complaints just like the rest of us. From Morrissey one would usually expect a cynical, complaint-filled, softly angry piece of work a la Smiths and earlier works, and you’re not wrong, however this is all encompassed in such an intelligent way. "And if the USA doesn’t bomb you…" After this line in the opening track, it’s clear Morrissey’s back with an agenda and he's taking no prisoners.

Opening with a track clearly drawing influence from the Arabic warbling of the Koran and a less subtle reference to America’s current ‘interests’ in the Middle East, we’re instantly immersed in a musical attack on war. Entitled ‘I Will See You In Far Off Places’ it’s clearly a gripe at America. Although, what does one expect from Morrissey? For him to praise the world and say how lovely it all is? No, the man uses his art to express his opinions and he does so poetically.  Moving on through the album, ‘Dear God Please Help Me’ and ‘You Have Killed Me’ show the ‘Crooner’ characteristics of Morrissey coming through as loud as ever and are stand-out tracks, whilst ‘The Youngest Was The Most Loved’ is very reminiscent of the early Smiths sound, but with an aurally pleasing, melodic edge.

The second half of the album kicks off with a piano based and atmospherically backed track ‘Life Is A Pigsty’. Very cynical and mournful, an acoustic interlude half way through breaks up the song and gives way to a wonderfully choral and heartfelt other half, whilst the following few tracks retain a sense of upbeat 'happiness' which one doesn’t expect of Mr. Morrissey given the darker first half, however the same old cynicism is there, made obvious by the line, “I see the world, it makes me puke”. Nice.

It all ends on a high with the very Regal and Brass Band introduced ‘At Last I Am Born’ - a very pompous, light and ‘poptastic’ track to end a very well put together album. Despite the second half being not quite as strong as the first, this is a great album from a legendary artist.