An anonymous person sends:

Bigmouth strikes again

Robert Sandall
1,988 words
9 May 2004
The Sunday Times
Culture 16
English
(c) 2004 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved

He's Manchester's gobbiest son, back from LA to head up the Meltdown festival and blow a trumpet for his brand-new album. Robert Sandall meets Morrissey (again?)

gonzax writes:

Morrissey is playing in Spain next July, as part of the AVANT FESTIVAL that takes place in Fuengirola, Malaga on July 1,2 and 3 (he´s playing on the first night) at the castle of Sohail.

Other artists on the festival are Tim Booth and Stereolab amongst others. It will probably be his only date in Spain.

More info can be found at: www.avfestival.com

This news appeared in:
Morrissey actuará en el AV Festival - Musikalia.com

Ellie writes:

According to VH1's Rock on TV website, Morrissey is either appearing on or being featured in an episode of a MTV2 show called Subterranean. The show's website isn't saying anything just yet.

Show: Subterranean
Episode: (#050) w/ Morrissey
Network: MTV2
Date: Monday - May 17, 2004
Time: 12:00 am - 01:00 am ET

About Subterranean
Each week, MTV2 VJ Jim Shearer will play the newest of the new alternative music videos, interview the bands that are making this groundbreaking music, and take music fans behind the scenes to get the details on new sounds from around the world.
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An anonymous person also writes:

My tivo showed Morrissey will apper on MTV2 Subterranean on 5/21/04.

inlovewiththepast writes:

just been into the local HMV (the u.k.'s biggest cd retailer) and the guy said Mozz has been selling well today. the shelf was two thirds empty, the other new releases were all quite full.

i have enclosed the scans ( for the promo english version stickers ) showing with reference to the quotes etc.....

cd1 scan
cd2 scan
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• Related item: "Irish Blood, English Heart" EP released (May 4, US - May 10, UK); on iTunes - May 4, 2004

racer writes:

The ever faithful Observer has an article today mainly about the Apollo gigs. You can find it online at:

You've got everything now

With his spruced-up sound and front-room charm, Morrissey hasn't looked this good since the Smiths. Even in the funny trousers

Ryan Gilbey
Sunday May 9, 2004
The Observer

Morrissey Apollo Theatre, New York

Lukester writes:

Under the title 'Miserable Now' John Harris describes his fondness for the smiths and much of the solo material with a fairly balanced and positive theme from a self confessed fan.

Unfortunately the article which runs to 2 full pages (incl that finsbury park picture & former NME cover) turns full circle and delivers a series of laser guided blows at YATQ - the lyrics in particular come under heavy fire. Harris points out 'This being morrissey, the albums success is tied to the lyrics' and continues 'whereas he first snared the attentions of his public by evoking a world much the same as the world they lived in, 20 years of fame, not to mention living in california, have put him in a rather isolated place'

On "How could anybody know how i feel?" he states somewhat abruptly that 'as long as he is dispensing cold, unsympathetic stuff like this, the question answers itself - Cut off from his beloved England, seemingly short of much to sing about besides his own affairs, his vocabulary often seems as prosaic as his subject matter. When he takes a rare glimpse out of his window and talks about the USA we get this 'america/it brought you the hamburger/well america/you know were you can stick your hamburger' - out of context these lines are clearly not booker prize stuff but Harris is more interested in conveying a sense of the whole album pervaded by substandard lyrics.

Harris continues with 'The world is full of crashing bores', he surveys the pop competition but can dispense nothing more ornate than 'thicker than pigshit/they're so scared of intelligence/it might smear their lovely career" When his attentions, inevitably, revert to himself, the air of thoughts scrawled in a fifth form exercise book becomes overwhelming: "how can anybody say/they know how i feel/the only one around here who is me/is me"

To avoid being seen as fixated by the lyrics alone, Harris criticises the 'supporting musicians' and 'generic music' which he feels is to much aimed at MTV.

Considering that the same paper in another section hails the new single as a return to form - awarding it single of the week status - it seems somewhat contradictory to allow such a passionately narrow minded view of the album to escape the shredder. I can only hope that someone transports Harris back in time to find a job printing lies in the NME circa 1994 or 'Enemy' as Morrissey once described it.
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An anonymous person sends the text:

Miserable now

John Harris
1,766 words
8 May 2004
The Times
Weekend Review 18
English
(c) 2004 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved

As Morrissey prepares for a much-feted comeback, a disappointed John Harris finds that the singer's self-obsession has lost its charm

glam72 sends:

Pompadours, Swinging: Morrissey Fans Share Some Graphic Obsessions - MTV.com news, 05.06.2004 3:44 PM EDT

NEW YORK — It is 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the fourth of May. Usher's "Yeah!" blares out of Portebella, a clothing store next to Harlem's Apollo Theatre, one of the most hallowed musical sites in the U.S. The venue has hosted hundreds of memorable concerts throughout the past seven decades, mostly from the likes of Usher's stylistic forebears such as Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Jackie Wilson.

Martin writes:

just read the below review in germany's most important weekly magazine "der spiegel" (the mirror) in their online edition (link). they rarely give 10 out of 10 points but moz got them. haven't got the time to translate it all but here are just some nice excerpts in english, very quickly done:

+++

the smiths were certainly not only the best band of the 80s but had the best lyrics as well.

morrissey's solo work has always been fantastic contrary to the critic's general opinion.

what should one say about such a fantastic album? what should one say about "First Of The Gang To Die", "I Have Forgiven Jesus" and "Come Back To Camden", the most overwhelming songs since "Now My Heart Is Full" und "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning"?

moz is precise as never before, there is not one bad song, he's better singing than ever...

you are the quarry is the late triumph of a vain sniper!

+++

Lukester writes:

Videodrome section reads (abbreviated):

Good heavens morrissey in not completely past it shocker!
Morrissey seems reinvigorated. IBEH, a roistering harangue about england and englishness, is brilliant, arguably his finest solo moment and a song that would have fit snugly on to the queen is dead. Its video is simple and direct - Mozzer, grey but still hansome in a white blazer, performing in front of a small crowd. The comeback begins..

A number of stills are shown to illustrate the text - this bodes well for the Times ultimate review of the album.

John, England writes:

Good review in yesterday's Times (7 May) by Lisa Verrico. Here's a few bits.
-Morrissey's comeback record shows that he's back with a vengeance.
-In case anyone remembers him, here are some songs he recorded earlier. Good? No, they're great.
-The timing is right for a Morrissey revival and for old fans YATQ is a treat.
-The singer's problem of music that lags behind his lyrics has been addressed.
-Striking flute solo on the lovely 'I'm not sorry' (John, England wonders has a single flute solo ever received so much attention?!)
-Expect a few younger fans and lots of old students to flock to his new fan club.

Torr writes:

So what place do you think it will go in at on the UK charts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/new_releases/

MORRISSEY - 'IRISH BLOOD, ENGLISH HEART'

OK, indie newbies, this is gonna take a while to explain. Once upon the '80s there was a band called the Smiths, who were sort of Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay, Oasis and the Libertines all rolled into one. This chap was their lead singer, and he, as one listen to this song will prove, is one of the great pop stars of all time. And now he's back, and he's in an enormous huff with the entire country. But being Moz, he doesn't scream or shout about his 'pain', oh no, he calmly croons us into believing a better future is just around the corner while his band thrash about like Busted's dads. And that, Britney 'Blood in the Bathtub' Spears, is called DIGNITY...

KarlaAnne writes:

for those interested, i have completed the scans of the You Are the Quarry DVD images.... they can be found here...

Torr writes:

http://ixfm.fimc.net/Article.asp?id=24534

Morrissey ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ (Sanctuary)

NP: Ah, the return of Mozzer. After a few years in the wilderness and a couple of mediocre records before that Stephen Patrick is back with a song that is better than anyone could have hoped for. Musically, it’s his best for years, lyrically, it captures at least some of what made him the most essential pop figure of the mid 80s and an icon to anyone who thought that music could be more than just entertainment. Hurrah!

Jonathan Mooney writes:

According to Radio And Records Alternative Chart, a listing of current alternative rock singles in the United States which closely mirrors the Billboard Modern Rock Chart, "Irish Blood Engish Heart" is receiving enough airplay to enter the Modern Rock Top 40. It is currently listed at #39 on the R&R Chart, but has yet to appear on the Billboard one. As such, fans should call in to their local alternative rock stations requsting the song. A listing of such stations can be found here.

The song's airplay has nearly doubled since one month ago. Of note, the stations WFNX (Boston), WWCD (Columbus), CIMX (Detroit), KROQ (Los Angeles), KMRB (Monterey/Salinas), and XTRA (San Diego) have provided consistent airplay for the single. However, the airplay is now topping out, so fans may need to act to give the single a final push onto the charts. The last time a single my Morrissey made it onto the Modern Rock Chart (or any other Billboard chart) was 1994, with "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get."

Benton writes:

Two more favourable reviews of the single in the UK press

This is an astonishing return to form by the Mozfather. The English indie rock icon in exile keeps the home fires raging here with his greatest rebel song since The Queen is Dead. Sizzling with agit-prop anger, righteous bile and lyrical passion, if it's not a No 1 the nation should hang it head in shame.

5 stars - (Must listen to at all costs.)

Gavin Martin Daily Mirror 7th May

Good heavens! Morrissey in "Not completely past it" shocker! Over the past decade the former Smiths singer has not only besmirched his reputation with a clutch of mediocre solo albums but seen interest in him diminish to the point where he was without a record deal. Newly signed to Sanctuary, Morrissey seems reinvigorated. Irish Blood, English Heart, a roistering harangue about England and Englishness, is brilliant, arguably his finest solo moment and a song that would have fit snugly on to The Queen is Dead. Its video is simple and direct - Mozzer, grey but still handsome in a white blazer, performing in front of a small crowd. The comeback begins . . .

Paul Connolly The Times 8th May

and here's a scan of the Guardian review.

Track of the week

sirgordonzola writes:

According to an advert in the Manchester Evening News Friday 07.05.04 entertainment pullout, the special guests on Sunday 11th July for Morrissey at Move will be... The Beta Band. NOT VERY SPECIAL AT ALL.

Lisa writes:

The hour-long documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey is being repeated on Channel 4 at 1.45am on Sunday 16th May - presumably to coincide with the launch of You Are The Quarry on the 17th.

I am human writes:

You can obtain tickets to be in the audience for Morrissey's appearence on "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross". Tickets are free.

The show is to be recorded on 13/05/04, the day before broadcast.

Details can be found on the shows production company's website.