posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
uncleskinny sends the link:

North America tour information - true-to-you.net

19 February 2007

Morrissey will undertake a 40-date tour of North America beginning 27 April. Venue details and ticket prices will be announced within the next two weeks. Tickets for all concerts will go onsale on the same day.

Support for all dates will be Kristeen Young.
posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
An anonymous person writes:
Unless something goes horribly amiss between now and then, looks like Morrissey is taking another stab with the Brooklyn Boy. From Wikipedia:

In a recent interview on BBC Radio 5 with Tony Visconti, the producer stated that his new project would be "the next Morrissey album", though that this would not be forthcoming for at least a year.

Thoughts? Feelings? Anxieties?
---
Johnny66 writes:
At the 'Steve Hoffman Music Forums' (a respected audiophile/music collector forum), producer Tony Visconti has been fielding questions regarding his terrific career. As a forum member there, I posed the following question:

"My question concerns working with Morrissey on 'Ringleader of the Tormentors'. What kind of mood (if any) was established when Morrissey was performing the vocals for such songs as 'Dear God, Please Help Me'? With such seemingly poignant and personal lyrics, do you actively attempt to construct a gently encouraging atmosphere, or allow someone like Morrissey to dictate what the mood of the studio is like when he records? Is any discussion entered into regarding the lyrics themselves (I assume not), or are comments restricted merely to the performance?

And, if you could spare the time, could you disclose the 'funniest' moment from those 'Ringleader' sessions? As you've noted in interviews, Morrissey has a real sense of humour. Any examples?"

Tony was very kind and responded with the following:

"Well, the mood of the studio in Rome where we recorded the album (Forum Sound Studios) was kind of Gothic. It is in the basement of a church, right next to crypts. The studio was never bright enough for my liking, there were areas that sucked in light and smelled bad. But this was a terrific place to make such an emotional album.

Morrissey was usually in a good mood being part of the band when the tracks were going down. It was nice to see him there. But when he put down vocals the band left and it was just him, myself and Marco on Pro Tools. Then the mood changed. I can never fully understand where a great artist finds the inspiration and the emotional connection that separates the men from the boys, but Morrissey would go into his private world when he was singing any song on the album. I don't want to make our private conversations before and after his vocals public, but he does ask for advice and he considers direction. It's an emotional experience for us in the control room too. Morrissey is definitely "on stage" in the studio, this is not a walk through exercise, this is the real thing when he does vocals.

I can't remember very specific funny moments, but Morrissey is very quick witted, a man of the moment. Just seeing him stand in the middle of the Italian childrens choir was a very funny sight with Morrissey looking extremely amused after the children just sang, "The father who must be killed."

The link to the respective thread.
posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
Rotter writes:
British-born New York-based DJ Mark Ronson's second album, "Version 2", has a cover of "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before", featuring Daniel Merriweather. You can hear it at http://www.myspace.com/markronson. The segueing with The Supremes' "You Just Keep Me Hangin' On" is just one of many remarkable points on this excellently wistful version. The album also features a cover of the Kaiser Chief's "Oh My God" featuring Brits nominee (aka non-winner) Lily Allen. It is released in the UK on 17 April 2007.
posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
Some Old Queen sends the link:

PETER RATES THE SMITHS - R.E.M.hq

Peter was asked by UK music mag Uncut to participate in their poll of the 30 greatest songs by legendary Manchester group The Smiths, who, after an illustrious but short career, disbanded in 1987. The results of the poll are published in Uncut's March 2007 issue, and the song Peter selected, "How Soon Is Now?," called by The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr "our most enduring record," has been rated as the greatest of the Smiths greats.

Here are Peter's thoughts on the Smith's classic, first released in August 1984 on the 12" for "William It Was Really Nothing":

The lyrics are great, but for me, I approach it as a musical thing. If nothing else, all the guitar tones are just so wonderful. There's the tremolo and then the slide has this amazing texture. It's a great ensemble piece, with the four musicians all playing together really well. It's so evocative and so kind of eerie. "How Soon Is Now?" is very un-Smithslike. I bought it in America, where it was the B-side to a single, though I can't remember which [Double A-side with "Shakespeare's Sister"]. That was in the days when you'd buy the single just to hear the B-side, because they were so special. I heard Seymour Stein call it "the 'Stairway to Heaven' of the '80s", but I like it better than that. "Stairway..." was played on radio stations in Georgia 10 times a day, but "How Soon Is Now?" was greatly underplayed. I don't think I ever heard it on the radio.

Johnny and I tend to share influences, which come out in a very melodic way. I met Johnny about a year ago, and we were hanging around together. And we started talking about The Smiths. I said, "Sure, I always loved The Smiths, but I can't tell you how much I resented being compared to you all the time!" I'd come to England and everyone would say I'd obviously learned everything from Johnny Marr. And I'd point out that R.E.M. had two albums out before The Smiths had released their first one, so it would have been really hard for him to influence me. And then Johnny would say: "My God, you should have seen what it was like for me when I went to America! They'd say the same thing about you!"


You can read the remainder of this interview in this month's Uncut.
posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
2-J writes:
Confirmation that despite attempts by fans to get 'Life Is A Pigsty' into the UK charts this week, it failed to make the top 200 singles in this week's UK singles chart.
posted by davidt on Monday February 19 2007, @12:00PM
Jacknife Johnny writes:
Russell Brand, somewhat UK television current person in demand and consistent Morrissey supporter, presented this years drab Brit Awards, of which I caught the start.

When introduced at the start of the show, which was live on ITV, Russell came on to 'Sister I'm a poet'.

Morrissey performed on the Russell Brand show in December and Brand has talked about him in several interviews.

He is probably as pissed off as everyone else that Morrissey, or The Smiths for that matter, have never received a single award and so used this moment to make a point.

I think they will honour Morrissey next year, I do not think they no longer have a choice. even Bob Geldolf was given a life time achievement award, for his one hit wonder in the 1970's.

The Brits make you ashamed to be British.
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