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100

musicOMH.com

Ringleader Of The Tormentors is the sound a man with a new sense of purpose, and in this extraordinary record he's produced a masterpiece.

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The Guardian

Some of his most impressive songs in years.

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Billboard

"Ringleader" proves Morrissey does not need to be miserable to make memorable music.

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Playlouder

What's so remarkable about Morrissey's writing on 'Ringleader...' is a seeming greater comfort with the more upbeat subject matter than with his usual morose metier, and what remains of that is executed with an exceedingly hammy fist.

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Filter

[Many] of the songs submerge the rock and roll swagger of Your Arsenal in dramatic atmospherics, making ofr an astonishingly immediate visceral experience. [#20, p.91]

Stylus Magazine

Morrissey doesn’t have that much to say now, but it’s never really been just about the words. And when everything fits into place on Ringleader of the Tormenters, he can deliver those sweet-nothings with such panache that it doesn’t really matter anyway.

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E! Online

These tunes find him not only reconnecting with his sense of melodic urgency but with his loins, as well.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Track for track, Ringleader is unquestionably Morrissey's best in ages.

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Mojo

As with everything Morrissey does, ROTT's resonance will elude those not hitherto fascinated by its master's voice. A shame, for in terms of pure musicality, ROTT is possibly his most ecumenical solo album, his most welcoming and loveable. [Apr 2006, p.89]

Pitchfork

Ringleader of the Tormentors is, rather than the now-anticipated letdown, another fitting heir to [his] legacy.

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New Musical Express

'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' sees Morrissey not only in wonderful voice, but more flamboyant and alive than at any time in his solo career.

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Neumu.net

Ringleader of the Tormentors feels rushed and underdone in both the songwriting and arrangements.

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Magnet

Morrissey regains his knack for conversational hooks and his wry, literate sense of humor. [#71, p.105]

cokemachineglow

Morrissey has managed to assemble a record that feels like a genuine Morrissey record while not being insufferably self-important and brooding.

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Blender

Longtime devotees may miss Morrissey's Smiths-era vocal histrionics, but his supple croon has matured into a thing of beauty. [May 2006, p.103]

Alternative Press

A romantic, self-referential collection of songs that, even though we've heard this inimitable voice singing the same old tune for years, manages to avoid staleness. [May 2006, p.174]

Dot Music

Quite honestly, he's never sounded so alive and free - or, more importantly, human.

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Under The Radar

One of his finest solo outings to date. [#13, p.87]

Urb

Ringleader is Moz at his tormented best. [Apr 2006, p.88]

Spin

[A] potentially polarizing mash note.

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Entertainment Weekly

Not the invigorating wake-up that was 2004's You Are The Quarry, his new album... feels more like an elegiac memoir. [7 Apr 2006, p.60]

Rolling Stone

You Are The Quarry... was Morrissey's strongest album in years, but Ringleader reframes it as mere foreplay. [6 Apr 2006, p.62]

Drowned In Sound

While it may be the most proficient musical record that Morrissey has put out in aeons... it doesn’t quite measure up to the high standards set by You Are The Quarry or the superlative debut that was Viva Hate.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

The production on each song is a little too repetitive.

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Village Voice

A simmering, sultry affair.

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Paste Magazine

Strangely underwhelming. [Apr/May 2006, p.100]

Q Magazine

What we are left with is a sense of something not quite finished... It makes Ringleader Of The Tormentors feel like a transitional album. [Apr 2006, p.108]

Uncut

Funnily enough, it's the lyrics that let Ringleader down the most. [Apr 2006, p.94]

All Music Guide

It's hard not to shake the suspicion that this album is the closest he's ever been to forgettable.

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Prefix Magazine

[His] vocals don't have the same strength or range they did just two years ago on You Are the Quarry.

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Slant Magazine

Whereas You Are The Quarry was a welcome return to form, Ringleader Of The Tormentors makes you wonder if seven-year gaps between albums are necessary.

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The New York Times

While the lyrics are uniformly excellent... the songs mainly range from not good to pretty good. [3 Apr 2006]

NOW Magazine

Mostly, though, it's the usual whining about his tortured life as as a once-celebrated pop star and being unloved in a harsh world, but with fewer droll song titles and clever couplets.

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PopMatters

His newest album is at best a parody of old Morrissey. He has become boring. He has become stagnant. He has become irrelevant.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 88 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
since its release in april it has stayed at the top of the pile. there is no question morrissey remains as the best of 2006. only a couple can compete. this release improves after every play.

thetrumpet gave it a4:
very poor,awful lyrics,2 or 3 decent songs,unless you worship him dont waste your money,at least its not as bad as kill uncle tho,needs another 7 years off

Noel E gave it a9:
9 for this reason only: if you get the b-sides, right, and then delete some of the crap songs off the LP ("in the future when al's well" boring!and that dull "through these streets i ran" or whatever, terrible!) and replace them with the ACE b-sides and make a nice lil' playlist with 'em n your iPod, the album is FANTASTIC. Why does he do that? put these clunkers on the LP and then crank out like, five or six STUNNING b-sides in a pop. anyway, this mix-n-match Mozz has made me appreciate the really good 'uns even more. really amazing considerin how old 'e is! ha, just kiddin geez - keep up the goood work and glad you're finally gettin' some. ;-) about damned time.

Jonathan S gave it a10:
Morrissey has done it again!

joseba gave it a10:
great album!

Niilo K gave it a9:
This album is a story. The Lesson for ethic, humanistic and life for itself. Morrissey tells what he knows best. The lyrics and child chorus and all the elements of his music makes him so unique. He tolds us how deep life can go, but there is still hope. "You are the quarry" is still his best work.

Seamus S gave it a10:
I'm going to honestly try to ween myself off of giving everything I like a ten; but after repeated listens, this album has sunk in to me to be one of Morrissey's most important and intimate albums. It does benifet that the album is produced by Tony Viscoti who adds a much needed kick in Morrissey's sonic rear, one that hasnt had arrangments this strong behind it since the good old days of the Smiths.

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