Ringleader Of The Tormentors
by Morrissey
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 105
  3. Negative: 9 out of 105

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  1. MatthewC
    Apr 4, 2006
    7
    Bit of a disappointment, after all the hype about Visconti, etc. The first two tunes are terrific ("Dear God Please Help Me" one of the best things he's ever done, but the album sort of wanders off after that. As a whole, this album has less bite than "You Are The Quarry".
  2. AQuinn
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    Morrissey's voice sounds better than ever on this CD. It wraps around you in every track and pulls us along a journey where only Morrissey can lead us. Life is a Pigsty is brilliant. It begins with the sound of rain and the feeling of melancholy, then slowly creeps to a dramatic end. This is by far the most mature album ever from Moz.
  3. DSHelder
    Apr 6, 2006
    3
    You can not even start to compare these songs to the long list of classic pop-songs this man has made earlier. Melody-wise, these er bleak. The text are better than your average poplyric, but still not in the class of his earlier efforts. It takes an interest in Morrissey's persona, bordering to the unhealthy, to find this record interesting.
  4. RickR
    Apr 6, 2006
    6
    After all the hype around this album, I couldn't help but feel extremely disappointed. Visconti's production on this album is awful. It seemed on '...Quarry' that Morrissey's sound was expanding, but in almost every single song on 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors', Visconti seems to have just done a cut-and-paste job with Morrissey's vocals. I would After all the hype around this album, I couldn't help but feel extremely disappointed. Visconti's production on this album is awful. It seemed on '...Quarry' that Morrissey's sound was expanding, but in almost every single song on 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors', Visconti seems to have just done a cut-and-paste job with Morrissey's vocals. I would love to have seen what Jerry Finn could have done with this new material, because most of the new material is extremely strong - it just doesnt have the kick it should due to the tragic production.… Expand
  5. SeamusS
    May 30, 2006
    10
    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 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.… Expand
  6. RennieJ
    Apr 10, 2006
    3
    Morrissey's lyrics have now slipped into the awful category. "Then you croak, it's no joke" "I look at life and it makes me puke," etc. This is truly terrible stuff. What happened to the poet that used to captivate us with his wonderful observations and phrases. Maladjusted, Quarry and this new one represent a kind of horrible trilogy of bad writing and exhaused inspiration. Morrissey's lyrics have now slipped into the awful category. "Then you croak, it's no joke" "I look at life and it makes me puke," etc. This is truly terrible stuff. What happened to the poet that used to captivate us with his wonderful observations and phrases. Maladjusted, Quarry and this new one represent a kind of horrible trilogy of bad writing and exhaused inspiration. Morrissey has now begun to tarnish a once great lyrical legacy.… Expand
  7. lofidude
    Apr 4, 2006
    8
    Not quite the same high as masterpieces "Vauxhall & I" and "You Are the Quarry" - but surprisingly close. Still a pop-genius
  8. AramisG
    Apr 5, 2006
    9
    I don't know why. I seem to be in the minority, but I like this way better than You Are the Quarry. Probably his best effort since Vauxhall & I. This just feels fresher and less forced than You Are the Quarry (even though the songs on ROTT are much more typical of Morrissey's catalog).
  9. sam
    Apr 5, 2006
    5
    might have to give this a few listens before it turns from average to good! Thourghly enjoyed his last outing which made me buy this but i think this just wont want me to keep listening!!
  10. diegoc
    Apr 6, 2006
    8
    A great album to enjoy while driving in your car late night. Morrissey's lyricism is excellent and you feel his romanticism for Rome. "Life is a pigsty" is a masterpiece.
  11. moraisj
    Apr 6, 2006
    10
    back to the best moments
  12. SmithJ
    Apr 6, 2006
    9
    Incredible album. Listen to it and understand why you have been living a lie the past years under the spell of American Idol and such...
  13. ali
    Apr 9, 2006
    10
    morrissey can't make a bad album can he?
  14. george
    May 26, 2006
    9
    Morrisey is streets ahead of a lot of your,contributors,many who sound unable to think for themselvesMorrisey is a true artist in a world,where the word artist is used by totally uncreative people..Moz is number 1 wordssmith and has played a major part,in moving conciousness forward,....Wake up listen to the man and throw your preconcieved ideas away,or get a proper brain..
  15. Matt
    Apr 11, 2006
    5
    The arrangements seem strangely dated, undermining his sometimes good lyrics.
  16. ERNIEG
    Apr 10, 2006
    5
    Morrissey's voice is out of range in You have killed me. The fact he has become entirely too political about the country he adopted is unnecessary. First track is similiar to Maladjusted and Teachers are afraid. Boz's guitarship requires expansion limiting any innovation to new material. YOTQ and V&I are the flagship of Moz.
  17. lucidela
    Apr 13, 2006
    10
    better than his last album, and wonderfully produced. such tracks like "life is a pigsty" and "i will see you in far off places" capture the genius at work.
  18. RICARDOl
    Apr 14, 2006
    8
    este es de los dicos mas trabajados para el maestro morrissey, reune piezas de sus trabajos anteriores, el mejor track es " life is pigsty", no siento que sea el mejor disco, no pasa a you are the quarry, pero es muy buen disco para moz
  19. PhilipS
    Apr 26, 2006
    7
    Although not as powerful as you are the Quarry, nor as memorable- it is a solid example to show that the talent of Moz isn't dead. This is probably his most emotionally charged album, but often the songs are so ridiculous, they are funny.... This is probably his second best album... but his talent is undesputable
  20. DiegoL
    Apr 4, 2006
    10
    Morrissey sings better than never in one of the most intense and robustly harmonic albums of his solo career. He does it again, doubling the bet and delivering burning lyrics, arrogant style, brilliant egoism, psychologic autoflagellation, and showing us his new passion, Rome.
  21. Denia
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    nothing short of what i expect from morrissey. he's truly the most gifted song writer since john lennon. magnificent.
  22. DamielA
    Apr 5, 2006
    9
    Best since Vauxhall & I
  23. GilbertMulroneycakesIsTrue-HeThinksTheWorldOfYou
    Apr 5, 2006
    8
    It's a grower. It's up there with the best of Young Steven's work, but not quite rubbing shoulders with Quarry, Viva Hate or Vauxhall. Victim of its own hype? A little, but that's promotion for you. If you're a fan, don't skip it. If you're not - it probably won't convert you, but give it a try.
  24. Ari
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    Great job maz
  25. StaffordT
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    As essential now as he has ever been! The team of Moz and Visconti have created a "jewel in the crown"
  26. RH
    Apr 5, 2006
    8
    To be honest, nothing on this album really amazes me........a very competent set of songs that don't reach the peaks of You Are The Quarry, or even the middle of the slopes for that matter. Still, decent Morrissey is still Morrissey.
  27. PeterPan
    Apr 6, 2006
    4
    Definitely the worst Morrissey album since Southpaw. Totally forgettable (ecept for Life Is A Pigsty). I am truly disappointed!
  28. KGm
    Apr 6, 2006
    10
    Perfect.
  29. MartinA
    Apr 6, 2006
    9
    Super album by Moz. One of his all time best!
  30. TomB.
    Apr 6, 2006
    4
    Very, very bland. This isn't even in the top half of his solo output, and is so far removed from Smiths' greatness I may even give Marr's solo stuff another listen.
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Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed Album of 2006
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 1 out of 34
  1. Rolling Stone
    70
    You Are The Quarry... was Morrissey's strongest album in years, but Ringleader reframes it as mere foreplay. [6 Apr 2006, p.62]
  2. The Guardian
    90
    Some of his most impressive songs in years.
    Read full review
  3. NOW Magazine
    40
    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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »