Stronger than ever.
What a masterpiece this is!

if you heard the mp3s forget it, you need the cd, it sounds crystal clear, the production is stunning, i keep hearing new things every time i play it, awesome album

too sterile sounding. too americanized. where are the rough edges? a four-star album that could have been five with a producer more in-tune with morrissey.

yes, i realize that morrissey wanted to make a commerical sounding record, but the personality of his music has been wiped away. not the subtle bits mind you (ie: the lyrics, vocals), but the broad strokes such as the overall sound and aural dynamics.

i also realize that every bar of music was given the greenlight by morrissey himself, but remember "kill uncle?" he gave the greenlight to that production as well and years later, even he admits that on a whole, that lp wasn't what is could have been.

i will say this though, finn made dean sound like a top-shelf drummer. he practically sounds like a linn drum. but is that good or bad?

still -- "lazy dykes?" should've been a b-side.

First ofthe gang to die sounds better than the other versions i have heard...oh everyone knows..Buy the Vinyl it ALWAYS sounds better...

Surely his best ever. I love all the songs, except maybe "All the lazy Dykes', which sound a bit like 'The Lazy Sunbathers', which is a great song btw. Album of the year, no doubt.
Hector

Meet is Murder did it.

Viva Hate did it.

Vauxhall & I did it.

You Are The Quarry should go to #1 on the UK Charts. I think we can make this happen...I believe we will.

Moz has made a beauteous album deserving of the honor.

So as he joked in NYC at the Apollo "buy a copy for a friend."

Now it's seven years on... The album is SPECTACULAR, for sure one of his best achievments ever..

Was anyone else unimpressed with the DVD/CD case they got? I got my copy from woolys this afternoon and noticed it was a floppy case, no Jewel case or anything.
I spent about 20mins trying to peel the DVD out of the case without ripping anything. It appeared to be that nasty sticky plastic stuff you get with cheap badges.

Why, when the £3 single comes with a proper album Jewel case, do we get such a flimsy holder for such a masterpiece?
It should come with a Golden-covered DVD case, it's that omnipotent.

Great music, shitty case.

It's an amazing album and I'm so happy about it. I can't see any fault at the moment, I'm too awestruck. Thanks again, Morrissey.
Yours forever
Speed

I've been saving myself for this like a silver ring thinger (and like one I've cheated a bit!), trying to avoid the songs until the album came out and now...

I think Morrissey sounds absolutely beautiful. He's like velvet. And the lyrics were very good, I don't understand why certain people have said they're flat. I was impressed with "America", very well done and honest. I think "Lazy Dykes" is probably the funniest song I've ever heard (ok, except for maybe "detachable penis"), I don't know if it's meant to be, but still. My favourite song is "I Like You", the lyrics are classic. "You Know" is really what "Paint a Vulgar Picture" should have been.

If I have a criticism, it's with the music. Many of the songs sound almost generic-they could be shuffled like cards and no one would notice. And where are the guitars? I don't mean arena-blasting rock, but the music is a little too dependent on synth-strings.

In all, though, I'm very impressed. Well done, Morrissey. Looking forward to Saturday!

These are fantastics days for all Morrissey fans. The Man's single goes #3 in the UK and #4 in the US, and His excellent new record comes out, he's on tour, he's on TV, he's in magazines, he's on CNN...

I truly never thought there would be a comeback of this magnitude. Forget whatever your quibbles are, enjoy every second of it!

I'm just so very happy right now.

Just wondering if anyone has managed to work out what Moz is saying at the very start of this song. "Los Angeles......" ?

This is flamebait I know, but dare I say that the record is not that great.

The production is fine - crystalline, nothing wrong with it.

There are some pretty cool lyrics. Too much generic rock, though. The best song, by far, is 'First of the Gang To Die' which is truly tremendous and should find its way on to any future 'best of' compilations. But the remainder is a little undistinguished in my opinion. IBEH is still pretty good.

The best three Moz solo albums are still Bona Drag, Your Arsenal and Vauxhall and I. Like the 'Maladjusted' album with 'Alma Matters' and 'Trouble Loves Me', there are only one or two songs which truly stand out ('First of the Gang' principally - awesome!- a definite hit, and rightly so). There is the foundation for a rollicking compilation in future though: Nobody Loves Us/Trouble Loves Me/Alma Matters/IBEH/First of the Gang to Die - just needs 6 or so more brilliant songs and we could have another Bona Drag. I love Moz and his work, but I don't think this is his best. Sorry.

Correct me if I'm wrong but this wonderful new album seems to have a distinctly summery feel to it. Listening to it was the perfect accompaniment to the bright sunshine we have enjoyed today.

I just don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said. How about this, the second I heard "America Is Not The World" I knew I had nothing to fear.

The second greatest album he has ever done? Certainly seems that way. Maybe it is even as good as his 1994 masterpiece!

An instant pleaser and worth waiting for. Come Back To Camden blew my socks off instantaneously. Let Me Kiss You sounds very Smithsy and the guitars a bit like Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others. All we need now is more UK tour dates!

is it the middle of May already? it still feels like February when i was wondering how long 3 months could possibly last.

not only has he finally landed on the right label, everything else has done an about-face for him in the past year.

i hope he keeps it up. i thoroughly enjoy coming to this site when there is too much news to digest.

The official CD sounds so much better than those illegal MP3s. I'm still struggling to say which is the worse track on the album, very tricky!

I ordered the CD/DVD edition from CD-Wow, not recieved it yet! Then I attempted to order the vinyl from HMV - £16.99! I don't think so...

So I bought the simple jewel case edition. As studio albums go, there are four by the Smiths and now four by Morrissey that are with me 'forevermore' (not wishing to knock Uncle, Southpaw & Maladjusted)

Wasn't it supposed to come out on the 8th of May? Was it pushed back a little so Morrissey could Sign the first 10,000 copies? Or was that for the IBEH single? Can't wait to get it tomorrow.. May 18th! YEAY!

Fantastic Album, but the 1st track America should have been replaced with Mexico. Anyone else agree? The worst opening track ever on a Morrissey album.

Well, it's not as bad as I feared but nowhere near as good as the critics would have us believe. Why was Maladjusted panned and this raved over? Does anyone honestly think there is a great difference in quality between the records?

The music is very lush, but to the point of being boring in some cases. Morrissey's voice does indeed sound wonderful, but the lyrics and delivery are often lumpy and dull. Anyway:

'America...' Makes the lyrics work better than the appalling mess they suggest on paper. I thought it would be an embarrassment, but it's not - it's just mediocre. As a 'state of the nation' , the Queen is dead it ain't.

'Irish Blood...' Very good. Impressive, and the daft Cromwell/Royal link is forgiveable. This has menace, purpose and swagger.

'I Have Forgiven Jesus'. The 'Monday - humiliation' stuff is very good, but mostly this is wrecked by the heavy rock guitars. This could have been recorded by George Michael - and it probably will be (listen to the singing from 2mins 35 onwards - honestly).

'Camden' A thousand lighters raised and none of them quite ignite. It's nice to have the wonderful Moz falsetto back. Morrissey can churn out great torch songs easier than anyone, but this isn't quite the level of 'I've changed my plea,' 'I know it's gonna happen...', or 'Trouble loves me'. It just doesn't quite take off or embed itself. Hmm... listening again I'm liking it more.

'I'm not sorry'. Dido? Not sure. Actually find it more listenable than some other songs on the album, but it's the same with Dido - very listenable but strangely forgettable songs. she should cover this. This jury still out.

'The World is full of crashing bores' a relief - Live, I found this poor, but here it works better. it's a bit plodding, though, apart from 'This world is full...' I don't like the irritating 'policewomen, policemen,' laughing-gnome start to the chorus - the lovely, rousing bit that follows doesn't quite. and the lyrics, by this point, are getting tedious. Morrissey just complaining about how boring other people are. "lock-jawed popstars Thicker than pig-shit, nothing to convey"? Sure, we know that. tgat's why we buy your records, Moz. But suppose you actually convey something rather than waste time on whole songs complaining about how shallow the mucis industry is. Still, it's better than...

'How can anyone...?'Poor. By this point I found it hard to care how he feels. Guess what, it's another song about how people don't understand him and are 'rude' to him. A weak, blustering tune to boot.

'First of the Gang to Die'. At last. The highpoint of the album - West Side story meets Captain Mainwaring, and nothing wrong with that. A great tune, excellent lyrics (an actual story about someone else), fine delivery and perfect falsetto on the outro. The singing was actually exciting at that point - which is different from saying his voice sounds generally technically better (but boring or irritating) than ever nowadays.

'Let me kiss you' Nice - it's a bit minor, but the guitars are pleasant, and it doesn't mention record companies once. Interested to hear Nancy's version.

'All the Lazy Dykes' Good. Atmpospheric and darkly pretty tune (Stranglers' 'Strange Little Girl' gnawing on 'Michael's Bones'), and good lyrics. Like ‘First of the Gang’ you warm to it because it’s subject matter is other than the rather boring person Morrissey himself seems to be becoming. The lyrics are actually substantial.

'I like You' - again, this was lousy live but better here. There's more energy to the mucic here, but the lyrics are drab. Oh, and look, there's another reference to lawyers. What a surprise. Simply, this is pretty much a re-run of 'the more you ignore me' - except the words and music are considerably inferior.

'You know I couldn't last'.... another song about guess what. Perfectly nice tune and some lovely crooning for the first minute and then members of the Darkness and Queen appear and record a short

Listen here: http://www.xfm.co.uk/default.asp

I've been listening to YATQ all day since I bought it today ,I can't tell yet I have a definitive opinion about it and forgive me for not agreeing with many of you here, but I don't think this is Morrissey's best work.
I am really liking it very much , I am delighted , in ecstasy, but that's mainly coz of my loyalty and love for him , which sometimes doesn't allow me to be objective but I do see that this is not his best work ,far from that, I mean 7 years and still not letting go the court case ? the worst track on my ears is YKICL.
TWIOCB and FOTGTD are awesome, sounding fantastic, But I am really falling for "im not sorry"
The first day of my listening I can say I'm liking more Morrissey/Boorer than Morrissey/Whyte.
Im disappointed there are no photographs and only 4 bloody pages in the booklet ...

After reading all the praise for "the best album ever"i can't help thinking i've heard all this before...infact i have in August 1997 when Oasis released Be Here Now...then just a few months later it was the worst album of all time.In the words of Harvey Keitel..."Lets not all start sucking everybody's d***ks just yet".

This is a great album.

Early plays of any album can often be awkward, but already hooks and lyrics have embedded themselves deep into my psyche.

I think this is a carefully paced work of maturity, with Morrissey on such stunning vocal form that at times his voice echoes Scott Walker, and on "You Knew I Couldn't Last", Roy Orbison. I love the air and atmosphere that has been created on this record, especially on the one/two sucker-punch of "Come Back To Camden" and "I'm Not Sorry".
Someone else said that they felt the album had a Summery mood, and I can see what they mean. There is a balmy air of late Summer evenings, nursing a broken heart with a bunch of close friends, laughing outside while hurting inside. The album it reminds me of most is Scott Walker's melancholy masterpiece "Scott 3", from it's mood setting "It's Raining Today" which echoes "America Is not The World" in tone, all the way through to "If You Go Away" which resembles "You Know I Couldn't Last" as a grandiose farewell.

The production is excellent, from the superb drum sound(kudos to Deano), to the various sound effects, and to the inspired use of the flute; credit to Jerry Finn and all involved. Alain and Boz have crafted some inspired music here for Morrissey to hang his words upon, some of the best of their career.

We, the fans, wanted this album to be brilliant, more than anything in the world....and I think we've gotten what we wanted.

What a day! This album sounds so good, his voice is WAY better than on Maladjusted (he really didn´t sound very good on that one and I thought he had lost his voice). The only track I don´t love is America Is Not The world (music and lyrics), but it might grow on me. The rest I loved on the first listen. Hooray for Morrissey!

Did anyone notice this anywhere in the UK? Here in a Nottingham HMV they are also selling a new t-shirt: MORRISSEY on front in medieval-type lettering; YOU ARE THE QUARRY on back top, with the little tommy-gun icon. Black. 12.99! Definitely purchased one for myself and will wear it proudly! (Not sure if this is the one being sold at shows?)

The initial rumour was that most songs were Morrissey/Whyte. Has this turned out to be the case?

Just got YATQ a day early at lovely JB Hi-Fi Brisbane, here in Australia.

Have listened to it a couple of times, but my wife's protestations mean I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm a little confused though...the album cover is different to the one I've seen on the net etc. It's the same photo (the tommy-gun one) but it's a close up of the face...no body at all (you can't see the gun). The font is the same and the photo appears in full on the inside...is this the same for everyone, or is Australia unable to handle the sight of a tommy-gun on the cover?

Also, is anyone else irritated by the "where's the magnifying glass?" size of the text on the track-listing? And all that empty space on the back! Or is this just in Australia too?

Oh, the album sounds good by the way (haven't toally made up my mind yet - I never can at this point, Moz albums are just too important). And, happy surprise, I like I'm not Sorry and All the Lazy Dykes a lot, despite most reviews singling them out as poor.

it's a grower.

I spent the day listening to it and have decided it is not Morrissey's best album - it is average at best. The lyrics are flat, the first few songs are dull, and when it begins to get a bit better you hear All The Lazy Dykes which is a bit crap.

Could someone please post what is on the DVD? "Other exclusive material" isn't very helpful.

I'm so jealous of all you who have the album! For some reason we have to wait until tomorrow in the US.

I'm going to be VERY careful driving home from work tonight! I can't take any chances now after seven years!

Picked my copy up this afternoon from HMV. Only including the DVD with the crappy, fall to pieces in a week, cardboard sleeve version, strikes me as a rather deplorable attempt to get "hardcore" fans to buy both versions (i.e. the plastic jewel case version as well); however, since what is included on the DVD is about as enticing as a geriatric prostitute, I think it may fail.

Anyway, the album itself seems ok after a few listens, I only have a few gripes:

1. "Brung" is not a word
2. Only idiots use double negatives ("I wouldn't do you no harm")
3. Dido
4. "You Knew I Couldn't Last" and "You Know I Won't Last" are both fine, but not "You Know I Couldn't Last"

But it seems churlish to complain about a decent album after a 7 year wait.

I've not noticed this mentioned yet:
AMG have reviewed it and given it 4 out of 5 [allmusic.com]

Today i walk into a best buy (pretty large CD store in the U.S.) to ask if they have any left over posters that they want to give away that supported the new morrissey cd. To my suprise the woman said... "why thats out today isnt it?" i laughed and looked at her, "in the u.k.!" she directed me to the batch.. i laughed took my copy walked up to the cashier. When i looked back they were hauling them back into the back rooms because through my purchase they saw their mistake. It's a beautiful day.. and what a lovely cd it is.

I'm certainly enjoying the new album and am especially enjoying Alain's backing vocals on "America is Not the World," a song that is growing on me. Backing-vocal-wise, in fact, it makes me think of the end of "Used to be a Sweet Boy," which is a fantastic tune. Anyone else have an "Alain Backing Vocal" favourite?

Thank´s Morrissey once again. You and the lads have made a great and fantastic record.
I love You "forevermore".

we are on the edge of our bottoms ready to run out tomorrow morning to purchase the new album. and of course one for our friends as well.

Oh Morrissey, I love you.
Thank you for everything, thank you for changing my life.

This is my first real release of his since I'm a young fan of only 19, I'm off to the record store now to pick up your latest gem at the stroke of midnight.

I am the Quarry!

In australia it seems the sleeve has been cropped to just show his head and shoulder (no gun). Is this the same for the rest of the world. I don't like the sleeve either way. I think it is cheap and he goes from flowers to guns, what the hell is that?

Morrissey's album is 'disque pop de la semaine'
this week , and revieuwed by VPRO 3-voor-12.

has anyone bought the limited-edition cd packaged in a vinyl 12-inch sleeve? if so, can anyone describe what it looks like? is it numbered?

I just picked up a copy of YATQ at Tower Records here in Dallas, Texas, they're open until midnight in most places.

About 30 to 40 people there, and 4 out of every 5 were there for the new Morrissey CD and almost all of them were buying both the CD and the LP versions. Looked promising.

Oh well, I'm happy. Later today I'm going to Virgin with a friend to get their copy, hopefully there will be a similar showing.

I am completely smitten with this CD. I bought the single on iTunes (with the three b-sides) and have hard the entire CD via mp3's. I also have my copy of the CD/DVD on hold at the local CD shop that I will purchase in a mere 8 hours.

YATQ is not as earth-shaking for me as Viva Hate or Your Arsenal was (or Vauxhall, for that matter), but very close. The more I listen to it, the more I like it.

The only CD's I've ever listened to that I loved the first-time through were from The Smiths, and much of Moz's solo stuff was the same, but for a while, CD's like Southpaw and Maladjusted required a bit of listening for me to truly appreciate. YATQ is one I immediately liked, and it's only getting better for me!

According to the iTunes player, I've listened to the mp3's alone over 70 times, not counting the number of times I've heard them in my car, but I can honestly say that it gets better for me each time I hear the songs, as I hear something new, or catch a new phrase or lyric that makes me smile.

Midweek charts:
Albums Top 5

1: Morrissey *NEW*
2: Keane
3: The Streets
4: Ash *NEW*
5: Mario Winans

Albums New Entries

7: Charlatans
8: Alanis Morissette
13: Gabrielle
15: Graham Coxon
23: New Found Glory
28: Gomez
29: Method Man
50: Diana Ross & The Supremes
68: Tiesto
69: Lenny Kravitz
70: Michael Bublé

This is a beautiful album. From start to finish a work of genius and it’s made me a very happy bunny.

Very surprised to hear people saying AINTW is not a great opening track. I wonder if this is because it upsets the die hard patriotic brigade?

There are records that show the real beauty of masterpiece only after you've heard them for the 100 times. I have no doubt that YATQ will reach the top at that level, but I'm not quite sure where it will lead me, cause I've heard it for some 50 times and I've already been thru hell and heaven...

Just when you thought the purchase of Maladjusted and Southpaw were mistakes, or indeed a test of loyalty, up pops YATQ. Apart from a few classics, I can well understand why The Times reviewer for YATQ mentioned Dido. Yes, I see it and it hurts, oh it hurts me bad. Let Me Kiss YOu is th efirst track I have ever switched off becaus eof it's shallowness and mind numbing tune - and I say that as an apostle of The Smiths and Morrissey from 1985. This is a truly disappointing album with one of Morrissey's best ever singles, IBEH. And why is everything soooooooooo slow, will he playing a waltz at the RFH? Hopefully it'll be all seated with an interval.
At least Jonathan Ross gave him a good run for his money and asked a few questions others would shy away from. Understandable considering he didn't like The Smiths but stranger that he devotes a whole programme to him. Fame, fame, fatal fame.

I raced home from HMV yesterday and played the album four times in a row without stopping. I decided 'You know I coudn't last', last of the gang, IBEH, come back to Camden and Amrerica are truly fabulous. At first I thought the others were a bit generic, folky and devoid of true Moz quality, if I'm honest, despite being brought up on a diet of Moz lyrics and him being my hero for half my life. Then I played The Queen is dead from start to finish, which blew me away, as Antony said to Cleopatra. It was only after, when I played You are the quarry again that I realised how intelligent and full of quality it really is because it's a mature Moz with beautiful melodies, and a fab flute. Well done Moz, well done Sanctuary and well done to all of us who spent so many years waiting.

because, at the end of the day, when you're sitting at home with the headphones on...it's undeniable that You Are The Quarry is a truly, truly lovely album that repays every repeated listening.

Yes, I was a tad apprehensive about everything (the producer, the label, NME, John Harris, The Lads, everything) but it all boils down to just one thing - the actual record itself. AND IT IS BRILLIANT.

You always - ALWAYS - come back to Morrissey.

Been listening to 'YATQ' for most of this day and I have to say I wish I didn't bother - both purchasing and listening to it that is.

Is the whining and whinging going to continue for the rest of his career? Or has he worked out that unless he's complaining about something or someone he really doesn't have that much to say!

With the exceptions of three very, very good songs 'I'm Not Sorry', 'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores' and 'I Like You' and also the sheer bravery and brazen-ness and of 'America Is Not The World' the rest of this album is a crock of maudlin, self-pitying shit - yes shit a word I thought I'd never hear in a Morrissey song.

How can a 45 year old man keep: moaning, bemoaning groaning, bewailing, deploring, grieving, lamenting, mourning, sighing, wailing,
and exclaim that nobody loves Him, that no one ever takes Him home, that no one ever takes Him in their arms to love him? There is no dignity here whatsoever. And moreover there is not a grain of truth in any of these lyrics.

Nobody in the world is loved more than Morrissey but the love of many fans who warmly embrace him on stage after each concert is not good enough for him. Nor is the adoration of all the nice people who camp outside his house, nor indeed is all the love he receives from all his friends and lovers. He really is an arrogant bigot.

What the fucking hell does this whinging fuckwit want in this life? From my perspective he's only happy when he's complaining about something or someone.

Do you know what? Morrissey really wouldn't recognise loneliness, sadness, melancholy, heartache, and general human misery if they came up behind him and bit him on the arse, that's how far removed he is from his fans and the rest of the hoi polloi.

No one knows more about human misery than the GOOD people like myself who come into this site every day. Personally I have had many difficulties in my life, but I was raised to keep schtum and not complain about things. It's my lot and I must get on with it. I have not an ounce of self pity in me. Quite frankly there is something rather unbecoming about people whinging on about their apparent loneliness (I don't believe him for one moment.) and that the world has an apparent vendetta against them. That is bad enough but to record all this maudlin self-pity on CD, it really is unspeakable! Vendetta! In your mind mate. In your mind.

FOR a famous bigshot lounging by the fucking swimming pool in sunny L.A every day with Nancy Sinatra sipping Pina Coladas whinging on about: the fact that no one loves HIM, the 'evil legal eagles', the 'rampant accountants', the 'damagers managers' mentioned on Xfm, taxmen, uniformed whores, Magistrates, the parking attendants, the rain in Britain, 'the squalor of the mind', and the greasy tea, the smelly uniforms, the loquacious taxi men. This says more about the affluent 'poor' like Morrissey and Bill Gates NOT you and me! If he's that miserable he can have my life anytime. Want to swap mate?

Yet he sings a song called 'I Have Forgiven Jesus' stating that he can't find someone to love and that Jesus put him in a body of 'self-deprecating bones and skin'. What a load of nonsense. I wasn't born yesterday Mozza! You may fool others but you're not foolling me. This is the worse song on the album for me.

And look at me! He's turning me into a ranting and raving Noel Gallagher type.

I have not forgiven Morrissey!

I just wanted to say that I love the new album and it will definitely be in my CD player for the next few weeks. My only wish is that Morrissey stopped singing about how the press is so mean to him and how the record industry sucks. The Morrissey/Smiths songs that I love are the lonely love songs. I love the new CD but somehow I don't see myself singing 'your royalties bring you luxuries' with a tear in my eye :)