Torr

Moz new album; new vid; Southpaw Grammar re-released

from True-To-You.net:

30 May 2008

Morrissey's new studio album 'Years of Refusal' is now complete, and is set for a September release by Polydor UK (Universal). It has yet to be decided which Universal label will release the album in the US.

'Years of Refusal' has 12 tracks and is produced by Jerry Finn.

Prior to this, Sony-BMG will issue a remastered version of 'Southpaw Grammar' in July. This album, first released in 1995, will include three previously unreleased tracks, and new artwork.

In addition to the Cork Festival on June 26th, Morrissey will play a concert at Kilmainham Hospital in Dublin on June 28th.

Southpaw Grammar is one of my favorite Moz albums so I'm definitely looking forward to the 3 unreleased tracks! I just hope Moz doesn't put an out-of-date photo of himself on the cover.

Moz also just released the "All You Need Is Me" video:

Moz having fun in a video? That hasn't happened since, oh, "Dangenham Dave" or "The More You Ignore Me". It's also quite reminiscent of the videos for "Tomorrow" and "We Have It When Our Friends Become Successful".

James sign U.S. deal, plan to tour

The recently reformed ("classic-lineup") James will finally release their 10th album (Hey Ma) in the U.S. on Sept 16th via Decca Records.

The band will play a session on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic on June 5th.

There are plans for North American shows later in the year.

Rumor has it that "Whiteboy" [live vid] will be used in a U.S. TV ad campaign for an as-yet-unnamed car manufacturer.

Hey Ma (which is their first album since 2001's Pleased To Meet You) debuted at #10 on the UK album chart last month.

I'm really looking forward to an LA show cause I've only ever seen the band once, and that was in 2001 at T In The Park from waaaaaaaay in the back of a huge field. It's just too bad the new album isn't that good!

U.S. SoundScan Chart Report

Here's the notable stuff that entered (or moved up) on the U.S. Billboard SoundScan charts the week of Wed May 28th...

Billboard 200:

• #126 Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head [5,190]
• #140 Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us [4,716]
• #147 The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing [4,433]
• #200 Islands - Arm's Way [3,302]

Heatseekers chart (artists who've never had a release in the top 100 of the big chart):

• #39 Ladytron - Velocifero [1,590 on iTunes alone, CD out this week.]
• #102 French Kicks - Swimming [1,854]
• #121 Hot Chip - Made In The Dark [Up by 2%. 31,056 to-date.]
• #144 Panda Bear - Person Pitch [Up by 30%. 44,493 to-date.]

Alternative-artist Heatseekers chart:

• #44 Your Vegas - Town And Two Cities [Up by 1%. 4,159 to-date.]
• #47 The Republic Tigers - Keep Color [Up by 11%. 1,758 to-date.]

Indie-store chart:

• The Explorers Club - Freedom Wind [340]
  

These albums did not chart:

• The Wedding Present - El Rey
• Curt Smith - Halfway, Pleased
• Blackstrap - Steal My Horses and Run

Let me know if there are any recent releases you'd like me to look up.

UK Chart Report

Here's the notable stuff that entered the UK charts on Sun May 25th...

Albums:

• #1 The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing [This Salford duo is awful.]
• #64 Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head

Indie-label album chart:

• nothing of interest

These albums did not chart:

• July Skies - The Weather Clock [4th album from Slowdive-like English guy.]
• Magne F - Dot of Black... [2nd solo album from A-ha keyboardist.]

Singles:

• #7 Duffy - "Warwick Avenue" [Vid. On downloads-alone. CD out this week.]
• #27 The Fratellis - "Mistress Mabel" [Vid. On downloads-alone. CD out this week.]
• #28 The Zutons - "Always Right Behind You" [Vid. On downloads-alone. CD out this week.]
• #65 The Futureheads - "Radio Heart" [Vid]

Indie-label singles chart:

• #16 The Hazey Janes - "New York" [Vid. 7"-only 1st single from an upcoming 2nd album.]

These singles did not chart:

• Spiritualized - "Soul On Fire" [Vid. Weak by-the-numbers 1st single from his 6th album.]
• Los Campesinos - "My Year In Lists" [Vid]
  
• Young Knives - "Turn Tail" [Vid]
• Puressence - "Don't Know Any Better" [Vid. 3rd single from Don't Forget to Remember.]
• Look See Proof - "Discussions" [Vid 7"-only.]
• The Steers - "Julia" [Vid. 7"-only.]
• White Light Parade - "Turning All The Lights Down" [Vid]
• Sergeant - "K Ok" [Vid. 7"-only debut from Glenrothes 4-piece.]
• Johnny Flynn - "Tickle Me Pink" [Vid]

Out in the U.S. on Tuesday

Here's the notable stuff that's out in the U.S. on Tuesday May 27th...

The Lodger - Life Is Sweet [Vid. 2nd album from Leeds trio.]

also out this week:

• Spiritualized - Songs in A&E [Stream. Completely forgettable new album from Jason Pierce.]
• Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia [Stream. Debut full-length from Melbourne electro trio.]
• Malcolm Middleton - Sleight of Heart [His 4th solo album.]

Download new Moz b-side "Children In Pieces"

Why is Moz using an old picture for a new song?

Here's one of Moz's new b-sides from his second single of the year, "All You Need Is Me", which will be released in the UK on June 2nd for one week only.

• "Children In Pieces" [4:00]

The press-release says that Gustavo Santaolalla was involved in the recording of the two new b-sides, but I don't know in what capacity exactly, since Jesse Tobias gets the co-writing credits on both.

All tracks on the single were produced by Jerry Finn (You Are The Quarry), who is also producing Moz's next studio album which is due for an Autumn 2008 release.

Children in pieces
in Irish industrial schools
Nun's cold mothers
and their Christian brothers
kick the shit out of very frightened children

Judges and priests and police and cardinals
they look the other way
when the weekend comes they'll make you suffer

You say you wanna go home
you say you wanna be left alone
and so you turn to me
but instead of sympathy I find
my sentimental heart hardens
my sentimental heart hardens

Get your hands off me
Kid, you must be bad luck
My sentimental heart hardens

Out in the UK on Monday

Here's the notable stuff that's out in the UK on Mon May 26th...

Albums:

Mark Morriss - Memory Muscle [Live Vid. Debut solo album from the Bluetones singer.]


The Pigeon Detectives - Emergency [Vid. 2nd album from Leeds 5-piece.]

Singles:


Guillemots - "Falling Out Of Reach" [Vid stars Ian McKellen. 2nd single from Red.]

The Starlets - "Radio Friendly" [Vid. Debut from Glasgow indie-poppers.]

Theoretical Girl - "Another Fight" [No vid? 2nd single from London chick.]

also out this week, mediocre new singles from:

• The Fratellis - "Mistress Mabel" [Vid]
• The Zutons - "Always Right Behind You" [Vid]
• Duffy - "Warwick Avenue" [Vid]

Happy 49th Birthday Morrissey

Happy 49th birthday to that most curmudgeon of great singers, Morrissey.

Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Park Hospital in Davyhulme, Manchester on 22 May 1959 to Irish Catholic immigrants. His father, Peter Morrissey, was a hospital porter, and his mother, Elizabeth Dwyer, was a librarian. His parents had emigrated to England just before Morrissey's birth and, along with his only sibling (elder sister Jackie), Morrissey was raised in Harper Street in Hulme, Manchester. He has maintained a strong attachment to his mother throughout his life. His relationship with his father, however, suffered much strain over the years.

What's the finest song that Moz has ever sung?

I can't decide. It could be "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", or maybe it's "Jack The Ripper", but then again maybe it's "Now My Heart Is Full":  

Bah, too many good ones to choose from.

You can stream a bunch of Smiths and Moz solo tracks over at Last.fm

And don't forget those penpal letters from 1981 :-)

U.S. SoundScan Chart Report

Here's the notable stuff that entered (or moved up) on the U.S. Billboard SoundScan charts the week of Wed May 21st...

Kudos to DCFC for scoring their first-ever #1 album, too bad it's for their worst album ever.

Billboard 200:

• #1 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs [143,849]
• #4 Duffy - Rockferry [71,084]

Heatseekers chart (artists who've never had a release in the top 100 of the big chart):

• #25 M83 - Saturdays=Youth [Up by 2%. 15,936 to-date.]
• #30 Bryan Scary - Flight of the Knife [2,118]
• 41 We Are Scientists - Brain Thrust Mastery [1,701]
• 58 Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight [Up by 5%. 4,941 to-date.]
• 60 Devotchka - A Mad & Faithful Telling [Up by 8%. 15,879 to-date.]
• 75 Sun Kil Moon - April [Up by 7%. 16,746 to-date.]
• 81 Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers [Up by 5%. 22,313 to-date.]
• 93 Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP [Up by 1%. 7,131 to-date.]
• 99 Beirut - The Flying Club Cup [Up by 34%. 60,554 to-date.]
• 126 Colin Meloy - Sings Live [Up by 3%. 8,554 to-date.]
• 146 Los Campesinos - Hold on Now, Youngster [Up by 7%. 8,626 to-date.]
  Teitur - The Singer did not chart.

Let me know if there are any recent releases you'd like me to look up.

Out in the U.S. on Tuesday

Here's the notable stuff that's out in the U.S. on Tues May 24th...

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head [Stream. An album of Tom Waits covers. The music itself sounds good (kudos to David Sitek), but I'm sorry Scarlett just can't really sing that well. It sounds like she's putting on a silly choice.]

Curt Smith - Halfway, Pleased [Stream. 2nd solo album from the Tears For Fears bassist.]

The Wedding Present - El Rey [Stream. Their 8th album. Produced by Steve Albini.]

Blackstrap - Steal My Horses and Run [Live vid. U.S. debut from Stockholm 5-piece with boy-girl vocals.]

Islands - Arm's Way [2nd album from Montreal 6-piece.]

French Kicks - Swimming [4th album from New York 4-piece.]

The Explorers Club - Freedom Wind [Debut from Charleston 6-piece that's practically a Beach Boys cover band.]