Neil G writes:

Follow this link for some info about the new Moz issue of Index. The home page of Index has a separate photo. They were taken in the grounds of the studio where he's been recording You Are The Quarry.

The notoriously press-shy former frontman of The Smiths met James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy, founders of New York disco-rock record label DFA, at the Oxfordshire studiow where he is currently completing his new LP.

He tells James and Tim about the thrill of singing on stage, why he lives in La La Land even though he finds the notion of celebrity "terribly embarrassing," and that the best place to listen to music is in the bath.

Photographs by Wolfgang Tillmans
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• Related item: Index magazine (Feb. 2004) to feature exclusive Moz interview - Jan. 2, 2004

nonesoever writes:

Thanks go to Aly Panic for the info at The Discussion Board.

Here is BBC 6 MUSIC NEWS Editorial - Will Morrissey’s new album be any good?

To listen to the show live or to listen again Music Week with Jayne Middlemiss

SeaDocked writes:

From the January 23/30 Issue of Entertainment Weekly. Special Double Issue. Our Guide to 2004:

Morrissey

With '80s alt-rock deities like the Cure surfacing as key influences to today's trendiest bands, now is a great time for Morrissey to reclaim his throne. Too bad mope-rock's maudlin master wants no part of it. "I don't feel of the '80s," he says. "Or of [anytime] else." * On his first CD in seven years, You Are the Quarry , the former Smiths frontman tapped producer Jerry Finn (blink-182, Green Day) for what Morrissey describes as a "richer, more listenable" album with "lots more hooks." And the song titles look promising: "America Is Not the World" and "The World is Full of Crashing Bores" suggest the Brit hasn't lost his biting wit. Noticeably missing, however, are collaborations with any of his many young musician fans. "I'm not the kind of person you jam with," says the famously antisocial singer. "I still stand alone. Which is to everyone's benefit, I think." (April)
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scan of article from m0z0rder.

Richard Martin writes:

In a recent Daily telegraph interview, Stuart Staples, the lead vocalist/lyricist of the Tindersticks said of his band's increasingly cult status: "We are one with morrissey. Under-rated, morose, and from the depths of England."
He then said he was "excited, yet sceptical" of the new morrissey album this year.

"He will have to prove the critics wrong, because in all fairness, it has been a while since he did anything last, 5 years I think."

Actually, it was 7 years. But his comments were a nice touch, the Tindersticks are a fantastic group. They hail from nottingham, hence his 'depth of England' comment.

Information on the tindersticks is best found at their unofficial site: www.tinder.org

charles byron writes:

according to member William-D, the Connecticut based indie-band Superfallingstars will be releasing a cover of "Please, Please, Please" as a hidden-track on their forthcoming album "Swimming Across The Sound".

below is the message sent to the indiepop-list when discussing Matinee’s compilation "Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware".

---------------------------------
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 20:52:51 -0500
From: "superfallingwilliam"
To: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [indiepop-list] Smiths cover album on Matinee

although this is somewhat related / unrelated.
superfallingstars do a cover of 'please please please' as a hidden track on our upcoming cd.

shhhhh -- it's a secret

xoxo
william
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• Related item: "Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware" - indie Smiths tribute CD on Matinée Recordings (Jan. 2004) - Nov. 26, 2003

sweetnesss writes:

Hiya, just got this in my Candle Records newsletter:

"ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE (A Matinee Tribute To The Smiths) Compilation CD

We have had so many emails regarding the new Matinee Smiths 12-track compilation that features songs by The Lucksmiths and The Guild League. We have limited stock of the album and they are available now to pre-order for $20 plus postage. Copies will be sent out January 26th. We also have six copies left of the Matinee 50 Compilation released last year.

“A daring and impressive tribute to legendary mid-80s English band The Smiths. Arguably one of the finest pop groups of all time, The Smiths released an impeccable collection of records between their debut in 1983 and their swansong in 1987. Among their many fans are several top artists from California-based indie Matinée Recordings, so the label invited twelve of them to pay respect to the brilliance of The Smiths and mark the 20th anniversary of their first album with this sincere tribute. Borrowing a title from the run-out groove of the "William, It Was Really Nothing" single, "Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware" provides solid interpretations of Smiths classics by current Matinée artists from England, Australia, Brazil, Sweden and the United States.

The contributors include The Pines, with a jangly version of the hit "Ask"; Pale Sunday, providing a magnificent bossa-nova/shoegaze reworking of "I Know It’s Over"; The Lucksmiths, who approach the mighty "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" as a duet and come out smelling of roses; Slipslide, with an expertly crafted cover of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"; Pipas, adding a dance beat to the early classic "This Night Has Opened My Eyes"; Lovejoy, contributing an admirable cover of "Girlfriend In A Coma"; Would-Be-Goods, with an unforgettable version of "Back To The Old House"; The Young Tradition, putting their polish on an untraditional version of "Sheila Take A Bow"; Simpático, with a convincing rendition of "That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore"; The Guild League, glam-ing up the already glam hit "Panic"; The Liberty Ship, attacking the rollicking "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" in fine fashion; and The Snowdrops, with a splendid live recording of "Bigmouth Strikes Again". Created with immense reverence for the band, "Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware" is a passionate tribute to the most influential pop band of the past 20 years."

For further information visit the Matinee Records website. http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/

www.candlerecords.com.au
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• Related item: "Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware" - indie Smiths tribute CD on Matinée Recordings (Jan. 2004) - Nov. 26, 2003

Natalie writes:

There are 24 beautiful pics from the Oct. 3, 2002 show in Dublin that can be purchased here:
Frequency Photography - Morrissey

mozzergirl writes:

In the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten I noticed a list of the best songs ever - as voted by the news paper's music journalists... One of the critics, Anders Houmøller, had two Morrissey/Smiths songs on his list:

Anders Houmøller:

1. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me: The Smiths 2. Play Dead: Björk 3. Michelle: The Beatles 4. Natsværmer: Lars H.U.G. 5. You And Me Song: The Wannadies 6. World Leader Pretend: R.E.M. 7. One: U2 8: Starálfur: Sigur Rós 9. Moments Of Pleasure: Kate Bush 10. Now My Heart Is Full: Morrissey