MORRISSEY is proud to announce the first two singles to be taken from LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL, his first studio album in three years. SPENT THE DAY IN BED sees him in fine form with typically assertive lyrics sung over joyful melodies, pleading, “Stop watching the news, because the news contrives to frighten you”; juxtaposing with a final refrain of, “No bus, no boss, no rain, no train”.
The video for SPENT THE DAY IN BED has also now been revealed. Opening with a tongue in cheek scene, long-time fan JOEY BARTON is seen pushing a deadpan MORRISSEY around an old school social club in a wheelchair; and the video also features the iconic performance artist DAVID HOYLE. It was filmed at the 142-year-old Peckham Liberal Club and directed by Sophie Muller, who has previously worked with Beyonce, Kings of Leon, Blur and The Killers.
The second track from the album, I WISH YOU LONELY, is also out now as an instant grat with album pre-orders and available on all DSPs. Marrying synths with crunching bass, the lyrics rage, “Monarchy! Oligarch! Head of State! Potentate!”.
MORRISSEY recently debuted tracks from LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL for BBC 6 Music Live at Maida Vale Studios, inspiring THE TIMES to comment, “This hour-long set was a joy; Morrissey looked and sounded like a star”; and THE TELEGRAPH to ponder that, “It all suggested that the new album, his first in three years, could be classic Morrissey: musical adventurous, witty and political”.
The remaining ten album tracks continue in the same vein: chastising political figures, questioning authority and regaling old fashioned love stories. Entertaining, provocative, insightful and intelligent, MORRISSEY weaves a narrative like no other and none more so than on LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL.
The album will be released digitally and in physical formats: CD, coloured vinyl and limited-edition cassette. Limited vinyl formats and bundles will be available via the Mporium, with the vinyl in different colours with lyrics and sleeve notes in French [blue] Spanish [transparent orange] and Japanese [transparent yellow]. The Mporium will also stock a limited edition 7” box set with clear vinyl.
There is also the opportunity for fans to purchase a limited edition transparent green vinyl from independent record stores and from HMV. All vinyls come in gatefold packaging. A limited-edition clear 7” vinyl of SPENT THE DAY IN BED is now also be available.
Details of the LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL album launch pop-up shops have also now been confirmed. For those having to deal with buses, bosses, rain and trains the Camden shop will open at 8am on the album release day, Friday 17 November.
The shops [at Provender Building, Camden Market, London NW1 8AH and 8250 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90048] will have 100 album Test Pressings available for purchase at each location on a first come, first served basis over three days: 40 on the Friday; 30 on the Saturday; and 30 on the Sunday.
These will also be two of the only physical stores stocking all of the Language Edition coloured LPs and the 7” limited edition boxset. Alongside this, there will be exclusive LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL merchandise and numbered prints available on the days.
LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL is the first studio album from MORRISSEY since 2014 and his debut for BMG. The album will see BMG partnering with MORRISSEY on the new release and on the launch of his new label, Etienne Records. The album was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in France, and at Ennio Morricone’s Forum Studios in Rome. The record is produced by Joe Chiccarelli, who has worked with Frank Zappa, The Strokes, Beck and The White Stripes to name a few.
Rising to prominence as frontman of THE SMITHS, MORRISSEY went on to forge an even more successful career as a solo artist, with all ten of his solo albums reaching the Top 10 of the UK album charts, including three entries at the #1 position. Releasing his debut VIVA HATE back in 1988, he has since released a number of critically acclaimed follow-ups including KILL UNCLE and YOUR ARSENAL, and the hugely successful comeback album YOU ARE THE QUARRY after a five-year hiatus in 2004.
In 2013, MORRISSEY published his record-breaking autobiography on Penguin Classics, immediately topping the best-seller list with literary reviewers hailing it a masterpiece in writing and prose.
LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL TRACK LIST
01: MY LOVE I’D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU
02: I WISH YOUN LONELY
03: JACKY’S ONLY HAPPY WHEN SHE’S UP ON THE STAGE
04: HOME IS A QUESTION MARK
05: SPENT THE DAY IN BED
06: I BURY THE LIVING
07: IN YOUR LAP
08: THE GIRL FROM TEL AVIV WHO WOULDN’T KNEEL
09: ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE MUST FALL IN LOVE
10: WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR LEGS
11: WHO WILL PROTECT US FROM THE POLICE?
12: ISRAEL
MORRISSEY has also announced his first full UK and Irish tour since 2015, giving the chance to hear tracks from LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL. Full dates as follows:
FEBRUARY
Fri 16 ABERDEEN BHGE Arena
Sat 17 GLASGOW SSE Hydro
Tue 20 DUBLIN 3 Arena
Fri 23 NEWCASTLE Metro Arena
Sat 24 LEEDS First Direct Arena
Tue 27 BIRMINGHAM Genting Arena
MARCH
Sat 03 BRIGHTON Centre
Wed 07 LONDON Royal Albert Hall
Fri 09 LONDON Alexandra Palac
