THE trouble with Morrissey is that he always seems to be carrying the world's troubles on his shoulders.

Upbeat is certainly not a word best chosen to describe the former Smiths frontman.

But there are times on this album when he loosens those shackles and delivers some excellent upbeat pop - the best example of which is the single You Have Killed Me.

In fact the album threatens to offer a five star treat with the opening two tracks I Will See You In Far Off Places and Dear God Please Help Me also registering highly, even though the latter sees the singer return to his more melancholic offerings.

But it is downhill from there as Morrissey manages to revisit ground covered over an eventful career spanning three decades.

One or two of the tracks up the ante thanks to the excellent work of producer Tony Visconti but ultimately this is an album that could have delivered so much more as the singer proves he really is Ringleader of the Tormentors!

DL