Years of Refusal

Artist: Morrissey
Label: Shock Records

I believe that every time a new Morrissey record drops, the words "rebound", "comeback", and "re-energized" work their way into the review, mostly because The Moz hits 50 this year. Considering that he used to front one of the all time great bands The Smiths and has stayed relevant throughout his solo discography, I think that any reference to Morrissey being back is over hyped - he never went away!

Like any career artist, some albums are better than others and for Morrissey, Years Of Refusal is his best outing since Vauxhall and I [1994] by just edging out You Are The Quarry [2004].

What makes Years Of Refusal connect on all levels is simple - its aggressive tone + sharp and edgy guitars + catchy sing-a-long melodies + a focused and concise Moz. Sure other Morrissey records have contained these elements but his delivery of these tracks come off with ease and not misery this go around. This is not the record where he tries to relive the glory days or complain that he is turning 50; but instead how he is OK with the aging process, comfortable in his current scene status and a strong issued warning to get the hell out of his way.

It is this fire that has always been with Morrissey but Years Of Refusal fully harnesses that energy into a creative output that makes the crunching guitar opener "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" and the surprising blazing mariachi trumpets in "When Last I Spoke To Carol" simply pop out of your player with a consistent vigor that satisfies throughout the record.

Jerry Finn (You Are The Quarry) produced again for Morrissey, which I am sure helped its consistency but the songs themselves fit the spirit of the record because five out of the twelve tracks are under three minutes, while two others are just over the three minute mark. Years Of Refusal will definitely unite Morrissey`s fanbase but may just have the capability to win over some new ones or even reach out to the group who left a long time ago.

Years Of Refusal is just that -what age did we say Morrissey was again? You can`t tell from this record!

Reece Michael