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Years of Refusal: Morrissey

Aging icon releases a new onslaught of tunes

Feb 8, 2009 Amanda O'Mahony

Using a familiarly snide turn of phrase to self and others, Morrissey's new effort, Years of Refusal, launches into full on rock from the start.

Listing various psychiatric drugs and begging to be released from them, Morrissey delivers a hard hitting musical hit. With thundering drums and bass, the first song comes in under three minutes and ushers in a recognizable Morrissey.

Finn's Farewell

With 3 years and a label change between releases, this album has been anxiously awaited. The late Jerry Finn produced You Are the Quarry, 2004’s triumphant return for Morrissey. Years of Refusal sees a return to Finn as producer. This was Finn’s last offering, which is sad to see since the pairing of Finn and Morrissey fit so well. The new album seems to be back in step with the “king of mope” who has been an inspiration to countless musicians over the past few decades.

All You Need is Morrissey

The first single from the album, “I’m Throwing My Arms around Paris”, is one of the more pop-sounding songs featured, as several of the songs are straight forward rock. The lyrics for the album have returned to the unconventional, longing, misunderstood and often catty, sentiment which has always pervaded the offerings from the aging icon. As usual we find Morrissey pining and purging over someone or something, but this time around these emotions seem to be connected to an overwhelming sense of maturity and reflection.

Each song is a collaborative effort of Morrissey and Boz Boorer, Alain Whyte and Jesse Tobias, and “Black Cloud” even features Jeff Beck. The lyrics of songs like “All You Need Is Me” and “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell” could be looked at as a response to his adoring fans. Even the ballads contain more strength and power than have been seen for a while in Morrissey’s work.

With accompaniments like synthesizers and cowbell, it is hard not to immediately visualize the man performing his microphone twirling and rhythmic dance steps in time to the music. “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore” shows his voice has not retreated as have those of some of his contemporaries and connects to another ballad, “You Were Good In Your Time”. “You Were Good In Your Time” recalls tracks from The Smiths’ as it fades out with a mixture of muffled speech and chords, perhaps as a slight to himself or others.

While it is not a perfect work, it is closer to perfection than most modern artists have achieved so far. To promote the release, Morrissey is on a world-wide tour for the next several months and the fans are happy to have him back.

The copyright of the article Years of Refusal: Morrissey in Rock Music is owned by Amanda O'Mahony. Permission to republish Years of Refusal: Morrissey in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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