Album Review: Morrissey - Years of Refusal

Morrissey
Years of Refusal
Attack, 2009

One of many things I love about Morrissey: If you have any interest in this album, you probably already heard it a month ago. And who saw this coming? 2004's You Are the Quarry, once known as the career highlight, seems downright geriatric by the first chorus of the frantic and thoroughly unexpected "Something is Squeezing My Skull." Moz is resolutely off-key by the last round of the breathless shouting match that ends the tune (not joking a bit on this), and it's a unique thrill to witness this charming man emoting beyond the limits of his body or just not caring enough to lay down a second take. Something's changed, but I'd hate to make the obvious nod at the long-dormant sex life he reportedly rediscovered around the time these songs were penned. (Key lyric: "Did you really think we meant all those syrupy sentimental things that we said?") Less gloom, more conceit, but just as sharp - he's getting away with something else entirely now.

[Zach Noland]