Years Of Refusal - Morrissey

"Years of Refusal" is Morrissey's ninth solo album. It was recorded at the end of 2007, mixed in the first half of 2008 and finally released in February 2009. Morrissey co-wrote the album's 12 tracks with Alain Whyte, Boz Boorer and Jesse Tobias, and has reportedly described it as his "strongest work to date." In the following review I will discuss whether the album lives up to the Mozzfather's claims. As we have come to expect from Morrissey, many of the songs on 'Years of Refusal' appear to have an autobiographical origin and fans will recognise several of Mozza's reoccurring themes: unrequited love, mortality and loss etc. Even though ...  Read the complete review

I'm a huge fan of Morrissey and this latest record didn't fail to impress. It kicks off with the aggressive sounding 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull', which is laced with humour in true Morrissey fashion. The way he sings 'skull' is delightful, as it screams out and really makes you listen. You are forced to have an opinion, it's thought provoking, which is the great thing with Morrissey, he is always thought provoking. There are different styles of music on show throughout the album, with the excellent 'When I Last Spoke To Carol', dsiplaying a Latin guitar style which worlks really well with the horns and general melody of the song. The howling wind at the ...  Read the complete review

I must start this review confessing I am a Morrissey fan, but not the rabid kind that doesn't admit the man has his flaws - he's been peddling the same album for the last couple of decades, some of his opinions are a bit iffy, and some of his output in the past has been decidedly below par. However the previous two albums to this one, 'You Are The Quarry' and 'Ringleader of the Tormentors' were some of his best, especially the latter which saw him experimenting with a more grandiose sound and lyrically overcoming some of the themes that had become Mozza cliches. That is he seemed to be in the throes of love (hetero- or homosexual we'll possibly never quite ...  Read the complete review

Morrissey's new album is another gritty affair, he has ditched some of the sounds which shaped the last album 'Ringleader Of The Tormenters' and gone for a more rockier sound. As can be expected, miserable lyrics and a bleak outlook on life, delivered in his droll tuneful way. Who is he: Former lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey is a great lyricist, outspoken on his views on politics and refuses to be pigeon holed with his music. Highlights: It gets off to a blazing start with the startling, 'Something Is Squeezing My Soul.' A macho performance from Morrissey as he pulls of the high notes with ease and builds to a frantic if ...  Read the complete review

After recently getting into The Smiths I decided to check out Morrissey's solo albums and although there is the odd masterpiece mixed in quite a lot of the albums tend to disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised however when 'Years Of Refusal' was released to find out that it had far greater depth than his previous albums. The first single 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' is one of the best tracks in Morrissey's solo career and as a result has had more airplay than some of his previous tracks. The main bonus of this album though is after this track there are several more songs that grab your attention, 'I'm OK By Myself' is one highlight where he ...  Read the complete review