Years of Refusal is the ninth solo album by Morrissey and was released in 2009. He's not as wonderfully anglocentric as he used to be but the wit-drenched ennui and paeans to doomed romance and maladjustment, the quipping couplets of forlorn love, are all still just about there, albeit with less rain splattered cobblestones and Billy Liar kitchen sink disaffection these days. He's still quirky but not as pricelessly as he always used to be in The Smiths. Perhaps he has dipped into the well of Morrissey for so many years there isn't much left he hasn't already said. Morrissey really and truly lost the plot in the mid to late nineties with a couple of atrocious records and  Read the complete review

Morrissey - Years of Refusal (2009) Producer: Jerry Finn Something Is Squeezing My Skull Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed Black Cloud I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris All You Need Is Me When Last I Spoke to Carol That's How People Grow Up One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell It's Not Your Birthday Anymore You Were Good in Your Time Sorry Doesn't Help I'm OK by Myself Released in 2009, Years of Refusal is the ninth solo album by Morrissey. Let me begin by saying that the restoration of Morrissey's popularity has been most remarkable. There was a time there in the mid-to-late 1990s where ...  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

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