Morrissey- Years of Refusal

Artist: Morrissey

Album: Years of Refusal

Label: Track

That’s How People Grow Up…

On Sir Morrissey’s 9^th Studio album since going solo in 87-88, there is a feel that one can sense of his becoming older, accepting it, and actually embracing it, to a certain point.  His lyrics are as sharp as they have ever been, his points aren’t hidden at all, and he wants you to know, yet again, what’s going on in his world, and his life, as far as his point of views. This is a refreshing release, picking up more from “You Are the Quarry” sound wise, than from “Ringleader of the Tormentors”.  He’s focused more again, with the time length between the releases of this and “Ringleader” compared to the shorter time between “Ringleader” and “Quarry”. 

There are many examples throughout.  On the very first track, “Something is squeezing my skull” his wit and sharp tongue are as present as ever, as he attacks the modern “medicated”  generation with it’s ridiculous  reliance on a slew of anti-depressants that he lists off as if he’s seemingly looking right into someone’s medicine cabinet. “ Black Cloud”  tackles the angst we all have gone through at one point or another; those times in our lives when we want the one  in our lives that we can’t have, and the many ways we’ll try to get the attention from the person of our affections, even though we know it will never be, deep inside.  Mortality (“One Day will be Farewell”) and how we never can get someone back, so tell them now how much they mean to you, while you still have time, Even after telling the world he wants someone in his life, like we all want and seem to need,   He tells you “I’m OK by Myself”, as if he’s resided to the fact that maybe such things will not come to him, but you know what?  He’s ok with that, after all.

Overall, if you’re an older solo Morrissey fan, this release will no doubt get played over and over, If you’ve never understood the fascination though with the “Man of doom and gloom”, this is a good way for you get past those stereotypes that he has had follow him from the early Smith days as it showcases that he is more than just all that. 

Check out Morrissey: https://www.myspace.com/morrissey