"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 ... Read review
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-Smiths Viva Hate onwards; for al...
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 We...
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-Smiths Viva Hate onwards; for all of the pompous extravagance and tortured eloquence of Morrissey himself, his recordings cant help but be blunted by the 2x4 stock indie that he invariably surrounds himself with. No change here, but that only goes to prove what rare form he is on, for Years Of Refusal quickly establishes itself as his most buoyant and memorable collection of songs for many moons, certainly since his creative renaissance on You Are The Quarry. Erring away from the seriousness of last album Ringleader of the Tormentors this is all about getting in, making an impact and getting out again, often in under 3 minutes. His expression that hes throwing his arms around Paris, because only stone and steel accept my love (Throwing My Arms Around Paris) and did you really think we meant all of those syrupy sentimental things that we said yesterday? (Its Not Your Birthday Anymore) are classic Moz melodrama and theres a particular theatrical virility to the way he delivers his lines in Something Is Squeezing My Skull and Mama Lay Softly By The Riverbed that suggests blood still pumps around this body with some artful force. --James Berry
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-Smiths Viva Hate onwards; for all of the pompous extravagance and tortured eloquence of Morrissey himself, his recordings cant help but be blunted by the 2x4 stock indie that he invariably surrounds himself with. No change here, but that only goes to prove what rare form he is on, for Years Of Refusal quickly establishes itself as his most buoyant and memorable collection of songs for many moons, certainly since his creative renaissance on You Are The Quarry. Erring away from the seriousness of last album Ringleader of the Tormentors this is all about getting in, making an impact and getting out again, often in under 3 minutes. His expression that hes throwing his arms around Paris, because only stone and steel accept my love (Throwing My Arms Around Paris) and did you really think we meant all of those syrupy sentimental things that we said yesterday? (Its Not Your Birthday Anymore) are classic Moz melodrama and theres a particular theatrical virility to the way he delivers his lines in Something Is Squeezing My Skull and Mama Lay Softly By The Riverbed that suggests blood still pumps around this body with some artful force. --James Berry
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-SmithsViva Hateonwards; for all of the pompous extravagance and tortured eloquence of Morrissey himself, his recordings cant help but be blunted by the 2x4 stock indie that he invariably surrounds himself with. No change here, but that only goes to prove what rare form he is on, forYears Of Refusalquickly establishes itself as his most buoyant and memorable collection of songs for many moons, certainly since his creative renaissance onYou Are The Quarry. Erring away from the seriousness of last albumRingleader of the Tormentorsthis is all about getting in, making an impact and getting out again, often in under 3 minutes. His expression that hes throwing his arms around Paris, because only stone and steel accept my love (Throwing My Arms Around Paris) and did you really think we meantall of those syrupy sentimental things that we said yesterday? (Its Not Your Birthday Anymore) are classic Moz melodrama and theres a particular theatrical virility to the way he delivers his lines in Something Is Squeezing My Skull and Mama Lay Softly By The Riverbed that suggests blood still pumps around this body with some artful force. --James Berry
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-SmithsViva Hateonwards; for all of the pompous extravagance and tortured eloquence of Morrissey himself, his recordings cant help but be blunted by the 2x4 stock indie that he invariably surrounds himself with. No change here, but that only goes to prove what rare form he is on, forYears Of Refusalquickly establishes itself as his most buoyant and memorable collection of songs for many moons, certainly since his creative renaissance onYou Are The Quarry. Erring away from the seriousness of last albumRingleader of the Tormentorsthis is all about getting in, making an impact and getting out again, often in under 3 minutes. His expression that hes throwing his arms around Paris, because only stone and steel accept my love (Throwing My Arms Around Paris) and did you really think we meant all of those syrupy sentimental things that we said yesterday? (Its Not Your Birthday Anymore) are classic Moz melodrama and theres a particular theatrical virility to the way he delivers his lines in Something Is Squeezing My Skull and Mama Lay Softly By The Riverbed that suggests blood still pumps around this body with some artful force. --James Berry
bloomin obvious, would make a fine frontman for a great band. And therein lies the main weakness of his solo career, from 1988s post-SmithsViva Hateonwards; for allof the pompous extravagance and tortured eloquence of Morrissey himself, his recordings cant help but be blunted by the 2x4 stock indie that he invariably surrounds himself with. No change here, but that only goes to prove what rare form he is on, forYears Of Refusalquickly establishes itself as his most buoyant and memorable collection of songs for many moons, certainly since his creative renaissance onYou Are The Quarry. Erring away from the seriousness of last albumRingleader of the Tormentorsthis is all about getting in, making an impact and getting out again, often in under 3 minutes. His expression that hes throwing his arms around Paris, because only stone and steel accept my love (Throwing My Arms Around Paris) and did you really think we meant all of those syrupy sentimental things that we said yesterday? (Its Not Your Birthday Anymore) are classic Moz melodrama and theres a particular theatrical virility to the way he delivers his lines in Something Is Squeezing My Skull and Mama Lay Softly By The Riverbed that suggests blood still pumps around this body with some artful force. --James Berry
The Mozzmeister is back! (And he's not holding back!)
A review by barley360 on Years Of Refusal (+DVD) - Morrissey February 10th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Some "classic" Morrissey tracks .
Disadvantages:
Far too few to mention .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
"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 the content of the songs is familiar, Morrissey's high energy delivery appears to be more passionate and edgier than before. Perhaps this vocal quality illustrates his conscious decision to no longer repress his thoughts and emotions; and to alternatively settle a few scores - after years of refusal. This sense of pent-up frustration and urgency is further accentuated by the album's aggressive, punk feel.
Track 1 - 'Something is Squeezing my Skull'
Morrissey draws on his own experience of using prescription drugs to combat depression in the album's opening track 'Something is Squeezing my Skull.' When he repeatedly delivers the line "I'm doing very well" his sarcasm is all too evident. The song's massive drums and jarring guitars echo the mood of many of the tracks that follow.
Track 2 - 'Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed'
Perhaps the strongest track on the album is 'Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed.' (Surely destined to be the follow-up single to 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris.') The song explores a child's attempt to explain and ultimately come to terms with its mother's suicide. Like the album's opening track, this song has relentless, unforgiving percussion. Its soaring chorus is Morrissey at his very best.
Track 3 - 'Black Cloud'
'Black Cloud' opens with angelic voices and heavenly guitars. But this mood is short-lived. Distorted guitars, rock drums and a relentless bass-line soon kick in as Morrissey explores what happens when unrequited love becomes an obsession.
Track 4 - 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris'
Mozza has jokingly described 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris,' as his aborted 2007 Eurovision entry. In the track he casts aside his previous love affairs with Los Angeles and Rome, to alternatively flirt with the French capital. The song's strength comes from its beautiful simplicity. It is perhaps the most commercial track on the album, as confirmed by its almost continual airplay.
Track 5 - 'All You Need is Me'
Like 'That's How People Grow Up,' 'All You Need is Me' was featured on Morrissey's 2008 'Greatest Hits' album. Morrissey alludes to his motivation for writing the track in a recent interview - "If you have a really dedicated audience who will follow you, come what may, it really annoys a lot of people and it annoys a lot of so-called critics. So they dig into you further and more so than they would otherwise." In the song Mozza reminds music critics how dependent they are on him, and gives advice to those who have nothing better to do than criticise his work, "There is so much destruction all over the world and all you can do is complain about me." The track's enormous drums and wall of raw guitars provide an appropriate backdrop to his angry vocal.
Track 6 - 'When Last I Spoke to Carol'
The sixth track on the album seems strangely incongruous. 'When Last I Spoke to Carol' has a carnival-like "mariachi" feel to it and is perhaps included to satisfy Morrissey's ever-growing South American fan base.
Track 7 - 'That's How People Grow Up'
Morrissey returns to his obsession with love and its pitfalls in 'That's How People Grow Up.' His tongue-in-cheek lyrics mock our constant desire to be loved; and give us one of the most memorable lines in the album, "I was driving my car. I crashed and broke my spine. So yes there are things worse in life, than never being someone's sweetie!"
Track 8 - 'One Day Goodbye Will be Farewell'
Morrissey has recently admitted that he is "obsessed with the brevity of life and how you use it...what you do with your time." In 'One Day Goodbye Will be Farewell' he examines this very subject; ruminating upon the unpredictable length of human mortality. The song mixes manic percussion with soaring synthesizers, and in the middle-eight mariachi trumpets are thrown in for good measure!
Track 9 - 'It's Not Your Birthday Anymore'
Morrissey explores the gap between "syrupy sentimental" affection and spontaneous physical love in 'It's Not Your Birthday Anymore.' What the track lacks in content - it certainly makes up for in volume!
Track 10 - 'You Were Good in Your Time'
The album changes gear with 'You Were Good in Your Time' and almost grinds to a halt. Morrissey takes us to a death bed and then (for what seems like ages) the strange "white noise" sounds that lie beyond...
Even though the tempo picks up again for the final two tracks on the album, its momentum doesn't really return. 'Sorry Doesn't Help' features loads of melancholic guitar, whimsical strings and rock drums. Like 'Sorry Doesn't Help,' the topic covered by 'I'm Okay by Myself' needs no additional explanation. Neither songs are particularly 'deep.'
Whilst I don't think that 'Years of Refusal' is Morrissey's strongest work to date, I must admit that there are some truly stunning tracks on the album; 'Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed' and 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' spring immediately to mind. As he approaches his half-century it is clear that the Mozzfather can still produce the goods. Long may his reign continue...
(Price: £ 8.98 at Amazon.co.uk)
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Advantages: Some corking songs Disadvantages: Lacklustre album tracks, some songs have been released before
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 ... ...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 know), and allowed himself to sing about the rather un-Moz themes of actually having sex and (heaven forbid!) happiness. Whatever love affair Moz had while writing 'Ringleader...' must now surely be over, and sadly this has meant a return to some of themes of loneliness, celibacy and being unloved that have ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: An amazing album, with an intimate rare Morrissey interview as a bonus Disadvantages: None spring to mind
...the Tormentors, in my mind Years of Refusal is a Moz masterpiece.
Morrissey's hallmark humour, dry wit and opinionated observations make a familiar welcome return onto this album, which although is not deprived of its melancholy laments, is more upbeat and reflective of Morrissey's maturity as he embarks on his fiftieth year.
There appears to be a theme of relationship experiences in his songwriting on Years of Refusal, whereas in the past, both ... ...so often been tales of searching and longing for a partner. With the exception of 'Black Cloud' and 'I'm throwing my arms around Paris', his lyrics are more dismissive here as if he's been there, done that, and bought the silk shirt to boot. 'I'm OK by myself", 'That's how people Grow Up' and 'Sorry will not help us' are obvious examples of this next chapter.
'When last I spoke to Carol', a tragic tale of the death of a loved one, leans towards ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Album Notes: 'Years Of Refusal' is the tenth album from iconic indie legend Morrissey. The former Smiths frontman teams up again with the late producer Jerry Finn ('You Are The Quarry', 'Ringleader Of The Tormented') resulting in an album more urgent and intimate than the last. Raw and fresh, 'Years Of Refusal' has a spiky punk-esque energy running through it, further illustrating Morrissey's formidable talent. The singles, 'All You Need Is Me' and 'That's How People Grow Up' is included.
Album Reviews: Spin (p.85) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "YEARS OF REFUSAL thunders with noise-rock bass lines, enormous drums, and big swaths of guitar distortion."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Something Is Squeezing My Skull
2.: Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed
3.: Black Cloud
4.: I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
5.: All You Need Is Me
6.: When I Last Spoke To Carol
7.: That's How People Grow Up
8.: One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
9.: It's Not Your Birthday Anymore
10.: You Were Good In Your Time
11.: Sorry Doesn't Help
12.: I'm OK By Myself
Titles on disc 2
1.: Wrestle With Russell (DVD)
2.: That's How People Grow Up (live on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross/DVD)
3.: All You Need Is Me (live on Later With Jools Holland/DVD)
4.: All You Need Is Me (DVD)
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