Morrissey
Years of Refusal
Rock
To call Years of Refusal a resurgence for Morrissey would only tell half of the story.
On the one hand he sounds much more powerful than on his last few releases. But on the other he's really just utilizing the same tricks he always has.
He's still overwrought and dramatic still morose and theatric. But he does it all without ever forsaking sincerity.
The voice is still there the poetry stronger than ever and damn if he doesn't sound like he's had a rush of confidence.
Not happiness" mind you; there's still ""no love in modern life"" but he delivers these lines with as much punch as ever.
As strange as it seems for Morrissey, the album begins with the declaration that he is doing very well."" But he doesn't let this positivity go too long. Behind a chugging keyboard and drum line"" the Moz spouts about his life-long relationship with antidepressants.
""There's something squeezing my skull/Something I can barely describe/There is no love in modern life"" he croons before ending the track powerfully repeating Don't give me anymore/You swore.""
For all of its flourishes" it packs a punch. You sympathize and you relate something that's occasionally hard to do with the songs of music's most prolific moper.
There's no more perfect example of vintage Morrissey than the album's single" ""I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris.""
""I'm throwing my arms around Paris/Because only stone and steel accept my love.""
It's the type of line that would get any aspiring songwriter sent straight back to LiveJournal" but it works here. Maybe it's because we've come to expect it from Morrissey maybe it's the sheer power of his voice or maybe it's because there isn't a single shred of irony to be found.
Through the fabulous flourishes" Morrissey remains exceedingly self-aware. Though ""You Were Good In Your Time"" takes on the subject of a fading hero"" it's hard to listen and not feel like Morrissey is looking at least a little at himself.
And songs like ""One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell"" take a pointed look at the issue of hero worship. He certainly is that to plenty of people" but seems at least a little reluctant" reminding everyone that ""One day goodbye will be farewell/So love me while we still have the time.""
The man's made a career out of being somewhat a mystery. He's a gay icon though he claims both celibacy and asexuality. He has become a hero to Hispanic teens" who cite his outsider status as a point of commonality.
He gives infrequent interviews. All we really have are his songs.
Luckily" he's never had much of a problem baring his soul to the world in his music.
And Years of Refusal shows he's still as capable as anyone.
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