antiMusic.com: Morrissey - Years of Refusal Review

Morrissey - Years of Refusal
by Eric Bodrero

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Dear Morrissey,

I finally got your album the other day��thanks! You're still cranking them out, eh? It seems just like yesterday that I was listening to Ringleader for the first time. Wow, where does the time go? In fact, just the other day I got to thinking about Viva Hate, Bona Drag, and Your Arsenal, and how poetic and full of acoustic guitar and wonderful melody they are; it made me want to listen to them again. In fact, about halfway through Years of Refusal, that's exactly what I did!

Anyway. Hey, remember when you made that song "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"? Yeah, me too. That was a great, great song my man! I was thrilled to see it get a proper release on this new album. Awesome job! Oh, and "All you need is me" was an okay tune as well. I'll be honest, though, I wasn't as thrilled to see those two cool songs followed by that one song. What the heck was that�oh yeah! "The Last I Spoke to Carol", That's the one. When I first heard that song start to play I thought, "Hey, classic Morrissey (albeit a little left-turn Mexican salsa thrown in there!)"

Anyway, I finally had to turn the darn thing off, though, after the mariachi trumpet or whatever started getting a wee bit annoying, and dragging on and on (and on!). Sorry man. I just didn't expect to hear that coming from you and your "band of wonders"! Don't worry about it. I'm sure a lot of people really enjoy it.

But alas, guess what I hear again two songs later? More trumpet! Dude! Here I thought you got all your experimental "trips" out of the way back in your early days with the Smith's and whatnot. I don't mean to harp on you and the mariachi trumpet or whatever, because it has its place. I just didn't picture you two together. Kind of like getting peanut butter and mayonnaise to go together. It really doesn't, you know?

About this point in my listen-through, I started asking myself, "Who's writing these songs, Tobias or something? Is he trying to steal the limelight on tour or what? Has Morrissey jumped into the heavy metal phase of his waning career? Did he pick this producer on purpose? Why so much pounding electric guitar?" Sorry, I ask myself a lot of questions! It was just so in your face, and it got to a point where I just wasn't having fun listening to this record anymore. You know how Your Arsenal, Vauxhall and I, and You Are the Quarry were fun to listen to? Well, of course you know, you sang on them! Anyway.

However, "It's Not Your Birthday Anymore", that is a killer song my man!! It sounds like it could be a bonus track for the reissue of "Your Arsenal", seriously (WILL there be a reissue of that album, with bonus tracks and everything?). Yeah, that was a great moment. Heck, I can even picture that song on Strangeways, Here We Come. Yeah, it was that good man!

But then (I know, I know, I'm getting a little rude, huh?) we, the listening collective, are treated to "Interlude, part two," with "You Were Good In Your Time." Remember that collaboration with you and Siouxsie? As if we even needed part one, ha ha!! And then you end the album with a couple of rocking (albeit forgettable) tunes in "Sorry Doesn't Help" and "I'm Ok By Myself (I had a hard time telling them apart)." I've always been a fan of albums that go out strong. And by strong, I don't mean LOUD! Ha!

Look, Steven, I've got to be honest here. I mean, we've been together a long, long time, you know? I feel I can be honest with you, yes? This album really isn't that great dude, seriously. What more can I say? I'm glad this wasn't a ten-year comeback album or anything! But, I don't like ripping on people's art. It's not me, you know? So I better stop here before I say something I'll regret.

Please, please, please Steve, let Boz write the next album, okay? Seriously. And get a different producer, maybe? I'm just saying. But, like I said, I'm done harping.

Well, I've got to run; "Life is a Pigsty" ironically just started playing in iTunes, and it's on shuffle! Oh, how I love the arrangement in that song! Did Boz write that? Just kidding, man!

Yours truly,

Eric

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Morrissey - Years of Refusal
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