By Steve Rousseau

Singer, songwriter and musician, Morrissey has changed his musical sound over the years. First he emulated his former indie-rock band The Smiths in “Viva Hate” and “Bonna Drag,” then moved on to rockabilly in “Your Arsenal,” changed over to classic rock in “Vauxhall and I,” and finally back to indie rock in “Maladjusted.” Recently, he has transitioned to an alternative rock sound in his newest release, “Years of Refusal.” Lyrically, Morrissey is bitter and regretful, much like many men of his age, 49. However, the punch of his performance is lost behind the now-commonplace alt-rock sound.

Morrissey covers a multitude of topics that concern the aging rocker, creating a lyrically charged performance. He sings about drugs and distance from society in “Something Is Squeezing My Skull,” lamenting to himself (“No true friends in modern life”). He lashes out against those whom he has befriended in “I’m OK By Myself” (“Could this be an arm around my waist?/Well, surely the hand contains a knife.”) Even a song about his late mother falls under the same, angry tone as the rest of the album (“Who scared the life out of you/Bailiffs with bad breath/I will slit their throats for you”). This is a Morrissey that is unforgiving and raw, exploring lyrical content in which he has not explored before.

While interesting from a lyrical standpoint, the problem with Morrissey’s ninth solo album is the lack of musical diversity. The only minor deviance’s from the generic alt-rock sound are the inclusion of some Spanish horns in “When Last I Spoke To Carol,” and “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell.” Even in those tracks, the over-driven guitars are still the prime instrumental backing. It’s a shame that Morrissey’s exceptional vocal and lyrical talent is paired with such uninteresting instrumentation. “Years of Refusal” isn’t something really to groove to, but Morrissey’s acidic lyrics and spirited vocal performance make it a solid release nonetheless.