Ah, just in time for Valentine’s Day!-A review of the latest sarcastic-yet-oddly-uplifting Morrissey album, the upcoming Years of Refusal set to be released 2/16 in the UK, 2/17 in the US.

It is easy to set the bar rather high when in anticipation of his new material. After all, Morrissey is no mere cult rock icon. He’s proven to be an immensely influential artist, through The Smiths and his string of solo albums (this marks his 10th), amidst occasional controversy, a 7 year lapse in music releases (1997’s Maladjusted was followed by 2004’s You Are the Quarry), and recently debunked rumors of a reunion tour with Johnny Marr.

Openers “Something Is Squeezing My Skull” and “Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed” are false starts- neither are as strong as any of the tracks to follow, though the former shows off the rougher edges of the band and a regained, flamboyant vitality in Morrissey’s vocals, and while the latter would have, thematically, been at home on Ringleader of the Tormentors. Years of Refusal sounds very much like a group effort of a record, with bandmates Boz Boorer and Jesse Tobias, as well as former guitarist Alan Whyte collaborating on lyrics, and the production of the late Jerry Finn bringing instrumentation to full attention.

“Black Cloud” appears as Years of Refusal’s first true highlight, with guitar supplied by the famed Jeff Beck, and hidden sonic textures revealed upon additional listens (note the keyboards towards the tracks end). Upon hearing “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris”, my fears that the tried-and-true lyrical and conceptual Morrissey formula could have weakened by this point lessened, as it is an instant classic fit to be beside “Everyday is Like Sunday” and “Tomorrow” as classic Morrissey singles. The album gains traction from here.

“All You Need Is Me” and “That’s How People Grow Up” were previously (and rightfully) released as singles in 2008, and served to promote the recent Greatest Hits compilation they were featured on, evening out the sound of the album with less explosive compression and quintessential Morrissey remarks with “You don’t like me, but you love me, either way you’re wrong / You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone…” and “So, yes, there are things worse in life than never being someone’s sweetie / That’s how people grow up…”, respectively. Sandwiched between these two is “When Last I Spoke to Carol”, with it’s over-the-top flamenco touches and dour sentiments, crosses over into campy territory, right along with “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell”.

Years of Refusal’s last four songs serve as a veritable gloom suite; “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore” has been consistently regarded as the primary stand-out here, at turns both venomous and stingingly sweet, he asks, “Did you really think we meant all those syrupy things we said?”. “You Were Good In Your Time” is the slowest, most emotionally stirring track here, cutting off lyrically as the character concerned has died, but pressing on for nearly an additional 2 minutes with darkly ambient passages. Closing tracks “Sorry Doesn’t Help” and “I’m OK By Myself” hearken back to “Something Is Squeezing My Skull” with up-tempo cynicism, bringing the album around full-circle.

Though I still have mixed feelings about this album overall (as does the general public, though critical reviews have been mostly positive), it has grown on me with each listen. Definitely recommended for Moz fans, though newcomers to his solo work should go for Viva Hate, Your Arsenal, and Vauxhall and I.

Morrissey - Official Site | on MySpace Music