"Years Of Refusal" is one of his best albums

[AtImber2022]

I think it is one of his most underrated albums post-You are the Quarry, but actually also if you consider the entirety of his solo oeuvre.
I believe the man himself actually had it further down on his own list of his album rankings.
It is punchy, urgent, to the point and succinct. The melodies are strong, the band is tight and his lyrics are up there with his very best.
'Black Cloud' and 'Mama' are two of his strongest songs. The whole set flows so well.

Thoughts?

 

[Janice]

From Feb 2009 until July 2009, I played it to death. It was a real possibility it would become my most played M LP ever. Thank goodness it wore off almost immediately as the summer took hold.
Not his worse but nowhere near the top 6. IMO
Peace and out.

 

[Lionsy]

Mama lay softly is somewhat strangely one of my favourite songs, the rest of the album is ehhhh

edit -I loved the rest of the album when it came out, my opinion on it has changed quite a lot with age

 

[Anonymous]

It's easily the best album since 'Southpaw', and nothing release since it has been as good. I'm baffled as to why it seems to bea mid-tier ranking album in most fans lists - to me it's a masterpiece. But there you go - we can't all have the same opinions.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Coherent, cohesive and urgent. It’s definitely his best and his most underrated post Quarry (even if Dog is up there as well). Lyrically, the bitterness we now know too well had started to take hold, but it was still some warmth left, as well as witticisms and finesse. Musically, it was his most fiery album since SG. It bordered on punk on some tracks, and the production was crunchy and the approach was loud and in your face - and it suited the lyrics. I would love to see it rereleased on vinyl.

 

[AtImber2022]

Indeed - from the post-Maladjusted era I would say that Quarry - Refusal - Dog are his three best albums.

 

[AtImber2022]

(Swords is better than all of them though)

 

[Mozzer1980]

A great album for which I have huge fondness. Tour of Refusal was my first one and I bought CD album at the record store ( let them rest in peace ) on the day of it's premiere. The good old days ...

 

[Janice]

A great album for which I have huge fondness. Tour of Refusal was my first one and I bought CD album at the record store ( let them rest in peace ) on the day of it's premiere. The good old days ...

The tour was one of the most frustrating for cancellations. And then there was swords later in the year 🫠

 

[Aubrey McFate]

Indeed - from the post-Maladjusted era I would say that Quarry - Refusal - Dog are his three best albums.

I'm with you on the first two, but definitely not the last. I think his three best records are Vauxhall, Quarry, and Refusal.

Lyrically, the bitterness we now know too well had started to take hold

For me, this is one of its absolute strengths. That, and Alain Whyte going out a pair of high notes: Mama and Birthday.

 

[AtImber2022]

I'm with you on the first two, but definitely not the last. I think his three best records are Vauxhall, Quarry, and Refusal.

Oh I just meant from the post-Maladjusted hiatus.
Yeah Vauxhall is his masterpiece for me.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

For me, this is one of its absolute strengths. That, and Alain Whyte going out a pair of high notes: Mama and Birthday.

Yeah, it works on this record.
Another high point for me is You Were Good In Your Time. A masterful ballad in every way.

 

[Aubrey McFate]

Another high point for me is You Were Good In Your Time. A masterful ballad in every way.

Musically, it's out of place from the other songs, but somehow it really works. It's almost an interlude. There was an interesting commenter on here recently who said it was Morrissey's attempt at a James Bond theme. I can definitely hear it. It also has a touch of that soundtrack music from 60s and 70s Eurotrash softcore pornography, where psychedelia was mingled with lush muzak.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Musically, it's out of place from the other songs, but somehow it really works. It's almost an interlude. There was an interesting commenter on here recently who said it was Morrissey's attempt at a James Bond theme. I can definitely hear it. It also has a touch of that soundtrack music from 60s and 70s Eurotrash softcore pornography, where psychedelia was mingled with lush muzak.

It’s out of place, but it’s a bit of a respite. “Interlude” is another good way to describe it. Not sure about the soft porn, though! I hear more of a classic torch song (up until the otherworldly outro, of course!).

 

[Ketchup]

Certainly one of my fave Moz albums, mainly b'cos of the boldness, and high energy.
Cloud, Carol, Birthday, All You Need, are personal favourites.

 

[Anonymous]

Great to see so many positive comments. Refusal rocks, clearly, and is studded with some introspective highlights too.

The opener and the closer are especially strong, with the latter being a real storming late career Moz anthem that encapsulates his dogged individualism.

To his credit, Morrissey channels his bitterness and venom with greater care here than on successive projects. Refusal closes a loose trilogy of really solid comeback albums; everything seems complicated after this.

World Peace, High School and Dog figure as cult records by comparison. They are neither better nor worse, but feel encircled by controversy, so it’s easy to be nostalgic for Refusal and its neighbouring records.

Let’s hope Morrissey’s refusal makes a small exception so that we can enjoy Bonfire sometime soon. Ultimately, the music is what matters, and another LP is always welcome.

 

[Phranc & Open]

Jerry Finn (RIP) was the wrong man for Morrissey, on both attempts.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Jerry Finn (RIP) was the wrong man for Morrissey, on both attempts.

I think he did a fantastic job on Refusal.

 

[Phranc & Open]

I think he did a fantastic job on Refusal.

Morrissey shouldn't sound like Blink 182 @ all.

 

[karenina]

It's great. Most of the songs fall under 'easy listening'. They certainly have their place and are great to listen to whilst you are doing something else. But if you are looking to recommend or showcase talent you could do a lot better. One of the 'funner' albums, you could say. A lot of energy.