Morrissey - Years of Refusal

Through the years, Morrissey and/or his music has been described as:
A)Sad Sack Music
B)The Pope of Mope
C)Depressing/Depressed
D)All of the above
If you answered D, you are correct. Yet, in conversation I have always come to Moz’s defense claiming it was all just really funny and ironic. In his early years, this was true. Then something happened…Morrissey started making albums that only people who dressed like him cared about. He became an 80’s novelty. Not content with this, he hired some great musicians, signed on some great producers, and mounted one of the greatest comebacks in recent musical history. His albums, since 2004’s You Are the Quarry, have been getting consistently better. When discussing this years’ Years Of Refusal, he stated it was his most cohesive work yet. This is true, but somehow his idea of sad music/funny lyrics has switched since his comeback. On Years Of Refusal The guitars are muscular – Moz as a jock-rocker (don’t worry, it’s a good thing); but his lyrics are some of his saddest yet, detailing what his years of refusal, to steal a phrase, has done to him. The album starts out with “Something is Squeezing my Skull,” a song about the effects of mood-altering medication. The album moves through his depression to anger (the hilarious “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore”), to acceptance. This is easily Morrissey’s finest work since 1994’s Vauxhall and I, and up there among his finest solo work in general. Having a back like this has re-legitimized his mostly excellent career.