Released on Feb. 17, Morrissey's ninth solo album, Years of Refusal, has garnered mostly positive reviews and been widely predicted as a career energizer. I sampled through some of the disc when it was streaming last week on MySpace (myspace.com/morrissey); the music has the requisite drama, carried mostly by Morrissey's still-vigorous, rangy and demonstrative singing. In all, the dapperly dressed fellow still comports himself like a rock star, and isn't nearly as bleak, withdrawn and blatantly strange as during his days with The Smiths. I saw that band once, back in the old Bayfront Theater in the mid 1980s. Morrissey kept writhing around, wrapping his head and arms in a raggedy T-shirt, transforming the garment into a makeshift straightjacket. Seemed appropriately odd at the time, but somehow compelling. The guess for this show is — less odd but still compelling.
Morrisey, Wed., March 4, 8 p.m., Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg. $35 advance/$39 day of show. jannuslandingconcerts.com.
