The Moz is back in full swing

Don’t let the baby on the album cover fool you. Although Morrissey may be known for his unusually sensitive nature, his latest release, “Years of Refusal,” is far from bottle-fed.

Rather than let his age get in the way as he rapidly approaches the 50-year mark, the Moz from Manchester, England – who effortlessly commandeered jangle-pop in the 1980s in his legendary band, The Smiths – turns his back on mid-life monotony in favor of incredible vivacity.

With legendary pop-rock producer Jerry Finn helming the boards right before his untimely death in 2008, the album stands as a monument both to him and Morrissey’s determination to hearken back to the critical success of prior solo albums like 1994’s “Vauxhall and I” and 2004’s “You Are the Quarry.”

While a first listen to “Years of Refusal” may only reveal a slick production sheen, subsequent spins reveal drastic variety in each song.

In the album’s 12 tracks, Morrissey’s band sounds polished and precise yet maintains a jagged edge and swagger that adds extra kick to each song’s biting lyrics.

The Moz delivers lyrics like “The motion of taxis excites me/ When you peel it back and bite me” from the album’s powerful opener “Something Is Squeezing My Skull,” with a mysterious intensity, yet at the same time injecting his lilting croon into every corner of the song.

Although thematically morose, it’s the catchiest track on the album and Morrissey does well to deliver.

A heavy bass line dominates “Black Cloud,” a song graced by legendary guitarist Jeff Beck. The album’s lead single, “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” is its antithesis; a mellow, melodic opus that showcases Morrissey’s familiar melancholy.

“Years of Refusal,” while not earth-shattering, is certainly a solid achievement, and it’s clearer than ever that Morrissey’s voice and career aren’t withering under the test of time