The world is full of crashing bores, yes, but Morrissey isn't one of them. The former Smiths warbler's 21st century resurgence continued with Years of Refusal, to my mind Moz's best since, ohh, Vauxhall and I. In addition to a strong set of songs and some of the enigmatic charmer's richest vocals, the new album also shows the singer really clicking with his current band, evidencing none of the slick tentativeness of 2004's You Are the Quarry.We've seen the unit's cohesiveness already in a performance of head-fracturing opener "Something Is Squeezing My Skull", and this rendition of "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed" should only further raise expectations for Moz's upcoming shows. The acoustic guitar stands out a bit more in this live version, capped with a pair of nifty dueling marching-band-style drum solos at the end. Vivid, nimbly worded imagery ("uncivil servants," "bailiffs with bad breath") gives way to instant Moz-ism "Life is nothing much to lose," followed by deadly faux-throwaway "It's just so lonely here without you." One tip: If preening Rob Thomas wannabes make you wish you lay softly on a riverbed, hit stop as soon as this clip ends. (via Morrisey-solo)Video:> Morrissey: "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed" (Live on "Jimmy Kimmel Live")[original version from Years of Refusal; out now in the UK on Decca/Polydor and in the U.S. on Lost Highway]