Morrissey has signed with Nashville-based roots label Lost Highway for the U.S. release of his new album, sources told Billboard.
“Years of Refusal” will be released on February 17, and will be supported by a U.S. theater tour that kicks off February 28 in Boca Raton, Fla., and runs through April 15 in Albuquerque, N.M.
The project marks the follow-up to the former Smiths frontman’s 2006 set “Ringleader of the Tormenters.” It will come out internationally on February 2 via Universal, which bumped the album from a fall 2008 release for unspecified reasons.
Lost Highway is an intriguing destination for Morrissey, as it is most commonly associated with roots- and country-leaning acts such as Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams. The label is also the U.S. home for Van Morrison and Elvis Costello.
Morrissey’s last few releases were handled by Sanctuary Music Group, whose U.S. recorded-music operations were shuttered last year after Universal bought the ailing firm.
“Years of Refusal” was previewed for media last week in London. The first single is “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris,” and guitar legend Jeff Beck guests on “Black Cloud.”
