The Moz returns with another winner after his last failed attempt to please the masses with his public mourning. Produced by esteemed modern rock guy Steve Lillywhite, Maladjusted not only contains some strong melodies and lyrics, but manages to sound pretty nice while it's at it. Kicking off with the mediocre, yet somehow intriguing title track, the kick-off lacks a little of that Morrissey sparkle that shows up on the rest of the album.

The first single "Alma Matters" is one of Morrissey's most effective and hummable songs ever. That, of course, doesn't necessarily mean it's cheerful. Oh, no. After penning such classics as "Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together" and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," the eternal drama queen isn't about to hop on the Zoloft bandwagon. Songs like "Sorrow Will Come in the End," "Satan Rejected My Soul" and the powerful, strings- and- timpani powered "Ambitious Outsiders" may lead you to tear out your eyeballs with utter despair.

Far better than Kill Uncle and Southpaw Grammar combined (thank god), yet still not as good as a Smiths reunion, Maladjusted administers that same old dosage of sappy, soap-opera insight that's come to be known as the one trick this pony performs that rarely fails to entertain.

-Ryan Schreiber