Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-JJohnny Marr
Playland
Warner Music Group
Oct 06, 2014 Johnny Marr
It is rare to find universal goodwill for a musician like that which Johnny Marr receives. The guitar superstar and Smiths formidable co-captain isn’t one to wallow in his past. In the quarter century since that group’s break-up, Marr has lent his skills to a range of musicians. From collaborating with Beck to Bryan Ferry, Talking Heads to The The, and temporarily joining The Pretenders, The Cribs, and Modest Mouse, Marr has been content to reflect his limelight onto others until last year.
2013’s The Messenger is heralded as Marr’s debut solo album—since no one’s acknowledging 2003’s forgettable Boomslang from Johnny Marr and the Healers as a solo work. Playland is billed as the continuation of The Messenger. Written on the road while touring The Messenger, Playland follows that album’s themes of city living. Recorded wholly in London with the intention of capturing that city’s energy, like its predecessor, Playland is produced by Marr and touring band member James Doviak. Also like its predecessor, Playland breaks no new ground, which is forgivable, as Marr has done enough groundbreaking for one lifetime with The Smiths.
Placing himself firmly in mid-‘90s Britpop, couched comfortably with the bands he is instrumental in influencing, Playland rings with the familiarity of retread. Marr’s voice is serviceable, and if it weren’t constantly cast against that of his former bandmate, it would be considered right in step with any other contemporary indie vocalist. It is Marr’s signature guitar work that is the voice of all his music, and it rings true on Playland. His incomparable jangle chugs through the pseudo-rebellious, autobiographical “25 Hours” and creates an instrumental bridge on “The Trap” recalling quintessential Smiths gloom. The gorgeous trickle of notes bubbling under the moody echoes of “This Tension” alone make Playland worth anyone’s time. (www.johnny-marr.com)
Author rating: 5/10
Average reader rating: 8/10
Current Issue
Issue #72
Apr 19, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore
Most Recent
- Under the Radar Announces The ’90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore on the Covers (News) — The Cardigans, Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth, Garbage, The Cranberries, Pavement, Lisa Loeb, Supergrass, Spiritualized, Lush, Miki Berenyi, Miki Berenyi Trio, Emma Anderson, Hatchie, Ride, Slowdive, Velocity Girl, Penelope Spheeris, Terry Gilliam, Gus Van Sant, Ron Underwood, Kula Shaker, Salad, Foals, Semisonic, The Boo Radleys, Stereo MC’s, Pale Saints, Blonde Redhead, Sleater-Kinney, Cocteau Twins, Lucy Dacus, Alex Lahey, Horsegirl, Grandaddy, alt-J, Squid, The Natvral, Wolf Alice, Jess Williamson, Sunflower Bean, Orville Peck, Joel McHale
- Fresh Shares New EP ‘Merch Girl’ (News) — Fresh
- Premiere: LOVECOLOR Shares New Video for “Crazy Love” (News) — LOVECOLOR
- Final Summer (Review) — Cloud Nothings
- Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn, Estonia, April 3-7, 2024 (Review) — Virta, Musta Huone, Mari Kalkun, Sven Grünberg
Comments
Submit your comment
There are no comments for this entry yet.