Johnny Marr recording with Neil Finn

Yes, it's a tenuous connection to New Order but Marr was half of Electronic and I like both of these guys musical output enough to post Taken from the Crowded House web site for anyone who happens to like any of Marr's bands (Smiths, Electronic, Modest Mouse et cetera...) or Finn's considerable musical output.

Over Christmas 2008 and New Year 2009, Neil Finn has invited the core band from his 2001 Seven Worlds Collide project, plus some other special guests, to create a new album at Roundhead studios in Auckland, New Zealand.

Guests confirmed so far are Radiohead's Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien, legendary guitarist Johnny Marr, founder member of The Smiths and current member of US alternate rock innovators Modest Mouse, Soul Coughing's Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, along with NZ musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga. All proceeds from this very special recording will go to support the continuing great work of Oxfam International.

It's a studio reunion of sorts of the 7 Worlds Collide project of 2001.

Marr frequently performed "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" with Finn on vocals for most of those gigs and it's really not a half bad version, worth checking out.

CH's "Temple Of Low Men" album has many doffs of the cap to The Smiths and their style at the time it came out ('88). Finn's vocals stray close to Morrissey's more than once which is no bad thing as they're both great talents.

Morrissey will obviously slag it off if he is asked to comment on Marr's projects... that's his style and always has been. It happened with Electronic etc.

The reformed "band" gigged somewhere in Camden the other week... I was gutted I found out slightly too late. Neil Finn plus a few of the guys from Radiohead "jamming" but I'm not sure if Marr was there. The charity album they've jointly concocted is out next week under the 7 Worlds Collide moniker and I'll be picking up a copy... I'm sure there will be a good tune or two on it. If not, money goes to charidee anyway. Track listing is as follows:

The Sun Came Out (2CD Deluxe Edition)

1. Too Blue - (written by Johnny Marr/Jeff Tweedy), vocals Neil Finn/Johnny Marr and featuring Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway (Radiohead) and Glenn Kotche/ (Wilco)
2. You Never Know - (written by Jeff Tweedy), vocals Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
3. Little By Little - (written by Sharon Finn/Neil Finn), vocals Sharon Finn and Neil Finn
4. Learn To Crawl - (written by Ed O'Brien/Johnny Marr/Liam Finn/Neil Finn), vocals Neil Finn
5. Girl Make Your Own Mind Up - (written by Don McGlashan), vocals Don McGlashan, featuring Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Ed O'Brien (Radiohead), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
6. Hazel Black - (written by KT Tunstall/Neil Finn), vocals KT Tunstall
7. Red Wine Bottle - (written by Liam Finn/Chris Garland/Johnny Marr), vocals Liam Finn
8. Black Silk Ribbon - (written by KT Tunstall/Bic Runga), vocals KT Tunstall and Bic Runga
9. Run In The Dust - (written by Johnny Marr), vocals Johnny Marr
10. The Ties That Bind Us - (written by Phil Selway), vocals Phil Selway (Radiohead)
11. What Could Have Been - (written by Jeff Tweedy), vocals Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
12. Duxton Blues - (written by Glenn Richards), vocals Glenn Richards featuring Johnny Marr and Neil Finn
13. Reptile - (written by Lisa Germano), vocals Lisa Germano, featuring featuring Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Neil Finn

A few tracks of definite interest to Marr fans then... there's practically a solo track included.

I'll post a short review up here once I get the chance.