Can't see this mentioned anywhere on the board:
Dates
· UTC
Johnny Marr - The Messenger "Debut LP"
Archived6 replies · 11,067 views
This is an archived legacy thread. Replies are closed, but the discussion is preserved.
← Back to Music for pleasure
7 posts
had a couple of listens - not essential, but pretty good, kind of like twisted tenderness meets kaiser chiefs
· edited
I've found the standout tracks to be European Son, The Messenger and New Town Velocity; NTV in particular is really good. I didn't really take to Upstarts as a single (bit samey) but the b side Psychic Beginner is worth checking out.
It seems to be like a much more rocking and consistent album than the 10 year old Boomslang; not perfect but certainly not a bad effort. It's a bit strange he's avoiding Healers tracks in his live set but is playing Electronic, Smiths etc. It's almost like that early-naughties period has been semi-disowned?
Looking forward to his Jodrell Bank set in July.
NotAMod wrote: I've found the standout tracks to be European Son, The Messenger and New Town Velocity; NTV in particular is really good. I didn't really take to Upstarts as a single (bit samey) but the b side Psychic Beginner is worth checking out.
It seems to be like a much more rocking and consistent album than the 10 year old Boomslang; not perfect but certainly not a bad effort. It's a bit strange he's avoiding Healers tracks in his live set but is playing Electronic, Smiths etc. It's almost like that early-naughties period has been semi-disowned?
Looking forward to his Jodrell Bank set in July.
I agree about the same three tracks as standouts ("European Me", "The Messenger" and "New Town Velocity"). "Upstarts" is good but the vocal gymnastics are so contrived that they're distracting. I prefer "The Right Thing Right", "Say Demesne" and "The Crack Up" to the single. "Lockdown" is alright as well. Unfortunately, most of the other tracks (especially the shouty, new-wavey ones) don't appeal to me.
Had another listen to Boomslang. I think he's right to disown it.
· edited
WOW I was completely unaware of this and when I saw the thread my initial reaction was:
Thanks for the heads up! ![[:d]](/emoticons/biggrin.gif){kind=small}
Does the CD come with B-sides as well or are those sold separately?
· edited
I downloaded "The Messenger" as soon it came out in the US - I admit I ripped the audio from the YouTube video before it was available - brilliant Marr goodness, the like I hadn't heard since "Forbidden City."
My first reaction to the album was "it's okay." I thought I was more liking the idea of a JM solo album than the reality. But a few weeks went by - and I am totally obsessed with a number of tracks. "The Messenger," "Upstarts" (great song to run to), "The Crack Up," "Right Thing Right," "New Town Velocity," and "Lockdown" are the top tracks. I can't say I rate "Say Demesne" much at all... it's not terrible but a bit dirge-y and could be shorter.
What's clear is that Johnny has put together a cracking band, they sound great - this disc distances the Healers stuff nicely, and he sounds like a complete artist rather than, "hey, here's this amazing guitarist croaking through crap songs and shit lyrics." I actually like his voice, it suits the music well.
I've heard some critics say that this sounds like an album that Johnny might have done with The Smiths in the mid-90s. That's a good way to look at it. Honestly, I think this the first new album I've bought since the Modest Mouse one and I'm very happy with it. I thought getting two decent tracks on a long play would be worth it, but JM overdelivers, IMO. If this is what he sounds like as a soloist - looking forward to more from Wythenshawe's finest!
I'd love to hear some of the B-sides - they weren't on the US iTunes version, as far as I can tell.
What's a good youtube ripper program? Never used one; I'm scared of doing bad things to my pc... If the upload is in say, 1080p on youtube what sort of audio quality do I end up with?
