(Single from album, "The Messenger")
Ok, yes, I'm very excited about this. On 7th December, it will be 25 years since the final Smiths single was released posthumously, the posters macabrely labelled, 'the last single'...
Since the breakup of Manchester's single greatest musical contribution ever, the guitarist has been far less prolific than could perhaps have been imagined, starring briefly alongside the The The line up in the late 1980s/early 1990s, producing some of the band's best songs, guest appearing on the occasional Billy Bragg number, and indulging in some low key, indie/garage projects in the late 1990s/early 2000s. After breaking up, musically, from writing with a certain illustrious Stretford lyricist, Marr was amazingly less successful than his pier, whose solo career led to epic mainstream success in the '90s, metaphorical induction as an indie deity, and, of late, incidents of acting like a giant media whore...
Lets face it, Marr always was the nice one. He's reserved, he's got style and passion, and he's a genuinely nice guy from what we've seen of him. He seems to have a talent for spotting other gifted musicians, and, although one particular 'friend''s infamously argumentative nature has earned himself hatred and loathing amongst fellow artists in the music industry, the writing partnership with Steven Morrissey was no exception. Now, minus the potentially career/act destroying 'other group members', Marr is making a comeback as it were, though, strangely, its in the form of his solo debut...
And its awesome. Maybe, you think, I'm just biased. Fine. Watch it below. Oh wait. I was right.
It is awesome.
I was dubious at first, it has to be said. However, the guitar is top notch from the word 'go'. Screeching, raw guitar chords, disjointed and odd, rip through the senses in the opening 10 seconds. Then, everything gets all warm and indie; the Marr jangle is back in at 0:11, and by 0:25, for the first time, properly, Johnny Marr sings.
His own vocals.
His own lyrics.
Its ok though! Its not as bad as you might think. Certainly it isn't ground breaking, but it isn't too shabby either. The guitars are the absolute saving grace, and, despite a lack of aspects that really need saving, that's still the appropriate phrase. Because, though its been 25 years since "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me", it isn't like everything picks up where it left off. This isn't The Smiths. The bass and drums are ok, but they're not the same; and at the end of the day, the vocal just isn't as pained, as wizened, as knowing, as intelligent or even, as beautiful.
The lyrics are alright too. Like I said, its not The Smiths, and, though the comparison is hard not to make, for the shoddy year in music that has been 2012, it isn't. 'Who wants to be a messenger' is a little wistful really, but itsounds ok, so I guess we can at least forgive him that...
I however, am unfair on this guy. This is a fantastic comeback song, and in the last, virtually voxless 1:30, there are some phenomenal guitar moments; Johnny Marr's still got it really. All of the aspects slide together like an indie dream come true and the lead guitar genius does his best to just kill all commerciality and present his wizard like wonder without the qualms of the past; he does a good job, expect for that bit before...
...because even if it has got faults, as a fankid, I'm going to buy so many copies of this song when it comes out, that it will reach -1...
You just watch me...
★★★★
Versions of “The Messenger”
Album/Single Version - 4:26