Johnny Marr – The Messenger (2013)

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Mutually admired by fellow guitarists and critics alike, Johnny Marr hasn’t rushed his first solo album since The Smiths’ demise – a split from which some fans are still recovering, unlike Marr himself, who has barely looked back.
From successfully varied collaborations with Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, Marr has also (amongst others) provided valuable contributions to Pet Shop Boys, Pretenders and The The.
He also fronted 2003’s Healers album, effectively a solo effort and a set of fairly underwhelming plod-rock. Fans will be hoping that The Messenger marks a return to his rare musical open-mindedness, not to mention way with a tune





The lighter touch of European Me recalls Electronic, but this invigoration is short-lived. The title track adopts a typically catchy Manchester swagger, but Generate! Generate! sounds entirely forced.
With expectations high indeed, it’s perhaps unfair to underline The Messenger’s shortcomings – and it’s worth noting that if the next Beady Eye album was to sound like this, it’d be celebrated as a considerable progression.