Released 35 years ago today on the U.S. edition of the Smiths’ second album, “How Soon Is Now” provided an era-defining riff to a new generation.

“Easy Money,” from Johnny Marr’s forthcoming solo album ‘Playland,’ is ridiculously listenable.

I always think of music born from culture as being a purely organic thing. Say, the country blues of the American south; the chants of Tibet; the music of the Sufis. But here we have a counterexample You May Also Like: No related posts.

Last week I said that Unquity Road came the closest to what we think of as a traditional jazz tune. With “Omaha Celebration,” we might as well conclude that this particular trio is just not going to approach “normal.” You May Also Like: ‘Bright Size Life’ Gave Early Definition toRead More

Why the hell am I listening to The Smiths? The simple answer is that I saw a friend tweeting that he was listening to them. I was surprised, because I could have sworn that he found Morrissey’s voice off-putting. You May Also Like: The Smiths’ ‘How Soon Is Now?’ IsRead More

A hired gun and a second fiddle for almost his entire career thus far, Johnny Marr finally slips into the driver’s seat with The Messenger. His debut solo record is his own creation from top to bottom, a propulsive and diverse recording top-loaded with raucous accoutrements and immense souvenirs. NME’sRead More

Credentialed alterno-god Johnny Marr, who was cool when today’s hipsters weren’t even glimmers in their parents’ eyes, returns with a stark, riff-fueled message: “The underground is overground.” You May Also Like: The Smiths’ ‘How Soon Is Now?’ Is the Gen-X ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’

by Tom Johnson I found myself entranced by the horn-laden theme that repeatedly roared through the ads for Inception. Less song-like and more a series of massive, rumbling horn crashes, the music seemed as important as it was mysterious. Hans Zimmer’s score was no mere backing music. Like the biggestRead More