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8.0
51167
8.0 |
Mojo
Bursts with the same efflorescent skills that made Johnny Marr a guitar hero for a generation which had supposedly repudiated such a concept. Print edition only
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8.0
51235
8.0 |
NME
A natural born frontman and a writer to rival his old mate Moz
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8.0
51386
8.0 |
All Music
The Messenger is rather thrilling; he's no longer wandering, he's found his way back home
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7.5
51497
7.5 |
The Quietus
The Messenger isn't stamped with the same genius that's made Marr the beloved indie hero of today, but it does detail exactly how he arrived at this point
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7.0
51507
7.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Proof that Johnny Marr, nearly half a century old, can still unpack new skills and techniques from a hefty bag of guitar-drenched tricks
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7.0
51565
7.0 |
Paste Magazine
We know Marr can riff; now let’s hear something else
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7.0
51865
7.0 |
Blurt
Although The Messenger occasionally sounds like Marr's imitation of Noel Gallagher's imitation of Marr, the former cohorts who clearly had the most influence on the album are the spiky, neo-punk Cribs
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7.0
51277
7.0 |
Clash
His best work for twenty-five years
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7.0
51364
7.0 |
PopMatters
The Messenger isn’t groundbreaking or iconic in itself, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable music from a groundbreaking and iconic artist
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7.0
51166
7.0 |
Uncut
There is one thing above all that makes The Messenger worth 45 minutes of anyone's time. It features the guitarist from The Smiths playing guitar like the guitarist from The Smiths
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6.5
51233
6.5 |
The 405
Whilst elements of this record sound wondrously considered and perfect for the state of guitar music today, the whole thing just doesn't present itself well enough
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6.3
51191
6.3 |
Pitchfork
A record that grabs your attention initially, but is unlikely to hold it in the long view
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6.0
51188
6.0 |
musicOMH
A solid, enjoyable solo debut that’s certainly worth investigation if you’re a long-term Marr watcher
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6.0
51168
6.0 |
Q
There's a reason why we love Johnny Marr. But there's a reason why we love him best when he's not working alone. Print edition only
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6.0
51164
6.0 |
BBC
Lacks the shine on his own solo album that he’s successfully brought to other bands’ records
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6.0
51165
6.0 |
God Is In The TV
A lively, beautifully played yet, somehow, rather unambitious album in places
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6.0
51374
6.0 |
The Scotsman
Aims to please existing fans and there are traces of that old Smiths magic in his guitar work here
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6.0
51383
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
You will like The Messenger if you are an old rock tart like me, but after living with it for a week it already feels eerily dated
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6.0
51351
6.0 |
Independent on Sunday
He's not breaking any moulds – it's solid, guitar led, pop-rock – but then Marr is the man for that job
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6.0
51355
6.0 |
The Observer
How one longs for a writer and performer with the command of Marr's former partners Morrissey or The The's Matt Johnson, someone who could make the vocals sound less like an afterthought and more like an equal partner with the guitars
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6.0
51290
6.0 |
State
A pleasing collection from a clearly reinvigorated musical talent
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6.0
51321
6.0 |
Evening Standard
Marr’s guitarwork is innovative without being showy, but his vocals lack strength and his lyrics often resemble fridge poetry. Still, there's no disgrace in any of this
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6.0
51944
6.0 |
No Ripcord
If Marr had an Isaac Brock or a Morrissey with him, this could have been a great record
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6.0
51996
6.0 |
The Digital Fix
Some of what's here lacks much in the way of character, especially when you could once identify Marr-penned material within a couple of bars
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6.0
51564
6.0 |
Spin
Feels more like a tribute to his youth, to his home, and to all the musicians he's worked with over the past three decades
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6.0
52370
6.0 |
Rolling Stone
Relatively anonymous Brit rock
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5.0
51431
5.0 |
A.V. Club
Few tracks on The Messenger stand out from each other, let alone from the collected body of British rock over the past four decades
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5.0
52065
5.0 |
Entertainment.ie
Not a bad album by any stretch of the imagination but, in a collection of average songs, traces of real magic are noticeably absent
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4.0
52110
4.0 |
Art Rocker
A tame and inoffensive rollercoaster ride of mild emotion which trundles disappointingly down the middle of the road
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4.0
51324
4.0 |
The Independent
Some of the riffs are winners, but it's just not enough to carry the album
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4.0
51180
4.0 |
Drowned In Sound
A collection of workmanlike indie-rock songs that fall some way short of being a good album and a long, long way from being the work of a Godlike Genius
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