Johnny Marr 'The Messenger' -- 47 Second Album Review

The Smiths are never reuniting. Deal with it. Morrissey plays a half-dozen Smiths songs at every show, so really, what difference does it make what the name on the marquee says anyway?

And besides, Johnny Marr, the musical mastermind of that band, clearly moved on 25 years ago and has the resume to prove it (Paul McCartney, Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, the Cribs, etc.).

That said, Marr has never officially been a "solo" musician (depending on how you define his participation with the Healers) until now with the release of The Messenger.

While it's decidedly not the Smiths -- which for all Marr's wonderful playing on those old albums, is increasingly obviously all about Morrissey's lyrics and voice -- there's lots here to comfort Brit-pop fans of a certain age.

The title track has a bit of a Charlatans vibe to it, "Say Demense" echoes latter-day New Order and "New Town Velocity" could've easily been an Electronic track. Basically, if you remember a time when Melody Maker existed there'll be something familiar here for you.

Bottom Line: If you're the sort of Brit-pop music fan so loyal you bought Noel Gallagher's Jumping Pelican Whatevers record you could do far worse than Johnny Marr churning out 12 numbers well within his comfort zone.