Moz Could Really Use Some Marr Music Right Now

[The Obvious]

With his career in limbo Mr. Misery could use a little bit of music penned by John Maher to bring him back to the legendary status he deserves.

Discuss...

[DIETER DIXON]

> With his career in limbo Mr. Misery could use a little bit of¿ music penned by John Maher to bring him back to the legendary¿ status he deserves.¿ Discuss...

I often wonder if the magic is still there.... They're not the young lads they once were...

[JORY]

> With his career in limbo Mr. Misery could use a little bit of¿ music penned by John Maher to bring him back to the legendary¿ status he deserves.Discuss...

Do we know if Marr can still compose the songs similar to the quality of those of his Smiths days? What evidence is there in his recent work that even gives us that glimmer of hope?

[Lifeguard Sleeping]

> I often wonder if the magic is still there.... They're not the¿ young lads they once were...

Well, you can't possibly expect him to maintain such a steady (or upswinging) level throughout his career - it just doesn't happen. Hopefully, he'll age like fine wine and get back to writing his sweet, powerful music (blushing at how goofy that sounded). I've sensed from the variosu posts that everyone's calling for his head just because he's taken longer than usual to produce new music. But this is NOTHING compared to less talented bands who think they should take 3 years to actually record an album (as opposed to M's just taking some time off).

[Mani]

> Do we know if Marr can still compose the songs similar to the¿ quality of those of his Smiths days?

If there ever was a possibility of a Moz/Marr collab., it would only be fair to ask that of Moz as well. It just so happens that Marr is less popular. A question of such has no absolute factual answer behind it; it's all a matter of opinion.

As the question pertains to Marr, I think he doesn't have the same quality. Not to say that his work is worse, but it's apples and oranges. Which one tastes better? Different quality, but no definite supremity.¿ What evidence is there in his recent work that even gives us that¿ glimmer of hope?

You see, history can never repeat itself. Why blame this on Johnny? He must be the Yoko of The Smiths. There is such automatic dismissal for his work. I would think he'd still be respected amongst Mozfans, but I see more critics than Mozfans giving props. One critic even dubbed him "the greatest pop guitarist alive". What everyone needs to understand is that he doesn't exactly have a trademark sound, for he is always doing other people's music. And since The Smiths was his introduction to the world, Mozfans have built an iron wall of expectations around him. He is always working with some other fellow, adding to their element, not imposing his own. I mean, it's not like I'm fond of everything he's ever done. But, it's so ignorant to dismiss him coz he's not a Smith anymore. He challenges himself to work on other syled projects, say The The. And since The The is blues based, it's dismissed coz there is no "Shoplifters.." on the LP. Personally, I don't care for The The, but it's not Johnny's fault. He blended in perfectly. Here's some of my favorite post-Smiths work from Marr:

Paul McCartney "The Russian Album"
Bryan Ferry "Bete Noire"
Electrafixion "Burned"
Electronic "Raise the Pressure"

Pick up a guitar and tell how easy it is to play those tracks. I've been at it for almost a decade, and I still can't handle some of The Smiths guitar parts. These days, he's not getting any easier. He can still get the job done. So, he's a bit funkier nowadays. Try to play some of his new stuff. It's not very easy. He can do it, and that's a testament to the existance of the 'spark'.

[Paul]

Anyone who has any doubts as to wether or not Johnny can still `cut it` only has to wait a few months to find out! He`s currently working on material with his new group (which HE will be fronting)! I`ve spoken to people who have heard demos of the songs & I`m assured that it kicks ass!

Paul

[Gwyn]

Dude, you said it. I'm all for a reunion, I think it would really boost Moz's popularity. Of coarse, I can't complain about his current music, my favourite three songs he's ever done were done solo, and two quite recently. But, as you know, 80's music is popular these days and people would really respond well to a collaboration. But as you said, does Marr still got it? He hasn't done anything even slightly cool since the Smiths. It's probably a moot point anyway, since I think there is almost no chance of them getting back together.

Thanks for reading, that's my longest post ever.

[Mani]

> Anyone who has any doubts as to wether or not Johnny can still¿ `cut it` only has to wait a few months to find out! He`s¿ currently working on material with his new group (which HE will¿ be fronting)! I`ve spoken to people who have heard demos of the¿ songs & I`m assured that it kicks ass!¿ Paul

The only doubt I ever had in him was his singing, which is on The The's debut, and quite horrible.

[Suzanne]

> The only doubt I ever had in him was his singing, which is on¿ The The's debut, and quite horrible.

Once again....mutter into the microphone.....

C'mon. There isn't a "bad" singer alive.....now that they have high priced effects and computers to redo your voice.

Here are some other "good" singers:

Liam Gallagher
The guy from The Verve
Wilson-Phillips
Abra Moore
Beck
and of course Matchbox 20, Fastball, etc.

there are hardly any truely good singers. I think in a weird way, everything is like punk rock these days in terms of non-technicality.
So, why expect a perfect operatic voice from Marr? Isn't it enough that he can play the guitar? Most people here would be dying to do just one of those skills well let alone both.

[brutalful]

Doesnt anyone remember how long it took between Viva Hate and Arsenal! I mean for Gods sake it was YEARS! And yes there were a few..singles, but you had to KNOW someone to get them, or even hear of them for that matter! There was no INTERNET!!! You had to read fanzines, if you were lucky enough in a miniscule town to have even heard of one!..It was the goddam stone age!Perhaps that is why the older fans are just a bit more satisfied with Viva Hate and the B-dsides...I gave up the true faith with the release of Smiths Best of's... Today its like.."All your hunting and searching was for nothing, here's a collection that ,funnilly enough, mocks four years of your wasted time and effort.."
Viva Hate?! Its spite!

[Fabricio]

there's nothing more melancholic than a solo artist returning to his former group just to make money. the most part of the moz songs (smiths+solo) i prefer was made in recent years, so i'm not worried about his lack of popularity, and i would like to know that morrissey isn't worried either.

when i look paul mcartney singing hey jude in shows just because his solo songs don't have the same success i really want to vomit.

there's nothing wrong in a smiths returning if moz think it would be good in artistic terms - but in search of popularity, so he could be an heroin addicted that every popular newspaper in england would put his photo at front page during some days...

[Colin]

"The Boy Done Good" from Billy Bragg's "Bloke on Bloke" EP

"Sexuality" and "Cindy of a Thousand Lives" from Bragg's "Don't Try This . ." LP.

The England theme song for France '98. I think he co-wrote this one with Ian Mac.

[Martin]

Of course he´s still got it. He never ever lost it! And him saying in Select that the new Electronic material is more guitar based and rockier sounds really promising!
And he still looks darn good! saw a new pic of him and Bernie in Select, and he´s still got the looks, and that made me glad. Not that it has anything to do with... anything, it just slipped into my mind.
cheers!
/ martin¿ Dude, you said it. I'm all for a reunion, I think it would¿ really boost Moz's popularity. Of coarse, I can't complain about¿ his current music, my favourite three songs he's ever done were¿ done solo, and two quite recently. But, as you know, 80's music¿ is popular these days and people would really respond well to a¿ collaboration. But as you said, does Marr still got it? He¿ hasn't done anything even slightly cool since the Smiths. It's¿ probably a moot point anyway, since I think there is almost no¿ chance of them getting back together.¿ Thanks for reading, that's my longest post ever.




What Is Your Six Letter Word? Future or F****r? (http://www.manics.co.uk)

[Paul]

> The only doubt I ever had in him was his singing, which is on¿ The The's debut, and quite horrible.

Everyone seemed to be pretty happy with his backing vocals on Marions LP `The Program`.

[Mani]

> The England theme song for France '98. I think he co-wrote this¿ one with Ian Mac.

Ugh! The Spice Girls are on that, aren't they?

[Colin]

> Ugh! The Spice Girls are on that, aren't they?
--------
It's a great tune, and the Spice Girls are a wonderful cultural phenomenon, to say nothing of their music.