The Messenger (Johnny Marr album)

The Messenger
Studio album by Johnny Marr
Released	25 February 2013 (2013-02-25)
Genre	Alternative rock[1]
Length	48:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Johnny Marr, James Doviak
Johnny Marr chronology
Boomslang (by Johnny Marr + the Healers) (2003) The Messenger (2013) Playland (2014)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	69/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Clash	[4]
Consequence of Sound	[5]
NME	[6]
Pitchfork Media	(6.3/10)[7]

The Messenger is the debut solo album by musician Johnny Marr, formerly of the Smiths. It was released on 25 February 2013 in the UK (and made #10 in charts) through Warner Music Artist & Label Services / Warner Bros. Records, and on 26 February in the US through Sire Records.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Johnny Marr

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Right Thing Right"	3:41
2.	"I Want the Heartbeat"	2:47
3.	"European Me"	3:56
4.	"Upstarts"	3:38
5.	"Lockdown"	3:58
6.	"The Messenger"	4:29
7.	"Generate! Generate!"	4:21
8.	"Say Demesne"	5:37
9.	"Sun and Moon"	3:23
10.	"The Crack Up"	3:52
11.	"New Town Velocity"	5:11
12.	"Word Starts Attack"	3:29
Total length:		48:22

Personnel

• Johnny Marr – guitars, vocals as well as ARP Omni, drums, bass, keyboards, Memory Moog synthesiser, and producer
• Nile Marr – soloist
• Max James – bass
• Jack Mitchell – drums
• Sonny Marr – backing vocals
• Doviak – backing vocals, producer
• Frank Arkwright – mastering[9]
• Mat Bancroft – photography
• Johnathan Elliott – layout
• Robin Hurley – management
• Claudius Mittendorfer – mixing
• Joe Moss – management

Single releases

"Upstarts" was released as a single digitally and on 7", with the new B-side "Psychic Beginner".

"New Town Velocity" was later also released as a single digitally and on 7", along with the new B-side "The It-Switch".

Videos were made for both of these singles,[10][11] as well as the title track.[12]

References

1. "Johnny Marr: Playland review". AllMusic.
2. "The Messenger by Johnny Marr". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Messenger – Johnny Marr". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
4. "Johnny Marr - The Messenger". ClashMusic. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
5. "ALBUM REVIEW: JOHNNY MARR – THE MESSENGER". Consequence of Sound. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
6. "NME Album Reviews - Johnny Marr - 'The Messenger'". NME. 21 February 2013.
7. Hyden, Steven (20 February 2013). "Johnny Marr - The Messenger - Album Review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
8. "Johnny Marr Announces Solo Debut Full-Length". Pitchfork Media. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
9. "The Messenger – Johnny Marr : Credits". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
10. Johnny Marr (14 January 2013). "Johnny Marr - Upstarts [Official Video]". Retrieved 1 October 2016 – via YouTube.
11. Johnny Marr (18 July 2013). "Johnny Marr - New Town Velocity [Official Music Video]". Retrieved 1 October 2016 – via YouTube.
12. Johnny Marr (13 November 2012). "Johnny Marr - The Messenger [Official Video]". Retrieved 1 October 2016 – via YouTube.