Johnny Marr - Dynamo (video)

One of the first Johnny Marr singles that seems quite listenable, gets the video treatment. Dynamo, like most modern Marr work is straight forward guitar pop, the difference here is that the chorus actually has a hook to it. Its hard to tread on someone like Marr, who stands alone as an untouchable god among men when it comes to song-writing. Yet, his most recent efforts have seemed slightly slipshod, or at least not up-to-snuff. Like many elder Rock statesmen, we expect the very best, and very rarely get it. With Dynamo we do not get anything Smiths-like or even Electronic-like, but more a soaring anthem in the vein of The Verve or Smashing Pumpkins. There's a 90s Brit-pop theme to this song and it works. Marr is no crooner, but he can still carry a tune, letting the hook lie in the harmonies to an effective degree and of course his 6-string shredding is nothing to yawn at. So here you are, Dynamo:

TOPS - Sleeptalker

Montreal's TOPS unravel a slinking new sleep ballad. Sounding a bit like a slowed down Johnny Marr riff, with touches of Twin Sister. This is the perfect ode to the evening:

Everything But The Girl - Native Land

Look Back In Anger: Everything But The Girl were a British duo from the 80s and early 90s, who bounced around between New Wave and Blue-Eye Soul. You may remember their one ginormous hit with the Todd Terry remix of Missing (such a dope track!). Here's the group accompanied by Johnny Marr on guitar (& harmonica), tearing through a dreamy, jangle-folk number. Totally worth nerding out on:

CRIBS & MARR???

Can it be?? A collaboration I'm actually psyched about??? No, Cut Copy and Hercules and Love Affairs haven't joined forces..and no, Ian Curtis isn't playing a reunited Joy Division tour. Butttt famed Smith's guitarist Johnny Marr is working with and now pretty much officially part of The Cribs! Two Things: Who are the Cribs? Well their Brits (oy!) and they have that incessant Brit-pop thing going on, with a little more edge, a tiny bit of Twee thrown in. Then there's the question of Marr. Will he be good? Hard to say..his contributions to Modest Mouse were noticeable, though nothing to write home about. Anywho, he seems better suited for Cribs, as they're all about driving, repetitive pop guitars (Smiths anyone?) Well, I know I'm overly psyched, but is anyone else asking: how soon is now?! In other news, Morrissey is still miserable and alone...so here's a fabulous Cribs video:

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