Staff Reviews

Johnny Marr - Playland

Review by Marc Burrows

What’s clear is how badly Marr needs a foil, a counterpart, a collaborator, because on his own his ideas only seem to stretch so far, and so, sadly, does our good will.»

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ohnny Marr's upwards trajectory continues unabated with the release of his second solo album 'Playland'. Work on 'Playland' commenced in London in the Spring as soon as the year of touring in support of 'The Messenger' came to a close. It finds Marr continuing the creative connection that was forged on 'The Messenger' with collaborator and co-producer Doviak as well as the other musicians who performed on the album and accompanying tour. Written around a common theme of "songs that move at the speed of life," 'Playland' captures much of the spirit that made 'The Messenger' so memorable with energetic, post-punk songwriting complemented by Johnny Marr's characteristic guitar style, thought-provoking lyrical ideas and poised vocal phrasing. " The title 'Playland' is inspired by 'Homo ludens', a 1938 book by the highly influential Dutch cultural theorist Johan Huizinga which explores the concept of play as a precursor and principal element of cultural development.
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