(by Ron Saemann)
Alternative dance-pop outfit, The The released its first proper album, Soul Mining, in 1983. The album topped Melody Maker's best of list at #3 for the year. Fronted by founding member and brainchild, Matt Johnson, the album managed to blend easy-breezy melodies with social and political undertones. "This is the Day" is the album's catchiest track that revolves around Johnson's warm, fuzzy vocals, a simple guitar lick, bouncy bass lines, hush harmonicas, a soulful accordion and some piano tinkling with some processed drum beats. The song even managed to get some airtime in a M&M commercial in 2007. However, other tracks like "Perfect" and "I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All My Life) show a darker side filled with irony, hate and regret. On the latter, Johnson lashes out, "I've been deformed by emotional scars and the cancer of love has eaten out my hearts."
Johnny Marr was in the band long after Soul Mining. Late 80s/early 90s, when The The opened for Depeche Mode in the US.
I remember thinking it was one of the highlights of my short life seeing Johnny Marr play even though it wasn't with The Smiths.
Posted by: mychelle | 09/27/2009 at 02:28 PM
Yep. Totally the same band.
Posted by: djROY | 09/19/2009 at 07:15 AM
Wasn't Johnny Marr from the Smiths in a band called The The? Surely it isn't the same band
Posted by: Felicia | 09/18/2009 at 05:15 PM