[2014-10-07] Johnny Marr "Playland" (New Voodoo)

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:08 pm

Description
Johnny Marr’s upwards trajectory continues unabated with the release of his second solo album ‘Playland’ which is out on October 7th on New Voodoo/Warners. 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.

As Johnny states: “When The Messenger came out I kept on writing. I liked that the band had a momentum going on tour and a connection with the audience, and I thought that energy would be good to capture on the new record.”

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. “It’s important to sound like your environment and on this record that’s London and Manchester,” he adds. “The feeling of the cities and the people make it into the music.”

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.

Tracklist
1. Back In The Box
2. Easy Money
3. Dynamo
4. Candidate
5. 25 Hours
6. The Trap
7. Playland
8. Speak Out Reach Out
9. Boys Get Straight
10. This Tension
11. Little King

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LV4SD58/?tag=imwan-20

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:14 pm

"Easy Money":

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:25 pm

"Dynamo":

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:46 pm

"Candidate":

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

I'm a reasonably big Smiths fan, like some but not most of Morrissey's solo stuff, but had never really given a listen at all to Johnny's solo stuff.

Consider me blown away.

Glad to see that both Playland and Messenger are on Amazon Prime Music, so I'll be diving deep into these.

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

Had my first listen of The Messenger. LOVED IT. Maybe a little too U2 in places, but at least it reminded me of U2 songs I like.

About halfway through Playland. Digging it. Love the fast tempo of everything.

[2014-10-07] Johnny Marr "Playland" (New Voodoo)

Who is WANline