Boomslang - Johnny Marr + The Healers

I'm normally feel quite blasé when I hear news that one half of a once successful writing partnership decides it's time to unleash their solo efforts on an unsuspecting audience. I mean if Paul Simon can make the break away from his more talented parter Art Garfunkel then I'm sure anyone can so it. Tsscchh there was Paul Simon being carried along by Art Garfunkel whilst getting all the applause. The very cheek of it. Still at least Garfunkel had the last laugh by writing the most successful post Simon and Garfunkel song, 'Bright Eyes'. But when the news that Johnny Marr was going to release a new album I started to become nervous. This was the big one. A true Premiership event, if you pardon me the rather clumsy football metaphor.Sure he had been in bands since The Smiths split, but this was the first one to carry his name out front, albeit accompanied by his band name. And it was announced that he was going to be responsible for the writing and vocal duties. How on earth would JM cope without his inspirational writing partner? Could he sing? Maybe he'd forgotten how the play the guitar? What if the album was awful? What it?....... what if?............ what if?...........

So many questions. But these were all answered, at least in part, when I managed to scoop a copy of a promo track 'Down On The Corner' from the internet (for evaluation purposes only). I needn't have worried - it was a top track with great acoustic guitars and soaring vocals. I was now confident that the following album would be class.... and I was mostly right. It's far from a classic but a disaster was averted.

Actually it's a little surprising that the album is a relatively straight forward rock-pop affair. Jangly guitars are rather scarce and have been replaced by crunching rock riffs. And as far as the vocals go... well JM is not going to win any awards but his voice suits the songs nicely. 'Down on the Corner' is still the best song (although the album version is inferior, in my opinion, to the promo version) but this is closely followed by 'The Last Ride' and 'Long Gone'.

....and trivia fans. The drummer on this album in none other than Zak Starkey, or Ringo Jr if you prefer. So an album with true predigree. Sort of.