Essential
Dusk (1993)
In Faith Akin’s “Against the Wall,” the psychiatrist quotes “that The-The song,” addressed to a suicidal alcoholic: “If You Can’t Change The World, Change Your World.” “Lonely Planet” actually says “If You Can’t Change The World, Change Yourself,” but Akin recognized the therapeutic potential of this little night music. Johnson mourned his brother Eugene, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage. He and his co-composer, Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, were now licking LSD and, astonishingly, listening to blues by Howlin’ Wolf; The result are songs about death (“Love Is Stronger Than Death”), sadness (“Helpline Operator”) and carpe diem bliss – like in the gem “Lonely Planet”.
Soul Mining (1983)
For his official debut, the 21-year-old Londoner was given a major contract and was allowed to record in New York – but spent the advance on drugs. 1983 marked his transition from postpunk to synth-pop; Johnson also combined industrial beats with traditional instruments such as the accordion (“This Is The Day”). With the record company’s money, Jools Holland was booked, who played the galaxy-crossing piano solo in “Uncertain Smile”, and which Johnson consistently placed not in the middle, but at the end of the song: the best for last.
Mind Bomb (1989)
“Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)” was supposed to be the lead single, but after Khomeini’s fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the record company called off the signal – the label feared uproar, even though Johnson was one of the greatest left-wing musicians in Great Britain, but no friend of the Iranian Ayatollahs . “The Beat(en) Generation” then set the direction: half swing, half George Jones, a swan song for any counterculture, because it can’t stand up to the fed-up parents’ generation: “And our youth, oh youth, are being seduced /By the greedy hands of politics and half truths”.
Infected (1986)
Not the best, but most important album. Johnson as a prophet who linked the West’s – in his opinion, imperialist – “wars of aggression” with a personal sense of failure. The label stepped in again and dropped a single. Johnson claimed that British authorities had put pressure on Columbia Records because “Sweet Bird of Truth,” an indictment of intervention in the Middle East, coincided with the U.S. bombing of Libya in April 1986 and feared retaliation in Europe. Fun fact: In “Heartland,” Johnson sings of the UK as the “51st State of the USA,” and New Model Army three months earlier as the “51st State of America,” both of which became the band’s biggest hits.
Rewarding
NakedSelf (2000)
Guitarist and co-songwriter Johnny Marr was perfectly replaced by Eric Schermerhorn (Iggy Pop, Frank Black), and on Johnson’s last song album to date, both created a never-before-heard vintage sound: oily, sweaty and proudly stinking working class rock . Muscle shirt titles like “DieselBreeze” or “BoilingPoint” sounded like they were coming out of the chimney panting. The underrated work linked the fate of the male in the hustle and bustle of the working world (“ShrunkenMan”) with capitulation to the promises of consumption: “Mobilize, globalize, hypnotize, homogenize / Shut your eyes don’t criticize”.
Moonbug (2012)
“Yes, that’s right,” said Johnson in the ROLLING STONE interview, “it’s not ‘Infected’ that is my strongest criticism of the USA, but this album!” One that doesn’t have any words of its own: Nichola Bruce’s documentary is dedicated to the astronauts of the moon missions – and Johnson uses his disturbing-sounding pieces, decorated with the distorted voices of speech-wielding US presidents, to portray America as an empire that is “space.” Race” was used as a means of world dominance from the 1950s onwards. In “Blind Spirit” he illustrates the conquest of all with a Hawaiian guitar, the dark humming synthesizer in “Gods Audience” reminds us that in the end everyone has to justify themselves to the big boss.
Hanky Panky (1995)
Many listeners who would never have associated the “indie” musician with Hank Williams were taken aback: a covers album with only songs by a country singer? Of course: Williams also reflected on self-esteem issues; It is unclear whether his death was due to an accidental drug overdose. The record fell into the country renaissance sparked by Johnny Cash’s “American Recordings”. Above all, Johnson used the third-party material to avoid a dispute with his label, which was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his songs.
Continuing
Tony (2010)
Score for his brother Gerard’s feature film, about a London serial killer who lives with rotting corpses. Johnson’s first soundtrack was also his first album sign of life in ten years. Successful miniatures (“The Lust For Unsung Dreams”), for which one would have wished for vocals.
See Without Being Seen (2020)
“Burning Blue Soul” from 1981 was not the debut, but this work, quickly lost and now released on CD for the first time. Johnson sold it on cassette at the time, was just 17 in 1978, but was already a master – not only in whispering fearful singing, but also in creating oppressive noise that sounded like traffic using tape machines and drum machines.
Weaker
Hyena (2015)
Last instrumental score so far, again for the brother. This time corrupt London cops compete with Eastern European gangs. Tired-sounding mixture of folk and electronic, except for the outstanding final piece with the brilliant title “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Wants To Die)” – here too, Johnson doesn’t sing, but at least he hums .
Book
Neil Fraser: Long Shadows, High Hopes – The Life And Times Of Matt Johnson & The The
Behind the pompous title lies a biography that was not only authorized but also created in collaboration with Johnson, but which also contains self-criticism of the singer. Johnson sees himself as a modern Don Quixote in the fight against corporations and capital, but he also has a sense of humor as a leftist.
Precious items
“Mrs Mac”
In 2007 the first sign of life after the “NakedSelf” album. The titular teacher is sung as a “fist fucking fighting machine”.
“We Can’t Stop What’s Coming”
The next singing performance wasn’t until ten years later. Farewell song for the second deceased brother, Andrew.
“I Want 2 BU”
For Record Store Day 2020, recorded with the Omnichord, which last exuded barrel organ charm on “This Is The Day” in 1983.
“Untitled”
Nasty electro spoken word from 1981, on the “Some Bizarre Album” from the synth label “Some Bizarre Records”.
“Flesh and Bones”
Sampler contribution, 1985. About gentrification and dug up again for the 2018 tour.
“Darkness Falls”
On the soundtrack of the Stallone comic book Judge Dredd, Johnson’s only Hollywood work. But well, The Cure are also featured on the score.
“Gun Sluts”
The only song released from the 1997 album of the same name, which was not released by the record company.
“Nature of Virtue”
The “Soul Mining” album went through different configurations depending on the recording medium. This variation of the song “Perfect” was found on cassette.
“Dis-Infected”
“Infected” new recording. Highlights the difference between ’80s pop Johnson and ’90s rock Johnson.
“Solitude” and “Dolphins”
Beautiful cover versions of songs by Duke Ellington and Fred Neil, respectively, on the 1991 “Shades of Blue” EP.