Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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Ironically, it took Marr a double LP to make his least bloated and most enjoyable solo record yet.
Ive been doing this a long time now, and I love making records.
It doesnt ever get easier.
Im not saying it gets more difficult, but it certainly doesnt get any easier.
I guess it might if you stop giving a shit.
Mostguitarchestramoment onFever Dreams Pts 1 4
Night and Day is the most layered.
It sounds like its one of the more straightforward indie-pop songs.
Its not unlike the sound that I had with Electronic.
But it was a tricky one to layer.
Over the years, Ive gotten much more experience in getting good guitar sounds.
And then, of course, doing the movies.
I guess its just all experience now, really.
Experience and confidence, you know?
First Johnny Marr solo song youd play for a newcomer
The Messenger.
Its sometimes called Nashville tuning.
Its got a kind of arpeggio guitar.
The approach to singing doesnt sound like anyone but me, which Im really happy to say.
Your most British melody versus your most American melody
And the most American?
It would be [The Thes] Dogs of Lust.
Its slow and dirty.
And we managed to do it fairly well, you know?
If you listen to the song Dogs of Lust, its particularly American.
Its got a real blues harp on it.
That was a little bit of inspiration behind How Soon Is Now.
That kind of Bo Diddley, swampy thing is a very American influence, I think.
Its one of the things that happens about art.
Im glad I got it wrong.
It came out in my own weird stoner-y little Manchester way.
The Rolling Stones were trying to be Chuck Berry and its great.
Aerosmith trying to be the Rolling Stones.
The Beastie Boys trying to be Run-DMC.
Its all from somewhere.
Thats in an open tuning.
I just made up the chords myself, called J perverted [laughs].
But when people see me doing it plenty live now, you kind of know how its done.
A lot of the Modest Mouse record is kind of out there.
That was well worked out between me and Isaac.
Strictly speaking, everything you hear on the left is me.
But almost everything on the left of the stereo spectrum is me.
Most overrated guitar chord
G major.
G major should be something you do that is in passing.
It should be something that passes or helps you get from A to B, you know?
Its like the Starbucks of the chord world.
It should be something that you just need to go through to go somewhere else.
So I deliberately went,Damn!
I have to write something in G.Thats why This Charming Man sounds the way it does.
So it shows you what I know.
But essentially, I was playing G chords.
So, in my world it was G, but I used to tune my guitar up.
But there are loads of songs in G. Lots of Bob Dylan songs.
Knockin on Heavens Door a song I dont particularly like.
Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones, another song from a band I love but I dont like.
That chord is responsible for large and successful sunshine music.
Most satisfying Smiths song to sing
Id say The Headmaster Ritual at the moment.
I can relate to the sentiment of the lyrics.
I like singing kind of upbeat rock songs.
Im not really into being a crooner too much.
Those songs, certainly at my concerts, seem to belong to everyone.
I just feel like its a celebration.
Smiths album you wish you could rerecord with todays technology
The first album!
But, you know, I thinkhewas right in the end.
I havent listened to it for a long time.
And then we rerecorded it with John Porter.
But by that time, it had just been overthought and overdone.
And knowing now what I do, I would easily make a better job of that first album.
Thats the only album that I think sounds not as good as it ought to.
But yeah, if I was being honest, I could do a better job of that.
And that makes me happy.
But she doesnt care.
Shes turned out all right.
And she was a baby.
And it was such a great moment.
And secondly, that track is still so fantastic that the whole world should hear it.
He played that song to me on the phone.
Hed just finished it.
And I said, Let me hear that again.
And I listened and I thought, Shit.
This is the best track Ive heard for years, man.
And he went, Johnny?
And I went, Let me hear it again.
And I think he thought I wasnt sure about it, but I was just marveling at it.
It was an amazing moment.
But I guess its all part ofthe bands kind of complicated story.
The truth was that there was loads of love in it.
So maybe thats the story that everybody is missing.
And there was love in the making of it.
There was love in the writing of it.
And sure, there was drama, but what you hear was a result of stone-cold love.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
