“I bet they heard that all over Manchester” said the bloke stood behind me to his mate, after a mass sing along of ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ performed by Johnny Marr and his band at Castlefield Bowl back in July this year, the whole crowd belting out those famous lines at the tops of their voices. That gig saw the Wythenshawe born Marr perform his biggest headline show to date, with the huge crowd singing along throughout. It even caught the attention of the train guard on the trainlines running overhead at the back of the area, who stopped the train to stick his head out of the window to sing along for a bit! It was a celebration of one of Manchester’s most loved musicians, with generations of music fans witnessing a truly special performance.
That night Marr played three tunes from his upcoming album ‘The Age Of Everything’, all of which fitted in seamlessly with the familiar favourites from previous Marr, Smiths and Electronic albums. The unmistakable brilliant, resonant guitar riffs were all there present and correct, delve a little deeper into Marr’s fifth solo album ‘The Age Of Everything’ and it’s clear that Marr has been in reflective mode of late. Marr states that the title references the sense of being overwhelmed, which a lot of people feel in these days of constant information and technological bombardment, yet rather than viewing it as a negative statement, Marr harnesses the sense of possibility that also exists in these relentless times. much of the album focusing on Marr’s musings on perception, and how we perceive things as we move through life.
‘Spin’ finds Marr contemplating “there’s too much coming into my mind” against a beautiful backdrop of guitar fuelled propulsion, melodic guitar lines weaving in and out of the sonic stew, whereas ‘Beyond The Rain’s uplifting catchy chorus nestles in with Marr’s vocal lines stating “words can never change the weather one degree.” Previous single ‘It’s Time’ concerns worldly issues but is also about managing to find defiance, resisting cynicism and corruption according to Marr. The opening guitar lines couldn’t be anyone else, that resonant melody ringing out, heralding the start of a sonic adventure. ‘How Come’ has Marr singing “where you’ve been destiny comes for you” and “how come, no one ever feels the same as everyone” over melodic riffs which don’t overpower but push the whole tune along.
Elsewhere on this fifth solo album, ‘In And Out Of Love’ is a slower paced tale “you can’t feel the love now it’s gone” and “melodies and good times won’t take away the pain that lingers” he sings, creating a dreamlike tale of love won and lost. ‘Just Once More’ has a moody but uplifting feel with Marr ruminating over “cracking into fractions, into pieces when I fall, just once more” and ‘Fire With Fire’ has sharp bursts of guitar lines which dance around the catchy vocal melodies perfectly.
With his autobiography ‘Set The Boy Free’ being updated for its tenth anniversary with a new introduction and personal eulogy for friend, and former bandmate Andy Rourke, plus updated archival photography, as well as a foreword by Noel Gallagher, the idea of life moving fast, reflecting and enjoying times gone by as well as the here and now, couldn’t be more apt.
Good guitarists invent riffs, great guitarists invent their own distinctive sound. Marr manages to combine the latter with a savvy song writing style which is unleashed once again on The ‘Age Of Everything’, a phenomenal fifth solo album from the Mancunian musical genius.
Johnny Marr: The Age Of Everything (BMG Records) – Out 2nd October 2026
From the early days of creating handmade zines, in a DIY paper and glue style, interviewing bands around town, then pestering Piccadilly Records to sell them, to writing for various independent mags such as Chimp and Ablaze, writing about the music I love is still a great passion. After testing the music industry waters in London with stints at various labels, being back in my hometown again, writing about this city’s vibrant music scene is as exciting as ever. All time favourite bands include Sonic Youth, Nick Cave, Patti Smith although anything from electro to folk via blues and pysch rock will also do nicely too. A great album, is simply a great album, regardless of whatever musical cage you put it in.
