The return of Johnny Marr continues, as the new video for his forthcoming single "Upstarts" is unveiled.
The single is the first from Marr's anticipated solo debut The Messenger due out February 26 ) and available to preorder now via iTunes.
Early acclaim comes from The Guardian who state "The Messenger sees him returning to the big tunes and unmistakable, cascading guitar arpeggios that made him the guitarist of his generation." Stereogum agrees, declaring The Messenger "excellent...it's an album that - in both sound and style - hearkens back to Marr's early days."
Marr will set out on a solo tour of the U.K. in March. Stay tuned for additional dates to be announced in the U.S. and beyond.
The 12-song collection apparently captures Marr's musical vision exactly as he imagined, featuring his signature guitar and vocals front-and-center on a sound which mixes elements of angular art rock, indie and rock n' roll.
The Messenger was written and produced by Marr himself. Based in Portland, Oregon since 2005, Marr returned to the U.K. in early 2012 to commence work on the album. Recorded in Manchester and Berlin, it was mastered at Abbey Road by Frank Artwright who recently collaborated with Marr on the re-mastering work for The Smiths' box set Complete.
