Johnny Marr, The Age Of Everything: Album Review

After the success of 2022’s ‘Fever Dreams Part 1 – 4’ and subsequent sold out world tours, Johnny Marr has returned with his fifth solo studio album. ‘The Age of Everything’ was announced back in June and subsequent singles ‘Spin’, ‘Ophelia’, and ‘It’s Time’ gave fans a taste of what was to come on this new record, as well as Marr doing live renditions of the singles across his summer gigs.

Johnny Marr © Andrew Cotterill

‘The Age of Everything’ is made up of just 10 new Marr tunes, and the album has a real seamless flow, making the experience of listening to this record on vinyl or CD all the more valuable. With only ten tracks, it feels as though Johnny Marr is favouring the quality over quantity philosophy, making sure each song works in it’s own right and has something to offer. Marr values the craft of serving a song and making sure all of his guitar work is there to better a track, having an exceptional ear for what works best, whether it be a killer riff, great melody, or a memorable hook, the guitar hero always opts to serve the tune in the best fashion, rather than being a ‘showy’ guitarist. This trait and quality is something he has carried through his whole career, making him one of the most well regarded guitarists of all time. It’s fair to say ‘The Age of Everything’ further proves this point, and in result, Marr has made his strongest solo record in years, combining his ever advancing songwriting craft and natural guitar ability (along with the pristine mixing throughout the record).

The album has something for everyone, with each song providing a different experience for the listener, whether it be musically or emotionally. Opening track and first single ‘Spin’ is a classic-sounding Marr song that has already gained traction as a fan favourite, operating as a great album opener. Other single ‘Ophelia’ also has the iconic jangle, with ‘It’s Time’ sounding like a cross between The Pretenders meet Tom Petty. ‘Beyond the Rain’, which is track 2 on the record, is a real standout and will win fans over on the first listen. The song has a uniqueness to it which hasn’t been heard much on other Johnny Marr songs, with a poignant lyrical flow. Speaking about the song, Marr said it was recorded soon after learning of Primal Scream and Stone Rose’s bassist Mani’s sudden passing last year, giving the song an added depth of emotion, which can be heard on the record. ‘Fire with Fire’ has a great ever-evolving riff and energy -something that runs throughout ‘The Age of Everything’, with Marr sounding more alive than ever. The record definitely has an infectious energy within it, with the majority of the songs sounding up-tempo and fresh. Whether they sound like classic Johnny Marr or a newer more developed sound, his drive and musical passion shines through.

It feels as if Johnny Marr is continuing to evolve, with songs such as ‘All in a Life’ and ‘How Come’ sounding like more classic Marr, mixed with tracks like ‘In and Out of Love’ and ‘It’s Time’, which explore newer songwriting techniques and sounds for the Mancunian legend. Some songs sound nostalgic, like they could easily fit onto ‘Call the Comet’ or ‘The Messenger’, with others sounding like nothing he has done before in his solo years. If you are a fan of Johnny Marr, you won’t be disappointed, and if you haven’t listened to much of his solo work, give this new album a go, there is something there you can’t help but love.

Buy A Copy Of Johnny Marr's Album: The Age of Everything

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Joel Hill
Contributor, BritRock Heaven