Johnny Marr

It took two supremely creative talents to power the Smiths in the ’80s—and while Morrissey has enjoyed a brilliant, not to mention tumultuous, solo career, there had been little in terms of high-profile news from his erstwhile compadre Johnny Marr until last year’s well-received solo album, The Messenger, which sounded pretty much like the Smiths, sans Morrissey. Marr turns up here in support of a new, sleeker, equally confident follow-up, Playland.