I definitely would not argue that the follow-up, an album of Hank Williams cover versions called Hanky Panky was in the same league as the albums that had gone before: Burning Blue Soul (as Matt Johnson) (1981), Soul Mining (1983), Infected (1986), Mind Bomb (1989) and Dusk (1993). However, as I mentioned in the comments, I have a lot of love for the 'proper' follow up, NakedSelf, which caught me by surprise when it appeared in 2000.
Yes, NakedSelf is a very different The The album; it's also a very different The The, with Matt Johnson assembling a new all-American band and co-writing half of the songs with guitarist Eric Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn had been on board following Johnny Marr's departure from the band after touring Dusk. The originally planned album, Gun Sluts, was scrapped in the late 1990s, some of the songs surviving and evolving into the versions on NakedSelf.
I was lucky enough to win free tickets via the Bristol Evening Post and I got to see The The play an relatively intimate gig at Bristol University's Anson Rooms in 2000, where the majority of the album was performed live. It was a fantastic night and, as such, connected me much more deeply to the album.
I've been listening to NakedSelf a fair bit this week and this in turn inspired me to create a selection focusing on The The's music (mostly) in the 21st Century, a companion piece if you will to the 'classic period' mixtape that I posted almost a year ago.
Whilst The The has continued to release new music, it's predominantly been film soundtracks, instrumentals and spoken word pieces, with the occasional one-off single now and again. Matt Johnson has said in interviews that a 'proper' new The The album is in the works.
In the meantime, here's an 18 track selection of The The songs, kicking off with an excerpt from the aborted Gun Sluts album, followed by a trio of songs from NakedSelf, including a marvellous live version of Soul Catcher from The The's Comeback Special performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2018. I really wish I'd been there.
A Long Hard Lazy Apprenticeship is from The Inertia Variations and has previously featured in a Dubhed mix that I created in 2020. Here, it provides an introduction to 2017 single We Can't Stop What's Coming, recorded as a tribute to Matt's brother, Andy, who sadly passed the previous year. We Can't Stop What's Coming also features the return of Johnny Marr, James Eller and Zeke Manyika and is one of the finest songs The The has ever released.
Fuck Wit is a demo from the Gun Sluts sessions which eventually became Diesel Breeze on NakedSelf. For this selection, I've welded bits of both together so you get the rough, instrumental opening, followed by a vocal second half. The Gun Sluts demo has been released as part of The The's Official Bootleg series, available on CD via their online store. Another in the series - and featured here - captures an acoustic radio session in the USA, promoting the NakedSelf album. You can purchase the Official Bootleg CDs here.
The selection closes with a beautifully emotive piece from the soundtrack to 2014 film Hyena, directed by Matt's brother Gerard Johnson and starring his cousin Peter Ferdinando, Neil Maskell and Stephen Graham. No words, but Matt's voice carries the listener through the song and lingers in the memory long after the final note has sounded.
This selection is dedicated with thanks to Stevie (Charity Chic Music), for inspiring this post, and C (Sun Dried Sparrows) for sharing wonderful memories of her friendship with Andy.
1) Gun Sluts (1997)
2) Voidy Numbness (2000)
3) Salt Water (2000)
4) Soul Catcher (Live @ The Royal Albert Hall, London) (2018)
5) A Long Hard Lazy Apprenticeship / We Can't Stop What's Coming (Video Version) (2017)
6) Weather Belle (2000)
7) December Sunlight (Cried Out) (New Version ft. Liz Horsman) (2002)
8) Wargasm (2017)
9) The Whisperers (Album Version) (2000)
10) Deep Down Truth (45 RPM Version ft. Angela McCluskey) (2002)
11) Our Secret Selves (Album Version) (2010)
12) Mrs Mac (2007)
13) Global Eyes (DJ Food's Stolen Moments Remix) (2022)
14) Fuck Wit (Gun Sluts Demo N.Y. 1990's) / Diesel Breeze (Album Version) (Slipshod Re-Edit By Khayem) (2022)
15) Phantom Walls (Live Acoustic US Radio Session) (2000)
16) I Want 2 B U (Album Version) (2020)
17) Shrunken Man (Album Version) (2000)
18) Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Wants To Die) (2015)
1997: Gun Sluts EP: 1
2000: Naked Self: 2, 3, 6, 9, 14, 17
2002: 45 RPM: The Singles Of The The: 7, 10
2007: Mrs Mac EP: 12
2010: Tony OST: 11
2015: Hyena OST: 18
2017: Radio Cinéola: Trilogy/Midday To Midnight: 8
2017: We Can't Stop What's Coming EP: 5
2020: Muscle OST: 16
2020: Official Bootleg 001: 14
2021: The Comeback Special: LIve At The Royal Albert Hall: 4
2022: Global Eyes EP: 13
2022: Official Bootleg 005: 15
Thanks Khayem.I'll definitely give this a listen
ReplyDeleteThanks, CC, I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteExcellent selection, thanks. I was one of the many who lost interest after the first few albums so good to be enlightened about what I missed out on.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ernie, glad to have been of service!
DeleteWill be a fascinating listen. I bet the Anson Rooms was a better gig than the one at Bristol City under the main stand..(not helped by my mate trying to avoid his ex in the crowd..) :)
ReplyDeleteAlways a tricky situation, Mike. Still, better trying to avoid an ex in the crowd at Ashton Gate that a gig at the Louisiana ;-)
DeleteYes, the Anson Rooms gig was special, not least because it had sold out before I could get tickets and then I had the fortune to win a pair of free tickets via the Bristol Evening Post. I wish I'd also seen The The when Johnny Marr was with them, but this was an awesome night.
Lovely post, Khayem, and a really interesting selection of tracks. Thanks so much for the mention :-) Did you catch the film of the Comeback Special when it was aired on Sky Arts in April?
ReplyDeleteThanks, C, I hope you enjoy it. Yes, I did see The Comeback Special on Sky Arts, though almost by accident. I think I was flicking through the channel guide to record something completely different, spotted it and added it to the list. I'd already got the CD by then so I was familiar with the set list and performance but it really was a visual treat, too. Must have been incredible to be at one of those shows.
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