This week I pulled their classic album
Mind Bomb (1989) out from my cd collection and damn, if it still doesn't sound great after all these years.
Dark, deep, brooding and moody,
Mind Bomb is anti-Christian, and has great crossover appeal to fans of alternative rock, goth, and even has a little
INXS and
Sweet influences that can be heard in it. There's even a great duet with Sinead O'Connor on it to boot. Surprisingly, I never purchased any of their other albums but I hear that
Dusk is also good.
A review of this album by someone else:
Not often, but once in a great while, a truly fabulous work of art is created. It is not a feat that is only achieved by artists who are known to be great; as evidenced by The The's "Mind Bomb", it is sometimes done by artists who are little known at all.
Ranking very near, if not at the top, of the greatest albums of the Modern Rock era, 1989's "Mind Bomb" is not merely a collection of eight songs, but a seamless, flowing journey through the darkness and light of the human condition.
While the star of this show might not be a household name among those who were fortunate enough to grow up in the amazing alternative rock culture of the late eighties and early nineties, one of the supporting actors certainly is. Johnny Marr, former guitarist of The Smiths, is far more in the background here than in the places we know him best, even appropriately adding background vocals to his repertoire of enormous musical talent. Only in the one song co-written by Johnson and himself, "Gravitate to Me", is any sign of Marr's signature guitar style obvious and near the forefront. That is not to take anything away from his contributions to the work as a whole - quite to the contrary; they are ever present, only very different from what we have come to expect. Moreover, the music of "Mind Bomb" is symphonic in nature, and not centered on the guitar-as-primary-instrument. Far more prominent are sounds which do not typify the everyday music of that time, or in truth, anytime.
Point in fact, Mark Feltham's harmonica and Wix's piano and organ contributions create the ambience that defines this album's feel. There are also horns and strings, shadowy vocals both evil and ethereal, odd percussions... all special and necessary, lent by almost innumerable guest artists. David Palmer's drums are as polished and perfect as could be, not generally dictating the meter of the music - but instead adding punctuation to the poetry of the arrangements. James Eller's bass brings elements of warmth and simplicity which balance well against the occasional harshness of both the music and the message. Together, they all speak as one.
After over a decade of consideration, I am still grappling to understand exactly what that story is; that is, in my opinion, the true genius of "Mind Bomb", beyond the music itself. After listening to it in it's entirety what I would estimate to be about 3500 times, I am still fascinated by it. It is aptly named. Perhaps there is nothing more than essence, maybe no story to tell at all. But few albums make the listener perceive one in the way this one does. I won't make any suggestions regarding what I believe that story to be - every person should be entitled to their own. But do listen, and find it. It is life changing and profound, while still sounding new after fourteen years.
In summary, The The's "Mind Bomb" to me represents one of music's finest hours. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the towering Modern Rock works of that period, like U2's "The Joshua Tree", The Cure's "Disintegration", The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Blood Sugar Sex Magick" or Nine Inch Nails' "Pretty Hate Machine", it is one of those albums you simply MUST own. When ultimately I die, it will be one of the CD's(?) that play in perpetuity in my mausoleum; I could never find peace without this music.
Any fans or opinions regarding this or any of their other work?
