Search - The The :: Dusk

ON A GLOOMY SUNDAY NIGHT, LET MATT JOHNSON ENTERTAIN YOU

Vish Iyer | BOMBAY, INDIA | 10/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...On a gloomy Sunday night, when the sky is overcast, and so is your soul, you come and seek comfort in this tavern where you are entertained, or rather consoled in the misty environment of the bar by the hauntingly eerie voice of Matt Johnson, whose songs unwrap the deepest darkest secrets of the evil human soul - its desires, its insecurities, effortlessly, in the most casual manner, jeering god's masterpiece, that is the confused human."DUSK", can be considered as one of those albums that have a redeeming quality. The songs are simple to understand and empathizing, if one wants to mend one's ways, and are difficult and testy, for those who seek revelry and boisterous adventures to calm their emotional turbulence.Uncomplicated, yet far from beautiful, the songs in "DUSK" have no catchy riffs, no flamboyant guitar displays, but modest tunes, which are made alive by Matt Johnson's confirming manner of singing, and his blatantly honest down-to-earth lyrics. This fact is made even more surprising by the fact that Johnny Marr, the main guitarist of THE THE, was a part of THE SMITHS, which is as known for Johnny's rich guitar-playing, as it is, for Morrissey's earthy lyrics & singing: Johnny's presence in THE THE is somehow overshadowed by its unassuming music.With "DUSK", it is Matt Johnson, from head to toe. The number, with which the album kicks off, "True Happiness This Way Lies", gives a glimpse, or much more than a glimpse of Matt's strong presence as the force keeping THE THE alive: He instructs with his speech, rather than his singing, of the dirtiest desires of the human soul, and the answer to true happiness in life - call it cacophony, or haughty confidence in one's ability to convert the other. "Dogs Of Lust", along with "Slow Emotion Replay" are the only two conventionally catchy numbers, in the group of seemingly somber tunes.By a long shot, not "Dogs Of Lust", but the album reaches its summit during "Lung Shadows" and "Bluer Than Midnight" - two of the most unusual songs ever created. While in one of these, Matt's whispers give a feeling of malaise of an evil spirit lurking in the darkest corners of one's house, whereas in the other, it seems as if the spirit has actually entered one's body and is whispering out aloud one's deepest darkest fears, which one loves to hide so cozily."DUSK" exemplifies simplicity: simplicity of music, simplicity of words: strong and honest. It is a perfect medicine, an empathizing entity, during days when one is feeling blue and needs just the right person to fill some sense into one's rattled head. Appositely titled, "DUSK" is as subfusc as anything can be, with the nature of a mentor, who seems to know the psyche of the listener only too well."

The most magical part of the day....dusk

William Petersen | MD United States | 03/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Enough cannot be said about this album. Its moody, lyrically reflections, the atmosphere of dark heat felt. It is impossible for me to have a favorite The The album but I think this is perhaps the one. For those who've not had the pleasure of seeing The The live. I can only say this. If you think the album is that powerful and moving, seeing Matt sweat his way through these songs on stage bathed in red light and a haze of smoke only makes these songs that much more so. One of the least appreciated songwriters of the last few decades, Matt proves himself over and over again that he can make magic. This album is magic and a must to hear, listen to and feel."

For serious music lovers

William Petersen | 08/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album easily stands as one of the most personal and visceral creations of The The frontman Matt Johnson. More mature than "Mind Bomb", already no minor feat, "Dusk" represents everything that serious music lovers crave, and most of what the general music industry seems to studiously avoid. Sparse, tight and intrinsically compelling, the music is only exceeded by Johnson's trademark ruminations on life, lust, death and the agony of love. This is a serious album, and one that showcases some seriously adept songwriting. Of particular note are "Slow Emotion Replay", easily one of the best songs of the nineties, and "Helpline Operator". The former deals with the helplessness that is borne of alienation ("Everybody knows what's going on with the world/I don't even know what's going on with myself"), the latter with the problems of reaching out to a world we can't relate to ("Admit to me the things you can't admit to yourself/ Admit to me and no one else/ I'm the helpline operator/.../I'm the intimate stranger/Your problems will be mine").This album is an oeuvre that can, and should be, appreciated in its entirety over and over again. Its simplicity only masks deeper truths that hide within, ready to reward a willing listener. And, just to make sure this album is no fluke, pick up a copy of "Mind Bomb" as well, and marvel as I did at how brilliant this bloke really is."