The Messenger (Johnny Marr album)

The Messenger is the debut solo album by musician Johnny Marr, formerly of the Smiths. It was released on 25 February 2013 in the UK (and made #10 in charts) through Warner Music Artist & Label Services / Warner Bros. Records, and on 26 February in the US through Sire Records.^[8]

The Messenger
Studio album by Johnny Marr
Released	25 February 2013 (2013-02-25)
Genre	Alternative rock[1]
Length	48:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Johnny Marr, James Doviak
Johnny Marr chronology
Boomslang (by Johnny Marr + the Healers) (2003) The Messenger (2013) Playland (2014)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	69/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Clash	[4]
Consequence of Sound	[5]
NME	[6]
Pitchfork Media	(6.3/10)[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Johnny Marr.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Right Thing Right"	3:41
2.	"I Want the Heartbeat"	2:47
3.	"European Me"	3:56
4.	"Upstarts"	3:38
5.	"Lockdown"	3:58
6.	"The Messenger"	4:29
7.	"Generate! Generate!"	4:21
8.	"Say Demesne"	5:37
9.	"Sun and Moon"	3:23
10.	"The Crack Up"	3:52
11.	"New Town Velocity"	5:11
12.	"Word Starts Attack"	3:29
Total length:		48:22

Personnel

• Johnny Marr – guitars, vocals as well as ARP Omni, drums, bass, keyboards, Memory Moog synthesiser, and producer
• Nile Marr – soloist
• Max James – bass
• Jack Mitchell – drums
• Sonny Marr – backing vocals
• Doviak – backing vocals, producer
• Frank Arkwright – mastering^[9]
• Mat Bancroft – photography
• Johnathan Elliott – layout
• Robin Hurley – management
• Claudius Mittendorfer – mixing
• Joe Moss – management

Single releases

"Upstarts" was released as a single digitally and on 7", with the new B-side "Psychic Beginner".

"New Town Velocity" was later also released as a single digitally and on 7", along with the new B-side "The It-Switch".

Videos were made for both of these singles,^[10][11] as well as the title track.^[12]