Is That Johhny?

Among my many life destroying obsessions, music has its own special room in my fractured psyche. I tend to get very obsessive about it, and have to make a very definite attempt to simply shut the fuck up when I notice I'm going on about a band, about chord changes, about how musicians get their guitars to sound that way. Vulcan Ninja used to sit in awe at my knowledge, but now she just gets this pained look on her face, knowing that if she walks away I'll probably sulk, so she endures yet another lesson and/or testimonial on a band I've discovered, or just why Simple Minds took a nose dive after their big hit on The Breakfast Club.

This morning was no different. I heard a song playing on Galaxie, and thought: Wow, that guitar really sounds like Johnny Marr. After seeing who the band was, I immediately went to YouTube to check out the video. And there, playing with a bunch of young pups who call themselves the Cribs was Mr. Marr himself, his singular guitar style in full, glorious effect.

I loved the Smiths, and have gone on to follow Morrissey on his storied solo career (his current rebirth courtesy of a newfound fandom among Latin teenagers is glorious), but Marr has been a little more problematic. He's had a tendency post-Smiths to join bands for an album or two, then disappear again. I've followed him to the Talking Heads, for example, and it was him that got me into Modest Mouse when he joined that band for a cup of tea and a chord change. So now he's with the Cribs--for now.

So this was my Sunday geek quest. Of course, I had to call in Vulcan Ninja to let her know what I'd found. And again, there was that look. The forbearance. The I Really Don't Give A Flying Fuck Look, But I Love You And I'll Listen Anyway. And I knew I should have just shut up, but I gave my lecture anyway. She smiled, then went back to doing something productive.

I'm sure none of you can relate.