Johnny Marr - The Age of Everything (2026)
A pleasant and well-produced indie rock album, featuring Johnny Marr's unmistakable guitar sound, elegant arrangements and some enjoyable melodies. However, the rather predictable songwriting, restrained vocals and lack of genuinely memorable moments make it difficult to get particularly excited about.
With The Age of Everything, Johnny Marr returns with ten songs combining his characteristic guitar sound with straightforward indie rock, post-punk influences and occasional electronic touches. The result is a consistent and enjoyable album, although one that rarely moves beyond the musical territory he has explored for decades.
What I appreciate most is the guitar work. Marr remains an excellent guitarist, and his ability to combine shimmering melodies, intricate arrangements and driving rhythms gives the music much of its personality. The production is also very good, allowing the different instruments to breathe without losing energy. Unfortunately, the songwriting doesn't always match the quality of the guitar playing, and several songs feel rather conventional.
"Spin" provides an energetic introduction, with enjoyable guitar interplay and a driving rhythm, although the melody isn't particularly memorable. "Beyond the Rain" is more convincing and one of my favourite tracks on the album. I particularly appreciate its stronger chorus, atmospheric guitars and the way the arrangement develops. It's one of the few compositions where the melodies and instrumental ideas work equally well.
"It's Time" and "Ophelia" bring some welcome energy, with effective rhythms and catchy guitar lines. The latter is particularly enjoyable thanks to its more danceable approach. "How Come" offers a more reflective atmosphere, but I find its melody rather ordinary, while "That Feeling" introduces some interesting rhythmic variations without developing them quite enough.
"In and Out of Love" is another interesting moment, mainly because of its waltz rhythm and more intimate atmosphere. I appreciate the change of pace, although Marr's restrained vocals don't quite deliver the emotional intensity the composition suggests. "Just Once More" is pleasant enough but rather repetitive, while "Fire with Fire" stands out through its energetic guitar riffs and more direct songwriting. The closing "All in a Life" attempts something more atmospheric, but never really builds towards a memorable conclusion.
My main problem is the lack of originality and musical progression. Marr has a very recognisable identity, but too many songs rely on similar guitar textures, predictable structures and relatively ordinary melodies. The arrangements are consistently good, yet the album rarely offers anything particularly surprising.
The vocals are another limitation. Marr has become a more confident singer, but I still find his delivery rather monotonous. It works reasonably well with the music, although it rarely adds much emotional depth. I also would have appreciated greater contrasts between the songs, as the polished production and familiar arrangements sometimes make them blend together.
Ultimately, The Age of Everything is a respectable but fairly ordinary indie rock album. I appreciate the excellent guitar playing, the production and a handful of enjoyable compositions, particularly "Beyond the Rain", "Ophelia" and "Fire with Fire". However, its conventional songwriting, limited vocal expression and relatively few memorable melodies prevent me from developing a stronger connection with the music. A decent album, but not one I feel particularly inclined to revisit regularly.
63/100
Playing time: 00:43:59
❤️ Favourite track: "Beyond the Rain"
+ Excellent guitar playing, with distinctive melodic lines and enjoyable arrangements
+ Several effective compositions, particularly "Beyond the Rain", "Ophelia" and "Fire with Fire"
+ Polished production and a consistent, well-balanced album
– Predictable songwriting that rarely moves beyond Marr's established formula
– Restrained vocals that limit the emotional impact of several songs
– Limited stylistic variety and too few memorable melodies to encourage repeated listening
Genre: Jangle Pop
Country: UK
Final Verdict: 63% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 519th / 767
Highlight: Beyond the Rain
Made me think of:
The Smiths
The The
Echo & the Bunnymen
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