The former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr is seemingly devoid of the ego that should be compulsory for a man dubbed “the best guitarist of his generation”. He appears content to loiter on the fringes of the indie-rock scene, adding his signature flourishes to any band that will have him.
After a stint in Modest Mouse, the latest beneficiaries of Marr’s “axe for hire” policy are the Cribs; a band whose previous specialities were scruffy, angry anthems and rocking so hard they ended up bleeding, but who had started to deliver the songs to match their reputation.
Diehard Cribs fans need not approach the band’s fourth album with trepidation, though: from the lacerating, melodious riff of the opener We Were Aborted, it’s clear that this isn’t an album hijacked by a legend. Sure, Marr’s trademark jangle rings loud and clear throughout, especially on We Share the Same Skies, but Ryan Jarman’s crunching riffs more than hold their own. And City of Bugs is the finest thing the band have recorded, with Ryan’s Lou Reed drawl and a post-rock bass rumble paired with a Marr guitar coda of epic scope.
(Wichita)