Today, Johnny Marr releases his highly anticipated fifth studio album, The Age Of Everything, through BMG.
The Age Of Everything features 10 new songs that Johnny describes as the most cathartic compositions of his career. Written in London, developed live on the road along the East Coast of North America and recorded in Manchester, the album captures the energy and tensions of the city. Sharp, fast and dynamic, full of ideas and possibilities.
The album has already received widespread acclaim, with the lead single “Spin” labeled as “growing and urgent” by NME, the defiant “It’s Time” hailed as “a triple-threat protest song” by MOJO, while CLASH heralded “Ophelia” as “a sign of the creative confidence that runs through Johnny Marr’s work now”. The Times describes The Age of Everything as “cosmic”, while The Sunday Times heard “a total statement record that brings grit, protest and his trademark of beautiful, rhythmic melodies”.
Classic Pop Magazine declared: “Marr still sounds excited about the possibilities of both pop music and humanity. He also sounds like nobody else,” Record Collector Magazine confirmed: “five solo albums later, there’s no diminution in intent or quality, Marr has an insatiable creative curiosity,” The Line of Best Fit praised “a career of constant curiosity and growth,” the Financial Times championed Johnny as “the leading British rock guitarist of the last 40 years,” while AnOther Magazine lauded: “one of the most creative, unique and influential guitarists in the history of pop music.”
The current single, “It's Time”, has become Johnny's biggest solo radio hit, with multiple album of the week titles, appearances on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6, as well as inclusion in the main playlists of Radio X, Virgin Radio, BBC Local, Absolute and others.
Reflecting on the release of his fifth solo album, The Age of Everything, Johnny Marr stated: “Since the first solo album, I’ve had the idea that each record should become bigger and bolder, from a sound and compositional point of view. That’s more or less how I move through the world. I’m not talking about ambition, it has to do with the concepts of the album giving me more to think about.”
“I’ve always seen records almost as a cross between a stained-glass window and an abstract painting. Colorful and full of life. I like the idea of my records demanding your attention with guitars, vocals, or lyrics. I’m not particularly the type to make background music, and I think that’s why I’ve always gotten along so well with pop. I’ve never been a passive consumer of music, or a passive creator of music. That’s what I mean by greater, it’s like looking at a stunning painting.”
Johnny Marr held an auction of his collection for charity
The new music emerges in a momentous year for Johnny Marr. Last month, the auction Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, presented by Christie’s, highlighted Johnny Marr’s pioneering sound, songwriting, and influence. In an unprecedented opportunity for fans and collectors worldwide, the sale featured approximately 80 guitars, each an integral part of Marr’s extraordinarily comprehensive music. The proceeds from 31 of the auction lots, encompassing 10 guitars, concert posters from the 1980s, and sales awards, were split equally between The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
Since launching his solo career, Johnny has placed five albums in the UK Top 10, published the Sunday Times bestselling autobiography Set The Boy Free , recorded the James Bond theme for No Time To Die with Billie Eilish , received the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award, an Oscar nomination for his work with Hans Zimmer on Inception , the NME Godlike Genius honor , and performed sold-out tours and major festivals around the world.
The years that have passed since the release of the 2022 album Fever Dreams Pts 1-4 have signaled a new era, bringing with it the career-spanning collection Spirit Power: The Best Of Johnny Marr , the acclaimed photobook Marr's Guitars , the full orchestral concert A Night With The Johnny Marr Orchestra , the album Look Out Live!, as well as songwriting and recording with Gorillaz, Franz Ferdinand, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds , and the performance on the album HELP(2) with Grian Chatten ( Fontaines DC ) and Kae Tempest – the latest in a long line of exciting and unexpected collaborations.
READ ALSO: Johnny Marr reveals why he turned down a big offer for a Smiths reunion
