the the (since marr has left)--C/D?

The guy playing guitar now (Erik Schermerhorn?) is LIGHT years better than Marr. i think the newer, darker material with its emphasis on unique drum and guitar is MJ's best work. So yah.. classic.

H,mmm.

I went off The The because Marr joined ...

I read recently that Matt Johnson was going back to his earlier style, away from the "we're a rock band" thing. Hooray!

well, as the the's best work was before marr joined it doesn't really make much of a difference

Well, put it this way: in the ten years since Marr left, Matt Johnson has managed one proper album (crap) and an album of Hank Williams covers (odd).

I still maintain that The The is the ONLY worthwhile stuff that Marr has done since 1987.

Matt Johnson is just too old now, methinks.

Marr's contributions to The The never seemed that huge to my ears. I mean, yeah, he played guitar for the band, but the same presence that marks those Smiths albums is just missing on his work with The The.

I lost interest around the time of HANKY PANKY and haven't kept up with Mr.Johnson since. How was the last one (NAKED SELF? or something?)

_Naked Self_ was really, really good. (Mind you, I've only played it three times.)

I think Naked Self is their best album!