Book Review: Set The Boy Free

[bedsitter23]

Set the Boy Free by Johnny Marr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Though tons of words have been written on the Smiths, this seems essential.

Besides, I am not sure you could consider Morrissey's autobiography non-fiction, so here we are.

This is pretty standard rock autobio. Conversational and breezy. Marr seems "aw shucks" as he recounts his life, marrying his teenage sweetheart and becoming one of the most influential guitarists of his generation.

Nothing wrong with that. His is an interesting story. Although he makes it sound like it was so simple, I gleam that he practiced his keyster off, and this story doesn't happen without Johnny putting in the work.

Pretty simple biography which recounts the England of his youth, getting involved in the local music and fashion scenes, up until he puts together the Smiths.

From there, it's a pretty basic bio which combines some of his inspiration and "behind the music" tales of recording, mixed with what he was feeling at the time. The kind of stuff Smiths fans will pore over.

Observers have noted Marr's weird post-Smiths career, but here, it follows a certain logic. He had known Matt Johnson since his teen years and they always planned to make music together. He plays with friends and heroes (The Kirsty MacColl bits are some of the best- along with him coming up with the name of her "Electric Landlady" album). He pursues a solo career, but finds he likes the feel of a band better, so he hitches up to Modest Mouse and the Cribs. He finally decides to really put his name out there, forming a band with the rhythm section of the band Haven, and playing music that recalls his glory days. Somewhere in there, he's responsible for discovering Oasis, as well.

It's a lengthy book, but it's a simple read. Smiths fans will enjoy it. He's interesting enough, though, if you are a fan of music bios, and have any interest in the band or the ear at all, it might be worth a read. For song-by-song analysis, you can do better, of course, but I would mark it essential for Smiths fans. I will probably thumb through it a few times over the coming years.



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