In the ranks of un-google-able bands, Matt Johnson’s post-punk outfit The The outdoes even The Band. Johnson busted out of the gate in the early 80s with a great voice and considerable songwriting chops (not to mention some now-dated dance beats), but it took Johnny Marr joining the group, in his first post-Smiths move, for many of us to take notice. Most folks claim that Mind Bomb, Marr’s first effort with the group, is their masterpiece. I prefer the introspective soul of Dusk. Marr’s shimmering guitars and frankly ingenious harmonica playing was a perfect match for Johnson’s dark croon and existential lyrics. Their single “Slow Emotion Replay” happens to be not only one of the strongest British singles of the early 90s, it may boast the greatest harmonica hook of all time – no joke. Yet as great as “Slow Emotion Replay” is, Dusk’s real highpoint may be the stunning acoustic gospel of “Love Is Stronger Than Death,” Johnson’s heartfelt, totally non-pious but surprisingly resurrection-centered eulogy for his brother:
Me and my friend were walking
In the cold light of mourning
Tears may blind the eyes
But the soul is not deceived
In this world even winter ain’t what it seems
Here come the blue skies
Here comes springtime
When the rivers run high and the tears run dry
When everything that dies
Shall rise
Love, love, love
Is stronger than death
Love, love, love
Is stronger than death
In our lives we hunger
For things we cannot touch
All the thoughts unuttered
All the feelings unexpressed
Play upon our hearts like the mist upon our breath
But awoken by grief, our spirits speak
“How could you believe
That the life within the seed
That grew arms that reached
And a heart that beat
And lips that smiled
And eyes that cried
Could ever die?”
Bonus Track: Johnson’s follow-up to Dusk was 1995’s way underrated Hanky Panky, a collection of Hank Williams’ covers. His foot-stomping version of “I Saw The Light” is phenomenal and, dare I say, even worshipful.
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3 responses to “Weds Morning Rock N Roll: The The’s "Love Is Stronger Than Death"”
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Good article. I question your myopic individualism. It seems very clear that while jtf happens between God and an individual the resulting "new life" is certainly lived out in community, as part of one body. That christians would be known by the way they love one another infers community. All to say i take exception to your comment "It is not a community, not a movement, not an institution or an association". the faith may not be a community but it inexorably forms one. To say Christianity is not a movement seems silly – of course it is a movement which is empirically verifiable. I assume you meant it is not 'merely" a movement.
Allen, I think you meant to leave this on the post above–so I'll answer you there!
Holy smokes. Somebody's been reading their Bible or saying their prayers or something. 🙂 That is inspired. But seriously, are you allowed to be that straightforward and sincere about the deepest Christian hope and still be that cool at the same time (excluding Bono)? That makes me really excited.