Playland (album)
Playland | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 October 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2013–14[1] | |||
Genre | Indie rock[2] | |||
Length | 41:59 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Johnny Marr chronology | ||||
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Singles from Playland | ||||
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Playland is the second studio album by English musician Johnny Marr. It was released on 6 October 2014 by New Voodoo Records.[3] Playland was supported by the single "Easy Money".[4] The album debuted at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart.
Background
In an August 2014, interview with Rolling Stone, Marr spoke about the album, saying: "I always liked bands' second albums. I like the Talking Heads' second album a lot. I liked Wire's second album. And I liked Buzzcocks' second album. I couldn't wait to get the follow-up record from my favorite new band."[1] He continued: "I just wanted to take the energy of the band I was touring with and put it into the new songs. I kept on writing as soon as The Messenger came out. I wrote a few songs on the road and kicked them around in soundcheck. I didn't want to change up what I was doing; I just wanted it to be more of it."[1]
He also spoke about the album's lead single "Easy Money", saying: "I like the idea of sneaking a serious concern into the mainstream, disguised as a big pop tune. The riff was so catchy and infectious that I wanted it to be about something that appeared to be trite but was actually quite universal. Money is a preoccupation of everybody, and it took me quite a long time to write something that appeared to be simple. If you were to ask anybody in the City what they're after, essentially the root of it is money. It's the age-old thing of people thinking that it will make us happy."[1]
Critical response
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork Media | 4.6/10[11] |
PopMatters | 7/10[12] |
Rolling Stone | [13] |
The Scotsman | [14] |
Playland received generally positive reviews from
Jason Heller of
Track listing
All tracks are written by Johnny Marr
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Back in the Box" | 3:05 |
2. | "Easy Money" | 4:05 |
3. | "Dynamo" | 3:59 |
4. | "Candidate" | 4:50 |
5. | "25 Hours" | 3:35 |
6. | "The Trap" | 3:24 |
7. | "Playland" | 4:41 |
8. | "Speak Out Reach Out" | 4:04 |
9. | "Boys Get Straight" | 3:02 |
10. | "This Tension" | 4:01 |
11. | "Little King" | 3:14 |
Total length: | 41:59 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from liner notes of Playland.[16]
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Single releases
"Easy Money" was released as a single digitally and on 7", with the new B-side "Use Me Up".
"Dynamo" was later also released as a single digitally and on 7", along with the new B-side "Struck".
"Candidate" was later also released as a single digitally and on 7", along with the new B-side "Exit Connection".
Videos were made for all of these singles.
Charts
Chart (2014) | Peak position |
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UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 9 |
US Billboard 200[18] | 153 |
US | 21 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] | 29 |
US | 41 |
US | 12 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Johnny Marr Skewers Greed and Dreams Big on Second Solo Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Playland by Johnny Marr". iTunes. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Easy Money: Johnny Marr: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Reviews for Playland by Johnny Marr – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Johnny Marr – Playland – Album Reviews – Consequence of Sound". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Album Review: Johnny Marr – Playland". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Johnny Marr". Exclaim!. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Johnny Marr – Playland". musicOMH. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ Nicolson, Barry (3 October 2014). "Johnny Marr – Playland". NME. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Johnny Marr". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr's New Album: Playland". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ Jack, Malcolm. "Album review: Johnny Marr: Playland". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "Playland – Johnny Marr – Release Information, Reviews and Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ Playland (liner notes). Johnny Marr. New Voodoo Records. 2014.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Johnny Marr | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "Johnny Marr Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ "Johnny Marr Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2014.