The The – Mind Bomb

The image on the back cover of the dove impaled on the bayonet is homage of "The Meaning of Geneva, Peace Cannot Live Where Greed Capital Exists!" (1932) by John Heartfield

The The - “Mind Bomb” (Epic 1989)

Anyone that loves Matt Johnson and his visionary musical project AND who is also an avowed audiophile knows that this album is an absolute top notch aural wet dream to hear on a great system! Personally, I think it stands as one of the best recorded albums out there. Matt’s eloquently sharp vocabulary and the imagery he portrays with his music and lyrics is captivating and often a deep ride into his heart, soul and mind exposing one epiphany after another with his mini-movie like compositions. For this third album he actually put together an absolutely stellar band that stuck with him for a couple tours and another LP which included the great Johnny Marr who’s input here is immeasurably exquisite! His harmonica playing is just as prominent as his guitar licks throughout the whole album. As a huge fan of the Smiths that had broken up 2 years earlier this was an unbelievably fantastic dream come true. The theme of this album is undeniably about religion and it’s control it has on the (then) 5.1 billion of us around the world. 31 years and 2.5 billion more humans later these songs still resonate with meaning more than ever with tracks like the opener “Good Morning, Beautiful” that also has one of the most gorgeous sound-stages in recorded music. The mimicking “Ballroom Blitz” intro with “Are you ready Jesus? Buddha? Mohammed? Well alright fellas, let’s go!” for “Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)” is so cynically clever! The album does veer off the subject slightly with a wonderfully dark duet about distressed love with Sinead O’Connor’s passionate vocals on “Kingdom Of Rain”. This album also features one of the best songs written for a then youthful Generation X with the ironic toe tapper “The Beat(en) Generation” which also features one of Johnny Marr’s most memorable harmonica licks too! This original US pressing is one of my favourite and best sounding albums in my collection and I highly recommend seeking it out even if you can only find the CD. Mind blown!

I have a promotional US copy with "DMM" in the deadwax. Were all copies DMM?

Unequivocally a fine album in my opinion - and as for Johnny Marr, have another listen to 'Beyond Love'...

One of Matt Johnson's best releases. Given the caliber of his releases up to and including the excellent 'Dusk', that's truly saying something.
Both the sonic and impassioned resonance of this album grips you by the throat, by the spine, by the heart and lines you up for an aural punch you won't forget.
From the snarling visceral "Good Morning Beautiful" to the nihilistically prophetic toe-tapper (written 21 years ago, folks) of "Armageddon Days are Here (Again)" to the sweaty exhibition of a doomed relationship in "Kingdom Of Rain" to the resigned acceptance of mediocrity in "The Beat(en) Generation"- this caresses your head as it fondles your base emotions.
The stand out cut (in my opinion... obviously) is "August & September". In addition to cutting its own heart out, it cuts yours out as well (if you've ever lived in that same space) and chokes it back with a grimace and tears in its eyes.
The album trails at the end. "Gravitate To Me", a good song, is rendered mediocre next to the excellent "August & September". I could have done without (the blahness of) "Beyond Love", or would much rather have preferred that Mr. Johnson left it off and put the excellent "Jealous Of Youth" on in its stead.
But that is the strength of the top three quarters of this album- it's enough to mark this as a classic.