Various Artists - Mind Bomb (CD)

With 1989's MIND BOMB, while Matt Johnson's songs still address internal guilt, his lyrics here strive to place that guilt more firmly within the context of societal decay, in particular on "Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)". With the addition of Johnny Marr--who had just left the Smiths--on guitar and occasionally harmonica, the music is also fuller and more confident, even introducing Eastern rhythms to the palette, and finally displaying the muscle behind the previous album's punches. Highlights include "Kingdom of Rain", featuring Sinead O'Connor's distinctive vocals, and a lyrical continuation of the crumbling relationship begun on INFECTED's "Slow Train to Dawn". "The Beat(en) Generation", a suspiciously chipper and upbeat track augmented by Marr's trademarked guitar sound, makes no bones about its indictment of political manipulation, while "Gravitate to Me" features stuttering horns and a massive bass line, courtesy of James Eller. If you buy only one The The release, MIND BOMB ought to be it--true to its title, this album will stick in your head for a long time.