Now that football is over let’s throw down some mid 90’s baseball analogies. David Cone was easily one of my favorite pitchers growing up. He was a pitbull on the mound and refused to back down from anyone. Sadly he was stuck on some truly terrible teams late in his tenure with the Mets. Coney couldn’t win a world series with them (and they were ready to rebuild*) so he got shipped out to the Blue Jays, then the Royals, back to the Blue Jays, then the Yanks. Along the way he was labeled as a hired gun. As a stud arm who could make a good team great he embraced the role of ace mercenary. Part of me thinks Johnny Marr is a bit of a Coney. Marr, who really has no need to slum since he can live off of his sweet royalties from The Smiths, has jumped on board in the past with The Pretenders and Modest Mouse. Now he’s reaching even lower (in name only) with The Cribs. Honestly the Cribs didn’t need the name check..but if that’s what it takes for people to recognize them as a good band then that’s what it takes. I’m been a huge advocate of the band since their Boondock Saints sampling single “I Gotta Go To LA” and their anti hipster anthem “Hey Scenesters” . Having a veteran in the rotation has really given The Cribs a new sense of purpose. Their newly minted confidence really resonates on this album. Marr’s influence and steady veteran hand can instantly be felt with the fantastic one-two punch of “We Were Aborted” and “Cheat on Me”. Thanks to the help of Johnny Marr a good band just got better. David Cone: Made playoff teams better. Johnny Marr: Making good bands better. Note The Mets traded Coney for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson. Thompson was an instant bust and Kent really never meshed or blossomed with the Mets. Four Years later he was shipped to the Indians for a washed up at 27 Carlos Baerga. I’m still bitter obviously.
Catch The Cribs w/ JohnnyMarr @Coachella on Friday April 16th.
Highlights: “We Were Aborted,” “Cheat On Me, Save Your Secrets,” “Last Year’s Snow”
