Mind Bomb

Mind Bomb is the third studio album by English post-punk band The The, released by Some Bizzare/Epic on 11 July 1989 and recorded between October 1988 and May 1989.

Overview
For this album Matt Johnson assembled a full band version of The The, retaining his role as singer, primary songwriter, frontman and guitarist (and playing keyboards and other instruments in the studio), but bringing in former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr (whom he'd known since the early 1980s, and whom he'd attempted to entice into an earlier version of The The prior to Marr forming The Smiths). Completing the lineup was former Julian Cope band bass guitarist James Eller and session drummer David Palmer (while D.C. Collard provided live keyboards). Additional instrumentation on Mind Bomb was provided by sessioneers, most notably keyboard player Wix. 

Instead of the darkly polished dance-pop styling of earlier albums Soul Mining and Infected, Mind Bomb opens up the music to reveal a slow, winding textured world of sound, thanks in no small means to ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. Lyrical subjects include politics, religion, and romance. The band would also play a world tour and record a follow-up, Dusk. After that, Johnson dissolved it and went about his business alone again. A remastered version of the album was released in 2002.

Track listing
Tracks written by Matt Johnson, except where noted.

 "Good Morning, Beautiful" – 7:28
 "Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)" – 5:40
 "The Violence of Truth" – 5:40
 "Kingdom of Rain" – 5:51
 "The Beat(en) Generation" – 3:04
 "August & September" – 5:45
 "Gravitate to Me" – 8:09 (Johnson, Johnny Marr)
 "Beyond Love" – 4:22

Personnel

The band
 Matt Johnson – vocals, guitar, keyboards
 Johnny Marr – guitar, harmonica
 James Eller – bass guitar
 David Palmer – drums

Additional musicians
 Sinéad O'Connor – female vocal on "Kingdom of Rain"
 Wix – piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, accordion
 Warne Livesey – keyboards, banjo, acoustic guitar
 Pandit Dinesh – percussion
 Danny Cummings – percussion
 Pedro Haldermann – percussion
 Chris White – saxophone
 Philip Todd – saxophone
 Ashley Slater – trombone
 John Eacott – flugel horn
 Mark Feltham – harmonica
 Danny Thompson – upright bass on "August & September"
 Sarah Homer – clarinet
 Dai Pritchard – bass clarinet
 Hilary Storer – oboe
 Gavyn Wright – Arabian fiddle
 Astarti String Section – strings

Artwork
Artwork and typography by Fiona Skinner. 
Photography Andrew MacPherson. 
Back cover image was created to reference photomontagist John Heartfield Der Sinn von Genf The Meaning of Geneva AIZ Cover, Berlin, Germany, 1932

References 

Category:1989 albums
Category:The The albums
Category:Epic Records albums
Category:Albums produced by Roli Mosimann
Category:Albums produced by Warne Livesey