Boomslang - Johnny Marr & The Healers
Boomslang Image
Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Smiths' guitarist takes a turn at the microphone for the first time, handling vocal duties for his new band, The Healers. The lineup also includes Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr) on drums and Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. Launch.com
    80
    Highly recommended.
  2. PopMatters
    60
    A pleasant, if not always engaging, slice of post-grunge, post-Britpop guitar rock.
  3. Mojo
    60
    As a record of one man's love affair with his guitar, it's a solid testament. As the work of one of British music's unshakeable geniuses, however, it's not really worth the name. [Mar 2003, p.98]
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  4. Pitchfork
    37
    Positively pillaging Oasis and The Stone Roses (whom Oasis pillaged in the first place), Johnny Marr + The Healers' mediocre debut is a defeated regurgitation of danceable Britpop and Madchester traditions that, in its best moments, recalls a second-rate... Soup Dragons.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. Andy
    10
    Boomslang is a great record. Marr has kept it simple and not gone for broke with an overly polished & epic yet empty record - much like the ones we here from the likes of Coldplay. The musicianship is fantastic; Starkey's a great drummer...probably the best around at the moment. Great stuff.… Expand
  2. JohnT
    9
    Very surprised at the mediocre reviews. This is a fantastic record.
  3. GeorgeA
    8
    This album is ALLOT better than the average reviews indicate, song are very un smiths like,the OASIS parody critism is ridiculous it's just because he sings a bit like liam(mancunian accsent?) this is musically better than OASIS!, This album is worth buying just for last ride alone great song! … Expand
  4. Fatspud
    2
    For an album penned by the greatest pop guitarist ever, this is a sad affair. Johnny has clearly been caught up in the originality Black Hole that engulfed almost all post britpop bands. None of these tracks show the genius guitar work that we know as trademark Marr- rather a mixing pot of all of the worst aspects of 2000's guitar culture. But its ok, we forgive you Johnny.… Expand

See all 7 User Reviews

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