The The: Soul Mining (2022 reissue) [EPIC]

Why you'll love it

This 2022 reissue on Some Bizzare and Epic comes with a printed inner sleeve carrying the lyrics and credits. Soul Mining reached No. 27 in the UK, went gold there in 2019, and critics now rank it among the best albums of the 1980s.

This edition

• Printed inner sleeve with lyrics and credits
• Stereo mix

About the album

Some debuts sound like a band finding its feet. Soul Mining sounds like one young Londoner who already knew exactly where he was going. Matt Johnson, the man behind The The, landed a CBS deal after a label bidding war, started the record in New York with Soft Cell producer Mike Thorne, then took it home to London and finished it his own way.

"Uncertain Smile" began life as a rerecorded "Cold Spell Ahead" built on a Roland TR-808 beat with Thorne at Mediasound. "This Is the Day" is a wistful singalong, "The Sinking Feeling" and "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)" bristle with nervy energy, and "Giant" closes things in a hypnotic, percussive swirl. Johnson's lyrics draw on dreams and the anxieties of the early 80s, set to the sound of the New York club scene.

The 2014 30th anniversary reissue drew a fresh round of reviews, with critics calling it Johnson's best work. He started the record in New York and finished it in London, which is a long way to go for a sinking feeling.

Also at Kops: more The The on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On Some Bizzare / Epic (cat# 19658720241), a reissue of the 1983 album.