I'm probably the anomaly as I prefer this over "Soul Mining", and think it is the best The The album of all. Not sure about the "tinny production" comment as it sounds pretty beefy to me.

Not a bad track from start to finish, and every time I hear it I think back to a very happy summer afternoon in 1988 or 1989, standing on the extension roof of my parents house, watching jets fly over me on their way to and from the local air show, "Infected" playing loudly on my Toshiba personal stereo clipped to my belt. A year or so ago I listened to it again for the first time in about five years and was surprised to find I could sing along with every word.

I prefer Soul Mining, what a great, great record, expecially This is the Day and Uncertain Smile. I don't know how I'd categorize it either but it holds up well today.

for me is The The's best album and a real classic from start to finish. I don't think it does suffer from that 80's tinny production (that Soul Mining does), it's a pretty damn powerful album.

I remember the video album too which was excellent, was it Neneh Cherry tied to a railway track? Going a bit faint recalling that!

I also loved That Petrol Emotion and Big Audio Dynamite, it was generally a pretty poor time for music for me around then but you picked out three of my favourites there.

Good ideas, but spoiled by the "WHACK WHACK WHACK" of Matt Johnson's favourite toy of the time.

..and I had the video of the album as well.

Thought Dusk was brilliant as well, some genius guitaring from J Marr and less of the thwacking drum machines

I should clarify when I say tinny I don't mean thin and sounding like the first clash album. It's those mid 80s digital effects, where every reverb reminds me of a corrugated iron shed in winter time.

However it does sound a little weedy when sat next to say the heavily compressed 90s sound of somebody like The Chemical Brothers.

That might have been an interesting collaboration actually Matt Johnson and The Chems.

anyway?

introduced to it by a mate not long after release and have loved The The ever since. I still think the production holds up pretty well, much better than many albums of that time at least. 'Heartland' and 'Sweet Bird of Truth' are just wonderful and every single song is surprising and full of interest in some way. It is hard to choose between it and Soul Mining, he latter containing as it does my all-time fave The The song 'This Is The Day'.

I also remember being at univeristy as Mind Bomb came out and playing it to death. I was always surprised it didn't cause more of a stir, given some of it's content (Armageddon Days, anyone? How very prescient). Matt Johnson may not be underrated by those who know the music, but he's certainly less regarded than he should be.

introduced the the to me when Channel 4 (I think) showed the hour long film that he made to accompany Infected - part collection of pop videos, part weird concept piece.

My enduring memories are of Matt Johnson driving around some Latin American city with a girl writhing on his face as he drove, him sat in a chair, which was in turn strapped to the wings of a knackered plane and of Neneh Cherry tied to a bed (Slow Train To Dawn) in a very tight dress. Left quite a mark on my 14 year old head.

I think Dusk is my favourite, although Infected comes a close second. I hope Matt Johnson tours again one day. Last saw them at Leeds T&C on the Naked Self Tour,its one of my top five gigs ever. Steve Wright seems to think The Beat (en) Generation is the only song they ever did and that they are a one hit wonder! Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to play some The The tonight.

Only this afternoon was I thinking about this album. What an album, completely duffer free. I haven`t heard it in its entirety in a while though, only got it on cassette! Remember `that` format. The video was indeed on C4 at the time of release and I think it was shot in Bolivia amongst other places. Excuse me while I nip over to Spotify...

read a review which described Mr Johnson's music as "a kind of brackish soul-pop". Worked for me!

the old iron bridges and across Victorian parks, and all the frightened people running home before the dark'. Ah, Mr Johnson, with your dystopian yet prescient vision you are spoiling us...

..for about a fiver. Well worth the dough for Pillar Box Red, recorded specially for the compilation - I think - and definitely one of the best songs he's ever written. Why not give him a ring and see if he'll do an interview for a future issue...?

since they are not very similar.

Couldn`t get `Infected` on Spotify. Apart from the title track that is. Am I missing something? I already have the 45RPM collection on CD. I am particularly liking December (Cried out).