See also: Solitude (EP) which was released in December 1999 and contained remixes of the The songs—most notably, "That Was the Day", a version of their single, "This Is the Day". Uniquely optimistic yet tortured and anguished, Mind Bomb is TheThe’s most impressive work to date. A meld of bitter images and desperate hopes focusing on the individual conflicts and politics of a troubled world.” The The are an English musical and multimedia group that have been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter/frontman Matt Johnson being the only constant band member. Releases are fairly few and far between for the band, but over the years The The have sold several million albums internationally and achieved critical acclaim — their 1983 album Soul Mining was voted the third best album of the year by British music magazine Melody Maker. This album featured the song "Uncertain Smile", which at one point was voted the third greatest song ever by Australian Triple J radio listeners. The album is an absolute stunner and confirms Matt Johnson’s position as one of the best songwriters in the country.” The album trails at the end. "Gravitate To Me", a good song, is rendered mediocre next to the excellent "August & September". I could have done without (the blahness of) "Beyond Love", or would much rather have preferred that Mr. Johnson left it off and put the excellent "Jealous Of Youth" on in its stead.

In case that doesn't clinch it, he winds up repeatedly keening, "I KNOW YOU! from a previous incarnation." By this time, Marr's trademark shuddering guitar has taken to circling the beat with a measured, sharp-edged funk riff and the entire business has gathered a torpid but terrifying momentum that can only end with it, and its protagonist, rolling unstoppably atop its object of desire. It's like being courted by a Panzer division. Come hither, or else. That, by the way, is not my interpretation of his phrasing. It's a transcript of the album's lyric sheet:Uniquely optimistic yet tortured and anguished, Mind Bomb is THE THE’s most impressive work to date. A meld of bitter images and desperate hopes focusing on the individual conflicts and politics of a troubled world.” The The released their official studio album debut, the synth-noir classic Soul Mining, in 1983. It featured the minor UK No.71 hit " This Is the Day", as well as a new recording of the The performing "Uncertain Smile". Produced by Johnson and Paul Hardiman, it featured guest appearances from Orange Juice's drummer Zeke Manyika, Jools Holland, Thomas Leer and JG Thirlwell (a.k.a. Foetus).

For their second studio album Infected (1986), the The still consisted only of Johnson, but was augmented by session musicians and featured friends such as Manyika and Rip Rig + Panic singer Neneh Cherry and Anna Domino. This album spawned four charting singles in the UK, notably "Heartland", which made the UK top 30. [6] It was also unusual for having a full-length accompanying film. Costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, Infected: The Movie was shot on locations in Bolivia, Peru and New York. Different songs were directed by different directors, mainly Tim Pope and Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson (of Throbbing Gristle). In early 1981 the The also contributed the composition "Untitled" to the Some Bizzare Album. In September of that year Johnson and Laws signed a recording contract with Some Bizzare Records and released the 7" single "Cold Spell Ahead". By this stage Matt Johnson had begun playing all the instruments himself so Laws left to pursue his studies, leaving Johnson as a solo artist using a group moniker. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.555. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. In June 2002 the The made a sole live appearance at Meltdown festival at London's Royal Festival Hall as guests of David Bowie. At this point, the band consisted solely of Johnson and longtime friend and collaborator JG Thirlwell a.k.a. Foetus on tapes and loops, and young film director on film and video. [3]Johnson spent the next few years collaborating with a diverse range of creative individuals, changing personnel from project to project. Psst - you know what, readers? I think he may have intended that whole sinking American military aircraft thing as a metaphor.) a b "dutchcharts.nl > The The in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien . Retrieved 19 November 2011. Larkin, Colin (1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol.3 (2nd reviseded.). Guinness Publishing. p.2190. ISBN 354063293X. Throughout 1986–1987 Johnson toured the world extensively with Infected: The Movie, showing the film in cinemas in place of performing live concerts. The film was also shown twice in its entirety on Channel 4 in the UK, on MTV's 120 Minutes in the US, and on MuchMusic's City Limits in Canada.

Matt Johnson is the only permanent member of the The. From 1983 to 1988, and again from 2002 to the present, he was the only official member. Keith Laws–synthesiser (1979–1981). (later a professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Hertfordshire) 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 measure to 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. recording engineer: Felix Kendall ( UK recording engineer) additional engineer: 'Mini' Matt Howe ( producer and engineer), Stuart James ( UK producer aka "Jammer), Warne Livesey and Roli Mosimann assistant engineer: JP Baptiste, Karen Down, Geoff Foster ( sound engineer), Noel Rafferty and Wellard Walsh producer: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) and Roli Mosimann mixer: Bruce Lampcov bass guitar: James Eller drums (drum set): David Palmer ( drummer (ABC/The The)) electric guitar: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) and Johnny Marr keyboard and melodica: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) percussion: Danny Cummings ( British drummer and percussionist) percussion [water percussion]: Pedro Haldemann trombone: Ashley Slater vocals: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) recording of: Gravitate to Me(from 1988-10 until 1989-05) lyricist: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) composer: Matt Johnson ( English singer/songwriter for “The The”) and Johnny MarrVarious: Manchester North Of England - A Story Of Independent Music Greater Manchester 1977 - 1993 (1) austriancharts.at > The The in der Österreichischen Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien . Retrieved 19 November 2011.