''Dusk'' is the fourth studio album by

The The are an English rock band from London, formed in 1979 by singer-songwriter Matt Johnson, the only constant member, and often the sole member. achieved critical acclaim and commercial success in the UK, with 15 chart singles, seven reaching ...

. It was recorded in 1992 and released by

Sony Records Sony Records was a record label founded by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1963. It was not affiliated with Sony Group Corporation. Ike Turner produced singles by members of the Kings of Rhythm and the Ikettes on Sony Records. Records on the la ...

on 25 January 1993. The album peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom, and at No. 142 in the United States. In 2002 the album was reissued in remastered form on CD. It is the band's final album to feature guitarist

Johnny Marr John Martin Marr (Birth name#Maiden and married names, né Maher; born 31 October 1963) is a musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has sinc ...

Cover art

The album's cover was designed by artist Andy Dog Johnson, Matt's brother.

Reception

''Dusk'' received positive reviews. In the ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'', Terry Staunton wrote, "It can be a struggle at first, as Johnson never lets up from his blacker-than-black world-view, but ''Dusk'' is a rich and hugely rewarding experience which draws you to its cold bosom again and again." In ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

David Bennun David Bennun (born 1968) is an English writer, journalist and music critic. Career Bennun started his career in music journalism in the 1990s. Notable publications he has written for include ''Melody Maker'', ''The Guardian'' and ''The Quie ...

observed that it was "a remarkably straightforward album" for Johnson and wrote, "Like

Nick Cave Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...

, Johnson protects himself from the ridicule he invites with bombastic self-caricature. When he lets this slip, he's left with an album that, although frequently absorbing, is still as inherently laughable as any The The album. ''Dusk'' needs time to grow; it deserves it. But while it takes it, the

Dogs of Lust "Dogs of Lust" is a song by English rock band the The. Written by frontman Matt Johnson, who co-produced the track with Bruce Lampcov, the song was released as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, ''Dusk'', on 4 January 1993. En ...

are closing in, howling with mirth." Sam Samuelson of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

declared it one of Johnson's "most accomplished products to date." "Slow Emotion Replay" was the 94th best-selling single in Iceland.

Track listing

Tracks written by Matt Johnson. # "True Happiness This Way Lies" – 3:10 # " Love Is Stronger than Death" – 4:38 # "

" – 3:09 # "This Is the Night" – 3:50 # "Slow Emotion Replay" – 3:55 # "Helpline Operator" – 4:48 # "Sodium Light Baby" – 3:45 # "Lung Shadows" – 4:34 # "Bluer Than Midnight" – 3:43 # "Lonely Planet" – 5:27

Personnel

* Matt Johnson – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards *

– electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing vocals * James Eller – bass guitar * David Palmer – drums * D. C. Collard – keyboards *

Vinnie Colaiuta Vincent Peter Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer known for his technical mastery who has worked as a session musician in many genres. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 1996 and the ''Classic Drumme ...

– drums *

Bruce Smith Bruce Bernard Smith (born June 18, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 19 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the Vir ...

– drums *

Danny Thompson Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Ma ...

– upright bass on "This Is the Night" * John Thirkle – trumpet on "Helpline Operator" * David Lawrence – flugelhorn on "Lung Shadows" *

Ashley Slater Ashley Slater (born 1961) is a Canadian-born British trombone player and best known for his narration on the television series '' Boo!'' as well as his work with Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim) in the band Freak Power. Career In 1983 after le ...

– trombone on "Lung Shadows" *

Chris Batchelor Chris Batchelor is a British jazz trumpeter and composer. He gained his first professional experience with Dudu Pukwana's Zila aged 17, at the suggestion of Harry Beckett. He subsequently became a founder member, composer and soloist with Loose ...

– trumpet on "Lung Shadows" *

Guy Barker Guy Jeffrey Barker, (born 26 December 1957) is an English jazz trumpeter and composer. Early life Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a year ...

– trumpet on "Bluer Than Midnight" *

Paul Webb Paul Douglas Webb (born 16 January 1962), also known by the stage name Rustin Man, is an English musician. He was the bassist for the English band Talk Talk. Biography Webb attended The Deanes School in Thundersley, Essex, with drummer Lee ...

Zeke Manyika Zeke Manyika (born 23 February 1955 in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) is a drummer, vocalist and songwriter. Career Manyika was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived in Britain for most of his life. From 1982 to 1984, he was a member of t ...

– chorus on "Lonely Planet"

Charts

Notes

{{Authority control The The albums 1993 albums