Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Damn good album! So much depth.
I never really cared for Mercury Rev, and I prioritize noise much more than dreaminess, so you'd think the album where Mercury Rev drops the noise would be a bust for me. And yet, it works! They're not just doing a hazy formless nothingness and calling it "dream pop", it's more that they're getting psychedelic. There's slide guitar, there's organ, there's a bit of orchestration; it doesn't quite live up to the classics of the 60s, but among neo-psych albums it just might be my favorite!
"Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" is a great track, but, unfortunately, the only one that's upbeat.
Firmly in Flaming Lips territory here aren't we? In fact, I'm pretty sure I always thought 'Holes' was a Flaming Lips track. I would have said that it was like a less unhinged and consistent Flaming Lips, but then in the last couple of tracks it took the hinges off a bit. The space vibes were a bit off kilter with the rest of the album for me.
Enjoyed it - decent atmospheric tunes / completely passed me by at the time
I was ready to hate this band. I can’t tell you how many bad British bands from the late 90s/early 2000s I have encountered (I could but I am not going back through my ratings). But a funny thing happened, I like this band. I really do. Enough that I want to listen closer and explore more. Sonically very different from almost anything coming out of the UK at the time and we are the better for it.
A bit like Flaming Lips but more dreamlike, if that makes sense. Very nice for an early Saturday morning start.
I really enjoyed this. 3.75
weird vocals
On the fine line between dreamy and sleep-inducing
Imagine the Flaming Lips got together with Radiohead and recorded a sci fi horror monster movie soundtrack.
Сара 3 Марко 3,5
wow lovely really enjoyed this
This is impressive and pensive and gentle and, in many places, sweet. Is this a rock band? Maybe by the standards of Revolver, but without the edge. It's lovely and melodic, well-arranged, somewhat varied. It's clear that a lot of indie rock music in the early Aughts owes quite a lot to this record (and maybe Mercury Rev more broadly). It's impressive and fairly enjoyable. I don't think I'm coming back to this for some reason. Favourite tracks: 'Opus 40', 'Hudson Line' and 'Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp'. I have this weird feeling where I think I'm supposed to give this a 4 but I'm only giving it a 3.
Good, very polyphonic spree like, or vice versa
If you told me any of these songs were used in a John Lewis Christmas advert I’d believe you
Felt conflicted about this, I found it quite melodramatic and overblown for the most part, but it then started to interest me a bit towards the end with 'Pick Up If You're There'. Won't listen again but I probably wouldn't have listened ever if it wasn't on this list.
Simple and dreamy. The back story (about being saved by the Chemical Brothers and sharing the studio with the Flaming Lips), the orchestration, and the eerie (windlike?) background sound effects gets Deserted Songs on The 1001 Must Hear List. It’s an easy listen, Opus 40 is the top track, followed by Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp, followed by Hudson Line making for a good threefer. Get rid of The Happy End. Some good variety for such a simple sound. The secret song could also be dumped. Sounded like an off key soundtrack to a frantic cartoon. (2.3 bugsplats) Nice of the Chem Bros to talk up the album and save Merc Rev!
Deserter's Songs are not bad but there is something about the lead's voice that irks me. Sounds weak and pasty. Side B better, more abstract experimentation. "Funny Bird" best song on the album...maybe cause they disguised lead's voice. True to the 90s, its got a secret song...yes! I'd check out the mini DVD release. The band needs to rev it up a bit to get the mercury rising...2.08 stars.
Deserter's Songs is a tricky album to sum up. At times it was kinda slow and I was confused as to what they were going for. At other times there was some decent orchestration with a wide variety of non-traditional instruments that somewhat piqued my interest. It's not often that I get exposed to a musical saw, mellotron or wurlitzer, and they managed to put all of that and more within this album so I guess that is reason enough to check it out. I can't quite pinpoint if I enjoyed it or not, though I expect this band would be more enjoyable in a live setting. Much like Flaming Lips some of the unique and unorthodox nature of the band is best captured in the room. Not a bad album overall but in the long run I expect it will pretty much fade from my memory. 1.90 stars
Huh? Seriously who compiled this list LOL..in my opinion this album is so not special..recognized track 1 the rest super blahhhh
This feels like a fairy tale unfolding in the depths of the ocean, starring mermaids and other mythical creatures. Even though the backdrop may be dark, hope abounds.
As I have never really gotten this album but like plenty of other songs by this band as well as albums adjacent to this but don't really know why this one never resonated with me but picked up plenty of accolades - I'm gonna defer to the sage - Bob Christgau...the album that became inevitable as soon as rock and rollers began allowing as how, damn it, they really liked Ennio Morricone. Say hello to--and not for the last time, God help us--soundtrack-rock. Just don't ask me what it's the soundtrack to.
Recorded in the same studio, at the same time, with the same producers, instrumental palette and chamber musicians as Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips. Once you know that, it makes sense. They sound like two sides of the same coin. This album is whatever side won the toss as Soft Bulletin is barely sufferable. This is however, moderately sufferable. I struggle with these American indie darlings, they have lots of ideas but very little soul or depth. Affectation is the word that springs to mind.
Good
Ok 2/5
Not quite for me, the orchestration is a little strange even though I do usually like strange instrumentation and baroque rock, but I did like the vocals and tone of the album as a whole. technically competent oddball psychedelia. fun amount of theremin. reminded me somewhat of Ween, Daniel Johnson, and Flaming Lips, the latter of which I see they're associated with.
#205/1001 🇺🇸 I played this album so much for the first few years after it was released. Always good for the journeys up and down the motorway visiting the girlfriend who would become my wife. It didn't sound particularly contemporary at the time and so still has a nostalgic, familiar and ethereal feel. It has the sound of a band who are purely concentrating on making an album for themselves, rather than selling millions of copies and thats why it succeeds. Best Tracks: Opus 40, Tonite It Shows, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird, Hudson Line.
fun! funky and a bit weird lol
This did not have a promising start, but I thought it got better as it went along and had a good bit of variety as well. 2.5/5.0 Mixed
i cant even describe how much i hated this
I was not previously familiar with this album, although Goddess on a Hiway seems very familiar. It's an alternative rock album. It's pretty interesting in that it uses some orchestral elements including a bowed saw. Overall I wouldn't mind hearing it again, but not in any rush to do so.
Not that bad! It's an interesting sound (gives off very movie-ish vibes???? idk what it was i have to relisten) and some interludes were whatever (but it's an interlude). but not bad i would go back to the sound! i feel like a good amount of good orchestral arrangements were good.
I had no clue how much I was going to love this. The opening track is a great wave of feelings washing over me and the second song is catchy. There's something magical about this combination of catchy simple melodies and the textured wall of sound behind it. It kept feeling like a song that was right on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't quite place.
Maybe a 4, but I am not convinced
Great (I'm terrible at reviews)
This feels like a movie soundtrack
I started out not quite looking the vocal style, but after a few tracks it stopped bothering me. Not bad. I even put it on for a second listening.
Hmm, not horrible but not great. Nothing special.
Too drowsy and undemanding.
Un album con música muy relajante que personalmente en momento me hizo perder la atención. Es algo lento, pero siempre me mantuvo entretenido
Imagine if Phish decided to exclusively work on motion picture soundtracks from Pixar films directed by David Fincher. That's what we have here. I have no idea why this is on the list. It's certainly not an album. I feel like anyone must listen to. And more importantly, other than a a mild highlight in goddess on the hiway, this was an absolute snooze fest. It's not that I think that they don't have talent or that composition is not excellent... It's just boring. it's too much vocals to be ambient music. It's too much atmosphere to actively listen to. I'm giving it a three only because if this was attached to a movie and I like the movie, it would probably be a four or five star album.
The theremin sounds like a didgeridoo for ghosts. Goddess on a Hiway was cool but this is just not my style. 2/5
Seems like this should have been a band that I've listened to before. Released in 1998, it would have been right around when college radio would have been taking ahold of my ears. But alas, I've never heard this. At first, I didn't think it was going to go anywhere that I liked. Most reviews will draw the comparison to Flaming Lips, but honestly, I hear a lot of Sunny Day Real Estate in here too. Opus 40, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp (even with the fake ending chaos that was so popular back then), and even Tonite It Shows were really good. Four stars, no regrets.
1. holez - 2 2. tonight - 1 3. end - 1 4. coinz - 3 5. opuz - 0 6. hudzon - 1 7. happy - 1 8. goddezz - 0 9. bird - 0 10. pick - 2 11. delta - 0
Never heard of this band before. The opener, Holes, is apparently the most well known song off the album. Unfortunately, it is boring, derivative shite. Is that a theremin in Endlessly?
Hipster douchery from hipster douchenuggets. Mellotron strings, theremins, double bass, ridiculously high pitched female backing vocals. This fine exhibit of cyberpunk onanism would be tolerable, with its pretty tunes, if the lyrics weern't so asinine.
Between this and The War on Drugs album I am feeling pretty salty about the list as it approaches the Millennium and crosses the line. I LIKE these albums. They’re fine. They are mostly forgettable. Really. How do I know? Because I did. Forget them. And I wasn’t as happy being reminded of them as one might expect. There isn’t enough nostalgia value. They are good. Good. Not revolutionary. They don’t make me think or stay with me. They don’t even make me angry except that there were so, so many OTHER albums and bands from this period that aren’t on the list. And it’s not the old hobby horse British bias. I don’t know what it is. The editor is out of touch. But. It’s actually a beautiful project. Idk. Does it deserve a 4? Argh!!! Yeah. I suppose so. 4 But Boolean: FALSE
Holes sounds like Daniel Johnston wrote it. I have the benefit of knowing who these guys are already. Which I guess puts me at about a 50% hit rate when it comes to my familiarly with an artist on this list. Yay me! Also, I again cannae be arsed in correcting any mistake that o make in typing my thoughts. I’m in no mood to proof read. The singing isn’t going to win any of them singer of the year but like some other special bands, this works. Perfection isn’t needed. It’s the journey of the band and the songs and the album that matters here. I do find myself wanting more. That’s) good and a much needed relief from the trash I’ve been hearing lately. 3 stars or not, I’ve been waiting to be blown away or at least entertained without thought of what is going on around me. At times, you could mix this up with the Flaming Lips. Not a bad thing. Choice cut: Holes But they all are decent or I wouldn’t have scored it so high
It's too bad. A select few of these songs are great. They're unfortunately surrounded by songs which are not so great.
An old favourite. My love for it has faded a little as time has passed, but still a great album
would give a 4 but i felt it fell off half way thru
Only the first half is good
Pas mal du tout
Really enjoyed this. Like a lucid Flaming Lips, will return.
Yikes, more of this. I seem to be getting a glut of Chamber Pop in the past month, a genre I'd (thankfully) never heard of before now. This is pretty spacy. Sounds like a lame Pink Floyd. And there's even a rip off of the Silent Night Christmas song in the third track. OK. 2/5
好宁静
This would be better as an instrumental album. It wouldn't be great then but it would be better.
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
I love it
When I heard the first song, “Holes,” their biggest hit (?), I realised I’d always assumed this was the Flaming Lips! The same goes for the other couple of songs I recognised. I thought there was a lot of filler. I got a bit bored and annoyed with it in the middle, all sounding the same. But I enjoyed the last few tracks. This is probably a 3 or 3.5 but I’m giving it 4 to mark it as one I’d like to return to.
Amazing.
Insert meme of lady and cat arguing about whether this is called Mercury Deserters Rev Songs or not. This was just okay. Some nice songs but overall forgettable. Likes: Holes; Opus 40; Goddess on a Hiway
'Oh, the two white lines / Distant gods & faded signs.' In my book, if it ain't easy to tell if something is pretentious, it's more than likely not. There's a chance it's just surprisingly beautiful & touching. This is to say that I think The Flaming Lips are pretentious but Mercury Rev, the Buffalo outfit closely related to that Oakland band, are not. 'The way it changed, into a strange / Cole Porter phrase.' Art rock, art pop, art's not a problem if it's done well & truly. Deserter's Songs is not a perfect record - the vagaries aren't always bountiful & the ghostly themes are silly - but the big tracks ('Holes,' 'Opus 40,' 'Goddess on a Hiway') are fantastic & the overall affect of the album is one that takes me somewhere. When consuming art, I go for that, ya dig?
Sounds like a moodier version of the Flaming Lips. Enjoyed this even if it is a bit inconsistent.
yeah I really like a couple, but the rest is too weird
whiny voice its cool that you have a theramin. But give it a bit of a rest
Points for recommending a band/album that I’ve never heard of. I was ready to hate it, but hints of the flaming lips made it more interesting. Not sure I’d listen to it again. Funny bird was the highlight for me.
3,64 1. "Holes" 2. "Goddess on a Hiway" 3. "The Funny Bird"
Not awful. I see the Flaming Lips references and agree.
Always like this one. The slightly weird Disney movie soundtrack vibes do get distracting sometimes.
Jonathan Donahue left Flaming Lips to make music that sounds quite a lot like the Flaming Lips. He’s quite good at it too.
2.75
Nah no good
Wow, what an album. The first song hopes gave me chills. I also really liked funny bird and I’m definitely gonna learn it on guitar. The whole album had such a whimsical dream like feeling that you could definitely see influenced a lot of bands in the 2010s.
I texted someone that the album reminded me of MGMT by about song 3. Crazy turns out that dave fridmann produced this album and MGMT and tame impala and Pinkerton. this shit smacks. I love the theatrical progression and use of synths with guitars. Vocals are weak and emotional but go great on everything. Love love love. This smacks
A solid indie rock record that sounds of the time and scene in which it was created. The Flaming Lips connection was both apparent and welcome.
I have been listening to this since it's release. It's a unique record as deserves a place on this list. A beautiful dreamlike listen a Holes is a masterpiece.
A lot of comments talk about this sounding like the Flaming Lips which made me really dislike this album. Started cool but what I don't like about FL I dont like about this.
Good, but not enough for me
2.90
From the cover art and period during which this was related, I expected either death metal or its opposite (metal performed by a dead person, I guess). But no – this is actually kind of good. Holes is an absolutely great way to start the album. Psychedelic, a little gaze-inspired, lots of interacting elements of space- and psychedelic-rock like "sci-fi synths", wavery strings, soft horns, a sort of Lennonesque vocal quality... If every song is like this, I can definitely understand the hype. More gorgeous strings along with some glockenspiels and another decent vocal delivery. Though, as we progress to tracks like Tonite It Shows and Opus 40, I can't help but feel like Mercury Rev is parodying a bunch of different bands without really creating their own unique identity. (But then isn't that every band?) Endlessly is a little disappointing if only because it's vastly inferior to the Muse song of the same name. Some nice arpeggios though, and the introduction of a harp and that instrument used in Good Vibrations. (Theremin!) Cool. One of the more interesting songs here. Later we get a theremin (or something like it) instrumental in Pick Up If You're There. Which is significantly worse. "I Collect Coins": bizarre title. It sounds like if the band's main guy, Donahue, was playing Super Mario Bros with his bandmates and had just started delegating roles. Unfortunately, the music itself is less interesting: weak, forgettable flute-ish synths. Or maybe they're flutes. I dunno. At least, at 87 seconds long, it acts more as an interlude than anything. Mercury Rev is capable of decent instrumentals – see the exciting, cinematic Hudsin Line. They just flop with I Collect Coins, and also with The Happy End (The Drunk Room), a noodlage of synth organ noises that don't really change for the entire two minutes. The outro of Opus 40, with some pretty backing vocals and whistling improv of the main melody, is that song's highlight. Goddess On A Hiway is an obvious standout because of the completely different vocal delivery in the verses. The guy almost sounds radio-friendly here. Definitely emulative of alt-rock from the mid/late 90s. The Funny Bird starts off relatively weak, but that percussive explosion and completely unhinged guitar solo together manage to change my mind. Barely. Delta Sun Bottleneck Swamp is a completely mess of a closing number. But I kind of enjoy it. With a different singer it could be convincingly played behind a "summer sale" radio advert. It's shorter than I expected – only 3:30 – which is a plus. The bonus track consists mainly of SFX, possibly courtesy of King Crimson's Moonchild. 3/5 Key tracks: Holes, Endlessly, Goddess On A Hiway
Never heard of this band. Interesting stuff so far. Cool first track. A little slow for me good stuff thogh. Much respect.
Some interesting moments, some annoying moments. Overall not an album that really piqued my interest, but not a bad listen.
It's like more Flaming Lips. And I always want more Flaming Lips!
Different, worth relisten probably
I had heard Boces and Yerself is Steam before this was released but they didn’t stick. This on the other hand was great. Listened a lot after it was released but not much since. Glad to hear it again.
Listened to this one back in the 90s and it's still one of my fav albums from that period, it's has such a distinct sound , love it ☺️
So unique and cool, a few misses but mostly good'
Uncomfortably pleasant, I'm not sure how to describe it. Like Flaming Lips.
DNF - what is this muppets Christmas carol type bullshit dude try again random album generator Seeing as you can’t reverse music ratings I’m cordially making this a REDO of Maverick A Strike, it’s a 5 fucker I love itttt
Don't let the incredible opener fool you this album is just okay
I’d like to hear this album without the keyboards/synth
I didn't know how to rate this album. At first I didn't like it, but then it kind of started being interesting, but then I didn't really want to give it another listen - at least not yet. Two stars for now, but I'll revisit when I'm in the right mood.
ein verspieltes, klingendes album. unkonventionelle arrangements - mir gefällt es!
Ja so kann alternativer Rock gefallen.
Fun and different. I would seek it out again.
It was OK, better than I expected. I knew Goddess on a Hiway before but never knew it was by Mercury Rev.
Surprisingly good. Where ambient meets rock.
Muy bueno.
Interesting aesthetic, but feels like they didn’t do the most with their ideas.
Was okay.
Pretty good
So credit due to the fact I didn't know what shoegaze was before this. Then the nexy day I saw a youtuber I sometimes watch released his own shoegaze album, so there's that. It's a really artsy alternative rock with a mix of other genres and instumentals like jazz or opera. Creative, but not really my thing. It feels like it really is someone's passion but I'm pretty much an otsider with no context so it feels rather dull. Some of these I found even annoying at times, but let's pick 3 fine ones: Goddess on a Hiway, Hudson line and Holes. But they dont't make it to the revisit playlist. Sorry
Only relistened to a couple songs but pretty neat
I enjoyed this one a lot. I had never heard of the band before, but I really liked the vocalist.it felt smooth and fun but also deeply emotional. The album went to surprising places and really carried along well.
This is one of the albums that I don't particularly like but I can appreciate why it's on this list.
this was ok but nothing special
a couple of interesting songs. it was fine, not amazing
Hadn't listened to this band before, and thought this was very cool. It's cinematic and dreamy and I really dig the vibe, almost feels like a silent movie soundtrack in parts. I learned that they were sort of contemporaries of The Flaming Lips and shared a producer and often ran into each other in the studio, and I can totally hear the similarities. Love the weird theremin parts like on Holes and Endlessly, and some epic orchestration throughout. Really enjoyed this one.
3/5 Favorite Songs: Holes Opus 40 Hudson Line Goddess on a Hiway The Funny Bird
it's pretty good, but i didn't like the type of singing if that makes sense? in terms of the sound, like in a misophobia-esque way so Unfortunately that takes it down to a 3 for me. still really good production on this!
perfectly suits my taste, really lovely, maybe I'm just feeling it today but I do love this album
What a beautiful lush album, sonically so nice to listen to but also emotional and well written lyrically. Will be coming back to this one. (It's like death cab for cutie by way of the flaming lips)
Some real nice chord changes and melodies
The similarities with The Flaming Lips are obvious, but where the Lips keeps your attention and full of surprises is this album more predictable. A few nice songs, especially in the second part of the album, but also some songs that could be easily skipped. 3/5
Was a good listen!! Eclectic AF. Liked the orchestration - lots of midi. Goddess on a Hiway in particular stood out. And then the first half of Delta Sun was a bangerrr. Admittedly the outro was a little bizarre lol
Started off real good with vibes like Beach House then it just got kinda mid I struggled to like this one
#33 A dreamy, melancholy, and psychedelic chamber pop album that has the vibe of an old movie soundtrack. The tracks are sequenced perfectly, with a few instrumental interludes helping to keep the dream-like and slightly weird atmosphere flowing throughout. Holes and Opus 40 are in a toss-up for best song. I'm not sure it has any bad tracks. This was a nice surprise find for me, I really enjoyed it.
No. 412/1001 Holes 4/5 (2x) Tonite It Shows 4/5 Endlessly 4/5 I Collect Coins 3/5 Opus 40 4/5 (2x) Hudson Line 4/5 The Happy End 2/5 Goddess on a Highway 4/5 The Funny Bird 3/5 (2x) Pick Up If You're There 2/5 Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp 3/5 (2x) Average: 3,4
Where to begin? A bland collection of Sufjan-esque duds that sound like the cast recording of a musical no one asked for. A musical, mind you, where all of the songs are from Act I because absolutely nothing happens. This album might work if it was presented as a collection of lullabies but even then the risk of irreversible coma would not be insignificant. They try to ratchet it up to mid-tempo with the last track that I assume is sarcastically labeled a “stomp” but by then it’s way too late. NME named this the album of the year in 1998 which is a surprising way to find out that someone from Mercury Rev’s grandma worked for NME.
Звуковое сопровождение проходного фильма. Знакомство с альбом прошло очень многообещающе. Такой ранний, неотесанный tame impala, предвкушает. что-то ностальгирующее интересное. Ты ждёшь чего-то примерно ещё два трека далее весь альбом для тебя превращается в унылое музыкальное сопровождение развязки драматического фильма-жвачки нулевых. Описание намного интереснее и красочнее того, что я услышал. Долго описывать этот альбом не буду, безусловно можно выделить совсем малые и не очевидные плюсы, но считаю это излишним для оценки в 2.5/10.
holes: banger, the rest, preeetty disappointing
Banco, las primeras dos canciones buenas, después se pone medio extraño. Quizá lo escucharía de nuevo, me interesa saber más de la banda y del tipo de música.
This is not bad it's just not interesting. I saw someone else say it's the poor cousin of The Flaming Lips and that feels about right.
While listening to this, rather than trying to discern it's quality, I tried to imagine when I would like to experience this record. And reader, I could not envision a time in my life nor a routine task or event that this record would enhance or could have made better. Not a bedtime record. Not a record for a walk. Not a sit and pay attention record. Not for driving. So ultimately, I found it boring.
Reminds me of the Flaming Lips in a good way. Fantastic orchestration. Vinyl worthy.
2whimsical4me 1/5
Interesting instrumentation by the band but the songs dont stack up. Goddess on a highway is funny and the best of a lot left well alone
Brought this when I was 16, a real trip down memory lane and a very good album.
I actually really enjoyed this. An expansive soundscape reminded me a little of Pink Floyd. Would be more than happy to listen to this again without any one song really standing out to me.
1.2/5 Very average album with only a couple of half decent tracks.
The first track was awesome to listen to with an early morning orange sunrise in the background. After that I found the rest of the album to just be ok. This style of music usually isn't my thing and while it didn't make me a fan, I didn't hate that I had to listen to it. 3/5
Ég fæ gott í nostalgíuna mína þegar ég hlusta á þessa plötu, en hún er frábær fulltrúi þeirrar tónlistar sem gerði það að verkum að maður vildi hlusta á X-ið í gamla daga, þrátt fyrir allt þeirra Bizkit og Korn. Óvænt, skemmtileg og oftast mjög grípandi.
Meh
Didn't like it
This was great. No skips.
Nice album - reminiscent of the Flaming Lips, but that’s not bad. opus 40 is a truly majestic song, and whilst nothing else comes close to being as good it’s a very fine album.
Great first song, but the others are only Ok.
Forgettable Flaming Lips knockoff.
It's worth a listen, but I don't think I'm going to listen to it again
Liked this from the start but loved even more upon subsequent plays. Definite weird and dreamy quality which I enjoy, as others have also said it has Flaming Lips vibes. New to me artist that I will be looking into more
flaming lips singing throws me off
Another new artist. I found this to be quite enjoyable. A bit of psychadelic rock with some solid production value. A lot of varied instrumentation that some might find too unusual but I found charming. Already added some songs to the library and will likely listen a few more times.
Well, that was certainly some music. Droning, repetitive parts interspersed with discordant instrumental stabs, plus lyrics which were doubtless very meaningful to the writer but didn't make any sense to me. An interesting assortment of instruments and clean, lush production, but I just didn't get it.
This wasn't really what I expected based on the album art. I thought it would be more rock and less chamber pop. I did like it, but it wasn't transcend ant, classic 3 star fare. The first couple of tracks had an instrument that really sounded like a theremin to me but looking at the personnel list on Wikipedia nobody is credited as the theremin player, so I guess it's a bowed saw? Always cool to learn about some instrument I never knew existed before
Was good!
좋음
Mercury Rev’s Deserter’s Songs is an album of stark contrasts, blending exceptional, uncompressed audio production with a tracklist that frequently fluctuates in quality. The record kicks off strong with the atmospheric indie vibes of Holes and hits a true high point with the standout guitar solo on The Funny Bird, which easily could have served as a superior closer. The album also finds success with the genuinely pleasant melodies of Goddess on a Hiway. Unfortunately, much of the remaining runtime leans heavily into the mundane, bogged down by forgettable tracks like I Collect Coins and Pick Up If You're There, before wrapping up on a bizarre note with The Happy End. While the rich, well-separated instrumentals and flawless mastering ensure that nothing ever sounds offensive to the ear, the lack of consistent songwriting makes the journey largely hit-or-miss. Ultimately, despite housing a few genuine gems, the record struggles to leave a lasting impression as a cohesive whole, earning a modest 2/5.
Not bad! New to me. Some cool moments and some indulgent spacey strings etc
This is a great album. The parallels to the Flaming Lips are obvious and understandable. Essentially a softer Soft Bulletin. Favorite songs were Holes, Opus 40, Goddess On A Hiway, and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp.
Great dramatic music with good instrumentals
Not my type of music. There were a couple of good songs but for the most part it was pretty boring. I'll give it a three because like I said, there were a couple of decent songs and the musicianship is excellent but I don't like the singer's voice very much
I definitely see the comparison to the flaming lips. I dig it
7/10… baroque pop / neo psychedelic / *1998
Boring and the guy's voice is annoying.
blz achei bem gostosinho, lembra um pouco flaming lips na era dourada mesmo, mas os cara foram um nível além
ou, esse eh bão hein!!! dá pra notar uma pegada meio flaming lips, mas fazendo algo bem original, né. vários instrumentos, muita maluquice. a guitarra em a funny bird eh pedrada demais
Интересный альбом, такой эдакий инди-дрим-поп, мелодичный и печальный. Внезапно даже терменвокс на фоне завывает... Классная музыка, снимал бы я какой-нибудь задумчивый фильм, поставил бы в саундтрек.
Interesting, but not my style.
Little too weird. Not enough meat.
Deserter's Songs by Mercury Rev was a really enjoyable listen. Their sound is incredibly dreamy and whimsical, built around beautiful melodies and rich arrangements that make the album feel very different from most other bands and genres. At times it almost feels more like a film soundtrack than a traditional rock album. There’s a warmth and atmosphere running throughout the record that makes it very easy to sink into. The orchestration and production are excellent, and while the album can drift a little in places, it never loses its charm. Songs like “Holes”, “Opus 40” and especially “Goddess on a Hiway” really stood out and gave the album some genuinely memorable moments. Overall, this is an album I enjoyed a lot more than I expected to and one that creates a really unique mood from start to finish. Favourite tracks: “Goddess on a Hiway” is a superb song. “Holes” and “Opus 40” were also highlights Least favourite tracks: “Endlessly” felt a little too much like a Christmas carol for me — it gave off strong “Silent Night” vibes Album artwork: Dark album cover, but I really like it
Really interesting and cool compositions. Very creative
I don’t enjoy this vocal style, but this was very engaging
Although I was a bit put off by the voice, I thought "Holes" was a 5/5 song. Unfortunately I'd say that the rest of the record didn't keep the same quality, but it was still quite good. It was good, but it was not all 5/5 material. "Goddess on a Hiway" and "The Funny Bird" were some of my favourites, too. My opinion varied a lot during the first listen, but I think I'm finally going for a 4/5, as I really liked the second half too.
Never heard this band before and they did not disappoint. Gave off Flaming Lips vibes
Kinda like a UK version of Calexico in that they finally made an album for themselves and it hit bigger than any previous efforts. I hear a little overlap in sound as well, but way less ‘American Southwest’ here. So far it has the same ‘dark winter night record’ vibe that I enjoy so much about Calexico’s Feast Of Wire. No, I can’t explain that, I think you just gotta listen to both albums to get it. Not sure yet how I feel about the falsetto vocals sprinkled around the tracks I’ve heard so far, he seems to dabble in both Neil Young and Tom Petty territory at different times (also, a dash of John Lennon). That’s a fun intersection of cliches, but maybe too much for one band. I can hear some Fastball creeping in on “Opus 40”, but overall, a lot of Flaming Lips style expansive ‘vastness’ in the sound. Definitely drawing a lot of influence there. 1998 Album Of The Year feels like maybe a stretch, but I’m enjoying it on my first pass. I like the organ and saxophone inclusions though. I think it’s a solid 4. More listens could get me to go higher but maybe only to 4.5
I liked this. I thought it was, at times, soothing and kind of lovely.
Somehow these people got to the end of recording this dreck and said, "Oh yeah; nailed it!"
What in the nonsense did I just listen to? This is a no for me Bob.
Favorite songs: Holes, I Collect Coins, Opus 40, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird, Pick Up If You're There Reminds me of Flaming Lips + some Polyphonic Spree 3.5
Mercury Rev were on my list to check out throughout the late 90s-early 00s, but I guess I never got around to it. It's hard to know now whether I'd have dismissed it as being a bit twee and overblown. Fortunately, I've got a bit of a wider musical palette these days and have enjoyed the cinematic scope and experimental psych going on around some really quite charming songs. There is plenty of attention to detail with fun fills and a no-holds-barred approach to live instruments. Gave me some Polyphonic Spree vibes (underrepresented on this list) and of course Flaming Lips (appropriately represented) while also dabbled into some post-rocky soundscapes. It's not one for every day, and I can think of nobody to recommend it to, but I'll enjoy it again I'm sure.
Funny thing. I have this album but I never really listen to it that much. I know one song from this record for sure, the others I have heard but don't remember. I will be seeing them in concert this week in fact. I think it is a very good record.
I'm sorry but this is just not my thing. I like that they went less commercial and enjoyed what they did, but this does not click with me.
Pretentious garbage
I must've listened to at least 5 albums like "Deserter's Songs". Chamber pop must be second to post-punk when it comes to quantity over quality. "Deserter's Songs" isn't the latter (fortunately) for the most part. The parts I did loathe include "The Happy End"; that piano improv did not need to be there. Luckily, tracks like "Goddess on a Hiway" stopped me from giving the album a lower rating. 3 stars for "Deserter's Songs".
This album is definitely not my favourite. While listening to it much of it sounded like it was an undertale fan band with some intermission songs that wouldn't have sounded out of place. I just found it to be very bland. Fav song: Hudson Line Least Fav: I collect coins
Lame indie music.
Cool chamber pop.
On the fence between 3 and 4 stars. I liked the sound for the most part
Fine (even good, at some points!!) production but the singer is just not good. Also I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear the last three songs. 3/5
Reminds me a lot of spiritualized. Pretty good, probably won't return to it
instrumentation is pretty cool, arrangements are quite fun, but the vocals are really just quite unpleasant to listen to
This is so so close to being really cool but has a few things holding it back. The biggest perhaps being the theremin, which would get all wonky when it showed up, but when it wasn't as noticeable it was really cool, some top notch songs here. 8/10
Meh, artsy to a fault
Really good Feels like this is ahead of its time. Sounds a lot like stuff from 5 years after. Its good when its effortlessly weird. Opus is great. The last 20 seconds of the album needs cut But good 4
Very interesting album.
7/10 Buen album, divertido. No resalta nada pero tampoco es malo, cumplidor
Again another album that’s fine and pleasant enough in the background but doesn’t really make you sit up and take notice!
Unremarkable
First time with Mercury Rev. I was expecting something a little more sour but what I found here instead was a sprawling collection of very strange ideas: Some solid stuff among some filler. But I think this is one of those albums that I'll find more to enjoy the more I listen.
This is fun! I’m usually not really into rock-n-roll sound, but this hyped me up and had me head-banging and body-shaking
I liked The Beatles influence in their songs. It was all over the place. Didn’t give it a fair enough listen to give higher than a three, though. It’s me, not you.
I'm surprised I wasn't familiar with this album, and not at the same time. When you listen to it, you do feel the Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin vibe since they were both produced at the same time by the same guy, very similar album structure, similar vocals, completely different instrumentation and arrangements. But for some reason, i'm just not clicking with this, apparently it was a hit, not sure where, doesn't sound like something that would sound in a store or radio other than indie stations for a while. Kinda reminds me of Sparklehorse too, but this is more like an annoying musical than an indie show. Not bad, just not for me.
This started as a 5 with holes but got slightly weaker throughout. Definitely one of return to as I was totally unfamiliar to begin with.
I like it, its a good listen. Will definitely give it another listen
3.5 Stars Pleasantly surprised on this one. Never heard of the artist or the album. Really liked it a lot on first listen
Que som triste, mas ao mesmo tempo acolhedor. Parece uma lembrança de adolescência que nunca vivi. Um som misterioso, eu to curtindo. Tinha potencial, mas da metade pra frente começou a não me interessar, foda, tava com expectativa. Quase chegou no 4. Vai ficar com 3*.
A long time favourite ...
Pretty uncanny resemblance to flaming lips in the vocals. This was fine, not sure why it's on this list.
This is like a derivative mash up of Flaming Lips and Cloud Cult, but with lamer lyrics. Not impressed.
## The Backstory: An Album Born from Collapse *Deserter's Songs* is one of those rare records that emerged not from ambition, but from desperation. By 1997, Mercury Rev was effectively finished. Their 1995 album *See You on the Other Side* had flopped commercially and critically. Band members were fleeing: David Baker was long gone, Jimy Chambers left, Suzanne Thorpe returned to school, and producer/bassist Dave Fridmann was focused on his production career . Frontman Jonathan Donahue was in a dark place—depressed, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, while guitarist Sean "Grasshopper" Mackowiak retreated to a monastery . The band relocated to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, intending to make one final album entirely for themselves before splitting up. As Donahue later explained, the album's theme was "walking away"—of leaving, deserting your troubles . Ironically, this farewell letter became their salvation. NME named it Album of the Year for 1998, and it launched Mercury Rev into a new, enduring phase of their career . --- ## Music & Production ### The Sound: From Noise to Symphony *Deserter's Songs* represents a radical reinvention. Mercury Rev's early work (*Yerself Is Steam*, *Boces*) was defined by chaotic noise-rock, shoegaze squalls, and psychedelic excess. On *Deserter's Songs*, the jagged guitars and propulsive rhythms were replaced by something softer, slower, and symphonic . The production, handled by Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios, is central to the album's identity. Where previous albums were fleshed out with layers of distortion and guitars, this time classical instruments—strings, horns, woodwinds—took their place . The album was mastered to 35mm magnetic film, a deliberate choice that Fridmann said gave the music an intentionally "weird sound" while enhancing its "cinematic bent" . The result is a sonic landscape that feels simultaneously antique and otherworldly. There's a crackle and warmth to the production that makes everything sound like it was unearthed from a time capsule left somewhere damp and forgotten . ### Instrumentation & Guest Musicians The album's palette is extraordinarily rich and unconventional: - **The singing saw**: Perhaps the album's most distinctive texture—a haunting, otherworldly wail that weeps through several tracks - **Theremin**: Used liberally, giving certain passages an alien, sci-fi quality - **Mellotron**: Chugs along beneath the arrangements, adding a baroque, Van Dyke Parks-esque quality - **Choral arrangements**: Female voices and quivering choirs appear throughout, particularly on "Endlessly" The album also features guest appearances from **Levon Helm** (drums on "Opus 40") and **Garth Hudson** (saxophone on "Hudson Line") of The Band, who lived in the Catskill area and were recruited for sessions . Their presence adds an authentic roots-rock gravitas that grounds the album's more fantastical elements. ### Key Musical Moments - **"Holes"**: Opens with lush orchestration and the singing saw's first appearance, establishing the album's dreamy, melancholic tone immediately - **"Opus 40"**: Strings soar, instruments weave in and out of focus, and a sweet horn line adorns the second verse before drums kick into an impassioned chorus - **"Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp"**: The album's closer starts like an '80s dance track before blossoming into a celebratory hootenanny—likely influenced by the band's collaboration with The Chemical Brothers around this time --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### The Act of Leaving The unifying thematic thread is departure—"walking away" from cities, relationships, past selves, and pain . This isn't bitter resignation; it's wry wonder, a gentle acceptance of transience. **"Tonite It Shows"** opens with surreal journey imagery: *"Into a dream, I took a turn, and promised to return"* . It references leaving, roads, returning, and the sepia-toned past—setting up the album's preoccupation with memory and forgetting. **"Endlessly"** inverts the perspective: instead of the narrator leaving, they are being left behind. *"Standing in a street, the line beneath / The falling leaves leading her again endlessly"* . The fixation on being abandoned, on watching someone walk away, runs through the album like a river. **"Hudson Line"** literalizes the theme: *"Gonna leave the city, gonna catch the Hudson Line / You know I love the city, but I haven't got the time"* . It's the album's philosophical thesis—escaping urban chaos for upstate tranquility. ### Darkness & Light Despite the somber themes, there's an undercurrent of optimism. **"Opus 40"** contains some of the album's darkest imagery—* "Woke up and climbed from the suicide machine"*—yet it's also one of its most beautiful songs, with soaring strings and impassioned delivery . **"The Funny Bird"** is the album's emotional nadir. Donahue manipulates his vocals to sound like something from a sad Beatles outtake, delivering lines like *"In the end you are just a band, a funny little bird that never lands"* . It's the most depressing track on an album that never fully surrenders to despair. ### New York as Character Mercury Rev has always referenced their home state, and *Deserter's Songs* functions almost as a tourist brochure for upstate New York . **"Opus 40"** references the massive earth-and-stone sculpture in Saugerties built by one man over 37 years. **"Hudson Line"** pays tribute to the train route from NYC. The Catskill Mountains loom over the entire record, providing both literal and metaphorical landscape . ### Dream Logic The lyrics operate on dream logic—surreal, fragmented, but with a vague unifying coherence. They're not narrative so much as impressionistic, painting emotional states through strange imagery: Spanish candles, Persian poems, suicide machines, goddess highways . --- ## Influence & Legacy ### The Flaming Lips Connection The story of *Deserter's Songs* is inseparable from that of The Flaming Lips' *The Soft Bulletin*. Both albums were recorded at Tarbox Road Studios with Dave Fridmann, often sharing the same instruments and equipment—Mercury Rev worked during the day, The Flaming Lips at night . The creative cross-pollination was profound. Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips has credited *Deserter's Songs* with inspiring *The Soft Bulletin*, noting: *"I think without Deserter's Songs being so significant, The Soft Bulletin would probably have not been followed too much"* . In turn, Donahue has spoken about both bands *"trying to find something that was greater than us"* . This period at Tarbox represents one of the most significant moments in late-'90s alternative music—two bands simultaneously reinventing themselves from noisy psychedelia into orchestral pop, influencing each other through proximity and shared creative energy. ### Broader Impact *Deserter's Songs* helped define what we now call "chamber pop" or "baroque pop" in the indie sphere. It demonstrated that psychedelic music didn't need to be guitar-driven, noisy, or blues-based—it could be lush, melodic, and symphonic . The album proved that extreme softness could be as radical as extreme noise. The record has influenced countless artists working in the intersection of orchestral arrangement and indie rock—from Grizzly Bear to Arcade Fire to Fleet Foxes. Its cinematic quality has made it a favorite for film and television placements (notably, "Holes" appeared in *Sing 2*) . --- ## Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Emotional resonance** | The album captures a specific, fragile emotional state—wounded but hopeful, melancholic but not defeated | | **Production innovation** | The 35mm magnetic film mastering and orchestral arrangements created a unique, timeless sonic signature | | **Songcraft** | Standout tracks like "Holes," "Goddess on a Hiway," and "Opus 40" rank among the finest indie rock songs of the '90s | | **Cinematic scope** | The album works best as a complete piece, transporting the listener to a fully realized world | | **Guest contributions** | Levon Helm and Garth Hudson add authentic classic-rock gravitas | | **Redemptive narrative** | Born from genuine despair, it channels pain into beauty—a "heroic" artistic achievement | | **Orchestral integration** | Classical instruments feel organic, not grafted-on; the arrangements serve the songs | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Vocals are divisive** | Jonathan Donahue's high, wispy voice has been described as *"Neil Young coaxing a kitten down from a tree"*—an acquired taste that some find grating or weak | | **Theremin/saw overuse** | Some listeners find the theremin and singing saw excessive—*"COOL IT WITH THE FUCKING THEREMIN!"* as one reviewer put it | | **Uneven sequencing** | The album doesn't always hang together brilliantly; some tracks feel like comparative filler between the masterpieces | | **"Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp"** | The closing track's upbeat, dance-oriented energy can feel jarringly different from the rest of the album | | **Preciousness** | The album's whimsy and delicacy can tip into tweeness for some listeners | | **Back half dips** | While the front half (through "Opus 40") is nearly flawless, the second half, while good, doesn't maintain the same heights | | **Not for every mood** | This is late-night, lights-low music; it's not something you'd throw on at a party | --- ## Final Assessment *Deserter's Songs* is a masterpiece of transformation—both for the band that made it and for the listeners who discover it. What began as a farewell became a rebirth. The album captures that rare alchemy where personal despair is transmuted into universal beauty, where darkness is illuminated by strange, fragile light. It exists in a liminal space between waking and dreaming, between leaving and arriving, between sadness and hope. The orchestral arrangements are genuinely innovative, the songwriting is emotionally devastating when it connects, and the production creates a world you can inhabit. Is it perfect? No—the vocals won't be for everyone, the sequencing has weak spots, and some of the instrumental quirks can grate. But its imperfections are part of its humanity. This is music made by people who had nothing left to lose, and that freedom from expectation allowed them to create something that has outlasted countless more calculated records. For fans of orchestral indie, psychedelic pop, or simply music that sounds like nothing else around it, *Deserter's Songs* remains essential listening nearly three decades later.
Very average, can't say there's anything particular memorable or impactful about it
Sort of not my thing. Maybe in a different mood
This was so Wes Anderson-coded
Great album. Didn't know much of their stuff but it's packed with rich tunes
Liked it more than I thought I would. Big, full sounds on a lot of these tracks. Reminded me a lot of 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea', after some research it seems my suspicions were correct. Pretty neat. Favorite Track: The Funny Bird, although the last track 'Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp' was pretty cool.
One of their better ones. Shame they never sounded half as good on record, one of the best live bands ever.
Listened twice to this today, never heard of the band and not sure why this is marked firstly as shoegaze as there is none of that here, maybe one of their other albums is - I don't know. However this is quite an enjoyable ride, psychedelic, some ambient, some baroque pop influences. Really quite good alternative album, 3 stars for sure and 3.0 on RYM. Possibly artist to revisit?
We have the Flaming Lips at home. 3/5
Pleasant! Not a huge fan of the vocals but they’re suitable. This isn’t a bad album, maybe just not entirely for me. I think the more I listened the less I enjoyed. Closer to a 4.
Couldn't get into this at all, didn't do anything for me. Ended up skipping most of it.
Liked couple of these
It's a 3, inoffensive
I’m glad I never knew this dude before and am no better for knowing him now. I most definitely did not need to listen to this album (or even the 50% of it I did) before I died, fuck sake, give me my 20 mins back.
🤔
It's like Flaming lips but not really good Will I listen to again: 1%
This was honestly boring. I'm almost inclined to give only a single star, but I guess that would be unfair compare to the other disasters I've found in this list.
Strangely boring for an album of my preferred genre. Maybe it was the orchestral bent, which made me think of owl city. All in all, a 2.5 rounded down.
this album should be 1000 years long
oye muy bueno
3.5/5
its, very forgettable. the vibes are interesting and i appreciate the chamber pop aspect. but i just wont go back to listen to this again anytime soon. 4/10
I'll have Flaming Lips please. We don't carry Flaming Lips. Is Mercury Rev okay?
Relativity interesting this here one. There is alot to like here. But also an almost equally amount I dont like. Its too spacey and ethereal gor alot of it for my tastes. But they want to they can push out a good all around song. Holes is a great starter. Got me very optimistic right off the bat. But then I loose that feeling pretty quick. There are moments over the next songs but I just dont get a full song that im into until the funny bird. But thats the story here. A band who can make stuff im into but not on a consistent basis im looking for. Its not bad in any way, even good but just not that much for me. Im not against looking deeper into these guys. So thats something
un bel album nocturne, entrecoupé d'interlude, que je passe vite d'habitude, mais là, non. Good!! 4-/5
Who is this album for? Not me, apparently.
actually kinda peakk
Thought this would be alot better just too slow
not that bad but i dont really like
This was a really cool album! The Wikipedia article said the band made this album purely for them, and it shows! There were some songs where I felt like I was gonna ascend (The Funny Bird, and some songs that had really bizarre choices (The Happy End (The Drunk Room)). I don't think I'd go back to this whole album, but this has some winners on it!
No no no. I tried 2 songs and I can’t do it but I bet some people love it. 1 star
eww
Very flaming lips-ish
3.5
3.5
Loved this in the '98 dive, still frigging love it (9.35) ★★★½
A very atmospheric listen, right in my wheelhouse. 4.5 stars
This was a really interesting album when it was released in 1998. Dave Fridmann was producing both this and the Flaming Lips' *The Soft Bulletin* at the same time. Both were new directions for both bands, who were both psych rock bands with little more than a cult following. Like its sister album, *Deserter's Songs* kind of eschews traditional rock instrumentations for horns, strings, keys, and saws. The result is majestic sounding, but also somehow fits with their aesthetic. Highlights include "Goddess on the Hiway", "The Hudson Line", "Holes", and "Opus 40" (featuring Levon Helm on drums). This really put Dave Fridmann on the map as one of the best producers on the planet. 4.5 stars.
There are a few kinda nice dream-rock epics like Goddess On A Hiway but a chain of flat songs early on, some nasty MIDI-ish orchestral textures plus the underwater Strong Sad vocals keep this away from true greatness. I have to fashion a Mercury Shiv to ice this from the list unfortunately, or should I say strongsadly.
Day 26 — Mercury Rev — Deserter's Songs (1998) Listened: April 2026 Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Orchestral Indie Rock Vibe: Lush and cinematic but deeply strange — orchestral arrangements wrapped around songs that feel like they're drifting in and out of a dream. Highlights: ★ Opus 40 Impression: Hard to connect with. Weird and slow-moving, and even after four or five listens I never found solid footing. A couple of moments broke through but mostly felt like work. Not my world. Rating: 1.2/5 Keep songs? Yes Revisit album? No
2 out of 5. No real feelings towards this one, just meh.
not really my type of music
para poner de fondo
This album really grew on me. Lots of cool melodies and vibey songs. The second half of the record really moved this up to a 4.
Really enjoyed this experience. I wasn't familiar with Mercury Rev at all, but it immediately reminded me a lot of The Flaming Lips. Finding out that the two bands had a connection was as delightful as listening to this record was.
Oh no, I cannot stand the lead singer's voice. I keep wincing every time it breaks or gets thin and raspy on a high note. I was going to say I like all of the other musical elements until I started hearing the spaceship wailing noises in the first track ... safe to say, I am not a fan of this album.
Unknown band for me. OK to Good album.
Fand nur das 1ste Lied gut. Rest bisschen Crazy
Relativement médiocre, voire désagréable.
Interesting but ultimately not my thing
interesting!!!
Jonathan Donahue worked with the Butthole Surfers, and I can't find a more mismatched couple if I tried
This is much better than I remember it. Several friends are fond of Mercury Rev and have recommended them to me in the past, but I wasn't particularly chuffed by what I listened to, and I believe most of it was off this album. Let it be said that we are capable of change. This is brilliant. A remarkable synthesis of art and post-rock, the detractor that probably derailed my experience before is that I don't love the singer's voice. Otherwise, this is a great, somewhat offbeat album.
This had just enough to keep me interested. Worth a listen but not particularly notable.
Actually this is awesome
Really great
Briefly thought I was listening to Death Cab for a minute. Does Endlessly sample Silent Night??? Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp >>>>>
3.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mercury-rev/deserters-songs/ While I quite liked some songs, as they reminded me of things like Flaming Lips or Destroyer a bit, there were too many instrumental intermezzos that couldn’t keep my attention. Might increase appreciation upon relistening tho.
Musically this album is pretty fine, but what mostly holds it back for me is the guy's voice. God damn, it just doesn't fit the music outside of a few songs. If nearly anyone else was singing, this would absolutely be my jam, but unfortunately I just felt a disconnect with his voice.
i like "goddess on a hiway" and "the funny bird". otherwise this album doesn't really do too much for me. much prefer what they have going on in "the secret migration".
There is a pretty strong fan base for this album. Perhaps it sounded great in its day, or perhaps I just need more time with it. The album had a nice center section: “Hudson Line,” “Opus 40,” and “Goddess on a Hiway.” The first of these especially grabbed my attention. But overall, the album wasn’t pulling me in too close, not on first listen anyway. I was more curious about what the next album might be…. Oh! Tom Waits. Cool.
I don't know much about Mercury Rev, but if I didn't know better, I would have thought it was a precursor to the Flaming Lips. Sort of a less techno version (though orchestral) of Yoshimi packs up and leaves New York City for the Canadian border. It's odd, moody, yet melodic and wistfully dark and adventurous. I am not sure what it is, but I enjoyed the ride, and I will enjoy traveling with this album again in the future.
Solid
Feels like weird movie soundtrack music. Didn’t care for it.
I’d never heard of Mercure Rev before, even though some of the “Deserter’s Songs” sound familiar to me. In any case, this is just another mediocre ’90s alternative rock band, and I can’t find anything else noteworthy about it. At the start of this project, I had a bunch of ’80s new wave albums, most of which sounded more or less the same—now the same thing seems to be happening with the dominant style of the ’90s. Too bad!
Good
Surprisingly, a very pleasant listen. Not particularly unique or distinctive, but it fits perfectly with today’s cloudy mood
- Played in Israel 5 times, most recently in 2022. Haven't heard anything from them against the genocide, so I have to assume they're Zionists, which is an instant boycott. - The instrumentals are pretty, expansive, and interesting, mainly on the first half of the album. - I can't get past the whiney, tentative, off-key vocals that have almost no range. Sounds like a weaker Flaming Lips vocally. And I hate when he sings "hoooles, dug by little mooooles", lol. - I agree with the person who said that this sounds like a mix of Flaming Lips and Spiritualized, but I prefer them. - Other than Goddess on a Hiway and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp, I didn't enjoy the second half of the album. Too much dissonance with the same two notes repeated on The Happy End, off-key vocals on The Funny Bird, boring theramin, and then that stupid hidden track. - Also felt there was too much on the high end most of the time. - I was thinking of giving it a 3 when listening to the first half of the album, but it ended up being way too self-indulgent.
A bit too etheric and whispy for me.
boring couldnt finish tbh
7/10
Intensamente alternativo
4.62
I think this album was just weird enough to peak my interest then it just never slowed down. Probably a lot of drugs were taken to make something like this, but honestly I'm about it.
Not sure who this is for
I really liked this one. It reminded me a bit of vampire weekend if they were an experimental band
Eeeeeemm. No sé muy bien que decir, no me gustó, no lo escucharía de vuelta, pero es curioso.
Lots of hits and misses, with a heavier leaning toward the misses. With this record, you'll get an upbeat track, but then go into some experimental, low-tempo track. This had some weird pacing. Favourite Track(s): Opus 40 Least Favourite Track(s): The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
Listening to this one while on the road on a weekend. I don't know, but for some reason the phrase that keeps coming to mind is that the songs have a sense whimsy. Like if it were a Beatles album, it would feel like it's definitely Paul influenced. Or it could just be random irrelevant road thoughts. I liked it, but very little stuck out as great (the first track, but that's about it).
There are some good songs here, I think this is worth a second listen
Not for me..
Urgh. Like a bad Flaming Lips.
This was a pleasant enough time, though not life-changing for me.
I love Holes. The bass line at the end is restrained, melodic and beautifully compliments the melody. The rest of the album has some highlights but doesn’t hit the same level. I never really listened to this back in the day so I don’t have quite the same emotional connection as I do with other albums of a similar ilk.
Each time I listen to this, it takes me on a wonderful journey. It’s understated despite its oftentimes maximalist approach to sound and instrumentation and really works well as a cohesive piece of work - ‘Goddess on a hiway’ is good standalone, it’s great when it comes towards the backend of the album. There are some really standout songs but it’s the variety of styles and oddities in the approaches that draws me back - the brass at the end of ‘holes’, the key change concluding ‘opus 40’, the four on the floor of ‘delta sun bottleneck stomp’. Love it.
Had no knowledge of these guys and had low expectations but was pretty pleasantly surprised. A lot going on here! It reminds me of a lot of other bands but feels original. Out of the gates it sounds like The Flaming Lips, maybe a little Supertramp. Mott the Hoople, Phish, Radiohead. Fun as fuck. Will be back for more.
Can really hear the flaming lips connection here. The first song sounds exactly like them. While this album had its moments, and I did enjoy the cinematic aspects of it (apparently the band initially formed to score the band memebrs student films), I found it a little bit of a slog on the whole. The singer kinda sings like a bitch imo.
Forgettable, and even at 44 minutes it’s a chore
Wow. Horrendous.
Flaming Lips-esque but just not as weird. Helium vocals and Friedmann production makes a solid album. There's a couple of bangers on here and the production keeps everything interesting. Enjoyable, yes. Essential, no. Best Tracks: Holes; Tonite It Shows; Goddess on a Hiway
What a great discovery Favorites: Holes, Goddess on a Hiway
Quizás peque de ampuloso y barroco pero aún así es un disco que merece una atenta escucha y tiene mérito.
I aggressively do not like this.
This feels like an album I'm going to forget I listened to in a week but it was inoffensive and mildly enjoyable.
Yea nah this pissed me off!
Some great songs but some that are a bit flat, far too much Theramin which distracts from what are often exquisitely lush underlying arrangements. I can see this album being quite polarising, overall I like it also feels like a missed opportunity. 3.3
Brilliant album. So well arranged. Weird in the best way possible. So much variety from start to finish.
Ace cakes. Took me right back to Blue Jaaaaaaam.
I thought this was pretty good but I never loved anything on it. Perhaps it needs a few more listens.