Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Not really strong feelings about this one. I guess it was quite good, but I found the vocal kinda annoying, and only the last song really captured my attention. Fave Song: Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp 3.2/5
Soulful, made my heart tingle a bit. Some songs are bad though.
I didn’t like it I don’t really know what else to say.
It was an alright one. Very dreamy and hazy record, it has a nice contrast of acoustic-focused and some noisy - bordering on shoegaze - tunes with both sort of songs having poppy hooks. The vocals are pretty androgynous and the album is overall quite nocturnal. I'd say I liked it other than the last couple tracks. Highlight Song/s: "Tonite It Show", "Hudson Line", "Goddess on a Hiway" and "The Funny Bird
I think it's really funny that the band were surprised at how popular this album was. Hey, me too buddy. (I think I understand why, but this definitely wasn't something I enjoyed.)
I think this is an album that would benefit a lot from just shutting yourself off from all other stimuli and taking it in on its own, free of distractions. It's a bit of an odd collection of songs but it has soul and atmosphere in spades. The vocals are a little unconventional and can be grating at times if I'm entirely honest, but I can't deny that they contribute to the unique texture of the record. Something about the sound here feels like such a perfect snapshot of that pre-turn of the millenium era. I find it oddly nostalgic even though I was just an infant when this came out and indeed I've never even heard any of the songs before. I think I'd need to listen to this album at least another 2-3 times to really collect my thoughts on it and write a more substantial review as there's a lot going on here, but suffice to say that although I didn't absolutely love it, I do believe it's a very interesting and worthwhile listen.
Um, nope.
pleasantly surprised
BOOOOOOOOOOORING. Opus 40 was pretty good. Hudson Line picks up the pace a little bit, but it's all offset by The Happy End which was nails on a chalkboard. This isn't a bad album, it's just not particularly great. Glad I listened to it and there's some decent moments but overall just not interested in returning to it again.
Weird, but fun! I loved the last song.
Spooky vibes
Thought it was ok but not totally for me. Again I was trying to remember who it reminded me of - George said Flaming Lips and that’s who I was thinking of! I belive me and Lily saw them when they opened for Weezer 😊
3.75 - I've never heard of this band before and I was intrigued by their sound. I need to listen to this more.
Ok...is that a fucking saw he's playing on the first track? Interesting start. Track 3 and the saw is back, with some high pitched synth generated wailing. This definitely isn't an album you want to get stuck on a plane with. Yet here I am, in a descent, ears popping and this high pitched cacophony in my ears. I am totally clueless coming into this album. Is it a band? Or a guy in his bedroom with a lot of electronics (and a saw) and Apple Garage Band? I'm thinking the latter. I guess the best I can say about this is it had kept my interest. But it's not something I'll need adding to my playlist.
Love this album
интересная конечно вариация кантри под альтернативный рок, но не зацепило, пенся холс очень зашла но в остальном не очень
I didn’t know this one (somehow), but, dang, it’s good. Smart songs, quirky vocals, and just experimental enough to keep the listener *really* engaged. What a great song “Holes” is!
This is incredibly soft and verging on two-star territory, but saved by a couple of good songs on the back half.
that was softer than Charmin
Un álbum esencialmente bello, disfrutable tanto como música de fondo como para una escucha atenta y reflexiva. La elección de instrumentos clásicos de cuerda y viento es un acierto absoluto que le da un aire a banda sonora para un melodrama americano de los años 50. Como a muchas bandas, este disco llegó en el momento en que todo parecía que se acercaba al final, quizás de ahí viene su tono crepuscular, y no hizo más que todo lo contrario, que fue catapultarlos al éxito. Ya se sabe que cuando casi ya no tienes nada que perder, lo das todo. "Holes", "Opus 40" o "Goddess On A Hiway" son lo más destacado del disco.
I suspect that this might be an album that grows on me with future listens, but today it didn't quite sit right. Will probably revisit this review with the edit option in a few weeks.
This album feels like a late night drive with the windows down, a little dreamy, a little weird, and somehow still warm. It’s got that big, cinematic glow without feeling corny, and the arrangements keep pulling you along even when the songs get slow. A few details really made it for me. The guitar solo on “Hudson Line” keeps reminding me of another solo, but I can’t place it, my best guess is something George Harrison-ish from Abbey Road or Let It Be. The bass line on “Funny Bird” is seriously good, it’s doing more work than you notice at first. And I love the maracas on “Tonite It Shows,” that tiny texture adds so much swagger to a song that’s already gorgeous. I had no idea what to expect with this one so I'll definitely check out more of his stuff. Favorite song: Hudson Line
Let's keep it rolling with little known English alternative bands. I'm a big fan of Mercury Rev’s “All Is Dream” and I'm honestly baffled why they chose DS over AID. This album is fine but mainly sounds like Flaming Lips b-sides. It has some interesting moments but is so inferior to AID, I have to wonder if whomever voted for this has ever heard AID
Lots to unpack here! Most of it is a welcome surprise. This was a hidden gem for me and I needed to listen to it twice to decide my exact rating, and even then I was still so split right down the 4 and 5 mark. Some scattered thoughts on various songs: The opening “Holes” sounds exactly like an M83 HurryUp, We’re Dreaming instrumental layered under a Flaming Lips vocal (yes, the rampant Flaming Lips comparisons are valid). I think it’s fair to continue the FL comparison on the following “Tonite It Shows”. Very melancholy, very Yoshimi. “Endlessly” absolutely rips a “Silent Night” lead melody and I can’t I hear it. One of my favorite songs was “The Happy End” for its marionette, macabre, circusesque atmosphere. I LOVE when an instrumental interlude ends up being the track that stands out. These aesthetics continue again on the end of “The Funny Bird” and into the beginning of “Pickup If You’re There”. Truly one of the albums most prominent qualities is this atmosphere. Does anyone else hear some of Lennon’s “Mind Games” in the song “Opus 40”? The closing “Delta Dun Bottleneck Stomp” was really the only lowlight for me, as it’s jarringly different, like a more upbeat rock song that belongs on a different album. Will I regret giving this a 5? Maybe. Especially because it’s functionally so similar to the Flaming Lips Pink Robots album, which I’ve already given a 5. But this thing was strangely good
Not my favorite album, but it was fun to listen to. I’ll keep it on hand for spooky board game sessions with friends!
This is all so sublimated that calling it rock is a bit of a stretch!
Yeah this was fun and unexpected. Soft 4.
A few good songs, but the album was all over the place. 1/5
Wasa five but then I listened to Boces and yerself is steak and it doesn’t quite reach those heights for me. Still a great album. Downhill from here.
2017 rock, sounds older - it was ok. Reminded me of MGMT but not as good.
Very dreamlike. One of the things I like about this challenge is hearing music that could have come out in the last decade, and most of this could have easily been top 40 in 2017. Indie roots run deep I guess. Will have to investigate this artist more because I'd never heard of him.
#871. This is uh... not to my taste. I'm pretty sure I am not the target demographic for this. I don't know who is, but I know it's not me. 2/5: not great
This album from 1998 has roots in 60s chamber pop but brings a freshness to the sound that keeps it from sounding like a relic. Singer Jonathan Donahue doesn't exactly have a rock 'n' roll voice but it is well-suited to the material. The vocal melodies are well-developed and the chord changes are sure-footed. The bigger-sounding, more epic tracks are the best on this album - when the band downshifts into the more pop-sounding numbers they lose some of their impact.
This is the weird free spirit artsy auntie that encourages the one cousin who is different than the others to follow their passions and that kid takes it to heart and commits really hard and becomes The Olivia Tremor Control
2/5
best use of theremin this side of good vibrations
Cannot believe this won album of the year. Its like listening to a Flaming lips cover band with the joy/fun removed. Godess on a Highway aside its a load of overblown guff.
Deserter Songs I was interested to listen to this having not heard it since it had its moment in the sun back in 1998/99. Goddess on a Hiway is still an excellent track, I still like the intonation and lyrics of the chorus in Holes and Opus 40 is good, but overall I don’t think it holds up that well and it’s hard not see its popularity as a music critic driven campaign that somehow catches a moment, but ultimately doesn’t endure as it is really a fairly middling album. It’s also striking how much it sounds like the Flaming Lips (which makes sense as it was made side by side with the Soft Bulletin), who in turn had the critical spotlight shone on them a few years later with Yoshimi, a far better record, and perhaps is the album the media wanted this to be. Anyway, while it has moments that transcend the prevalence of mid tempo sludge and winsomeness, and I don’t think it’s bad, I don’t find its overall tone of mawkish psychedelia particularly interesting either, so for me it sits somewhere around 2 or 3. In reality I don’t think I’ll listen again so I’ll go with a high 2. 🛣️🛣️ Playlist submission: Goddess on a Hiway
A real nostalgia hit, especially the single, the achingly bittersweet 'Holes'. Even more relevant these days, as my holes literally are achingly bittersweet. Flaming Lips comparisons abound - space psychedelia meets folk. -'Hudson Line' has a brass refrain that was wholesale lifted by Badly Drawn Boy, illustrating the folk credentials here. Ultimately this is orchestral-pop, meets psychedelic folk, wrapped in Indie. 'Goddess on a Hiway' the best manifestation of all of those swirling elements.
26/02/2026 I don't know what I expected from this, but it was definitely a disappointment and boring. I have never listened to these guys and I won't again. Spotify listeners: 211.7k
Eh. It wasn't bad.
Solid 3, enjoyed a few songs, but got repetitive
This was bad. I wish I could give it zero stars. I’m embarrassed to have listened to any of it
Really flowery tunes and singing. I was checked out by Endlessly where they had the brilliant idea to combine Silent Night with a spooky ooOOOoOoO ghost noise
I don't know why, but I really enjoyed this album. Would have given it a 4 if it weren't for the last few songs.
Honestly this one surprised me. Very vibey and chill, perfect album to listen to on my way home at 12:00am. Overall really liked this one after going into the first song a little hesitant.
I really liked this one. Never heard of Mercury Rev, but the calm yet heavy songs with synth and reverb produced a unique sound. Holes is a great start, and the singers voice really compliments the instruments.
The album started out pretty mediocre with a lot uninteresting music and annoying vocals, but became more progressive later in the album, reaching an apex with The Funny Bird. A lot of moody jazzy instrumental arrangements and technical sounds coming from this track that I really enjoyed. It was surprising to dislike just about everything I was hearing from this album with the surprise exception of that song. Ultimately, two weak tracks close out the album and leave a totally forgettable impression upon me.
I hear a lot here that was interpreted by my favorite frontman-led bands (Destroyer, Flaming Lips). But this one just didn't resonate a ton with me. I like what he's going for, never heard of the artist before.
It's weird, I've never listened to this before, but it's making me feel nostalgic for the late 90s. This falls somewhere on the spectrum between Spiritualized and Flaming Lips, closer to FL both in spirit and sound. Sort of forgettable.
Impossible to disentangle this sumptuous, melodramatic album from how we were when it came out; you heard the whole thing first, didn’t you S? You raved about it, I remember. I haven’t listened to it much since, hearing some of it live a few years later, slightly underwhelming, no surprise given the record’s layers of sound that would demand a Pink Floyd-apt sound set-up to get across in concert, a hard demand for the Cambridge Junction. This is a lovely, sad and hopeful record, dense but never missing hooks, their former guitar-heavy psychedelia rationed out for maximum impact - “The Funny Bird” best demonstrates their pocket hurricanes. The vocals threaten tweeness, but the musical density offsets, calls them out as shelter or retreat. The interstitial musique concrète-esque parts are also delicious.
A lovely album, with many pretty songs including our primary all-time banger "GOAH". The theremin-laden orchestration throughout affords the pleasing veneer of an indie "Fantasia" or "Spellbound", with Donohue's frail voice complementing the material nicely. "Tonight It Shows" is a highlight, with its vocal becoming increasingly desperate and creaky. Unfortunately, I can't fully shake Mark'n'Lard's somewhat unfair comparison to Orville when playing "The Dark Is Rising" from the later (much inferior) "All Is Dream". Not-exclusively-nostalgic 5.
A band i know but never listen to. Not sure aure going from Joni Mitchell straight to this was a good idea. Maybe i needed what ever the opposite of a palate cleanser is before jumping in. I take back what i said about not liking your upper register voice Joni. Come back. First song and this guy’s vocals are all over the shop. I thought it could be a deliverate thing but all other songs the same. Opus 40 is a good song. I think by then i’ve filtered out the vocals and just listen to the backing.
I loved the first song on the album. After that I found the singers voice to not match the beauty of the accompanying music which is a shame. He’s a good singer, but his voice is more fitting for folk music in my opinion.
A pleasant enough album full of chamber and dream pop-style songs. I’ve always mean to check out Mercury Rev but never got round to it. After listening to Deserter’s Songs, I’m probably in no rush to explore their discography in further detail right now. The song that stayed with me the most was the instrumental, Pick Up If You’re There. Something about the (I assume) wailing guitars reminded me of Godspeed You! Black Emperor (specifically Sleep). A good listen but nothing too memorable.
Really enjoyed this one, great tunes throughout
Honestly blew me away. Just kept getting better and better. Dreamy and evocative.
This is exactly the type of album I want to find through this list - I grew up listening to Oracular Spectacular by MGMT, Neon Indian, The Woods by Sleater-Kinney, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by OK Go, and so many other albums produced by Dave Fridmann. I knew the name, but had never heard of Mercury Rev. It's cool to hear so many of the sonic trademarks of 2000s-2010s indie/inde rock/psychedlic rock in an album from 1998. Plus, I liked the album!
This was whiny and weird and I like it a lot less than Flaming Lips stuff, which I already generally dislike. I suppose I’ve found my hater niche
This was okay. That's about it.
Great example of a style of music I would normally hate, but something here pulled me in. Hard to even describe what I mean, but this is chock full of moments and movements that effortlessly flow into each other, creating a really interesting listen. Difficult to nail down any distinct genre here. This truly feels like a band doing what they want and not caring at all how it is received (I dig that).
A very solid and underrated indie album in the vein of the Flaming Lips
Belle découverte
This does not pass the wimpyness smell test.
This is #day557 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… ah, here's to some chamber pop from the late '90s for this frosty Monday afternoon. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day558.
Flaming Lips wannabe
J'ai beaucoup aimé, même si l'album n'est pas parfait il est vraiment inventif et assez original avec des sonorités presque Disney. En résumé, certains sons sont vraiment excellent et le reste place une ambiance agréable. Bon projet
Better than I remembered - good musicianship (including contributions by Garth Hudson and Levon Helm from The Band), songs that echo but do not copy, and lovely sequencing save for the useless hidden track at the end (typical 90s hubris.) Mercury Rev has other fine albums like "All is Dream", "Secret Migration" and the recent "Born Horses."
A strange but satisfying album. The vocals lack a lot of effort but they fit the format quite well.
The funny bird me gustó bastante. Las demás no están mal. No me gusta su voz igual.
Why do some bands break through and other don't? Who knows? I had not heard of Mercury Rev and based on their monthly listeners on Spotify, they seem to be one of those bands that has gotten a little forgotten over time. Which is a shame, because this album was really good and on par with or better than a lot of music that has seemed to endure better.
Interesting album, alot going on. Standout songs: Endlessly The funny bird Delta sun bottleneck stomp
5.29
not into it
The fuck was the last track about
Pretty good. I recognised a few tracks but didn't know the artist.
A canção inicial do álbum me enganou um pouco. Dela eu presumi que o disco seria lindo, com instrumentais épicos e dramáticos, e vocais femininos delicados e reconfortantes. Essa vocalista não se encontra em outras canções do álbum, sendo substituída por um vocalista homem cujo trabalho me lembra um pouco Ween misturado com Flaming Lips. Os instrumentais são variados, percorrendo uma grande gama de sons e instrumentos. Bem experimental, mas nem sempre com resultados alegres. O disco possui uma qualidade quase que cartunesca. Provavelmente atribuído aos sons empregados e ao estilo vocal do cantor. Tudo soa um pouco plástico e mediano, pedestre. E subitamente em seu ato final, o disco decide jogar umas faixas assombrosas e sombrias, acho que só pra nos atiçar com o que poderia ter sido, em um mundo onde ele é mais interessante e engajante. Salvei as canções mais interessantes, e descartei o resto. Não é uma escuta ruim, mas não chega a ser boa. Gostei das faixas que me lembraram Flaming Lips, não gostei do resto. Mid tier. 3/5
Sounds like making this album was a nice, cathartic experience for the band. I think most listeners will find it much less enjoyable.
this was really forgettable. just pretty and sad, somewhat orchestral, there's piano and then some weird high pitched buzzing sounds. i liked goddess on a hiway.
This was quite fun, as I read the Wikipedia info on the artist and album after listening and found it confirmed a lot that flashed through my mind as I was listening. Namely, these guys sound like ‘proper’ musicians, possibly academically trained. Also, it’s a weird mashup of styles, some it sounding a bit like film soundtrack, with other stuff roots-music bluesy, more that was psychedelic/shoegazy (loosely in the manner of Spritualised), but yet other stuff had quite a ‘noise’ feel about it. And the lyrics seemed oddly bland, as if maybe tacked on afterwards, in a style that more or less made it possible to guess what each next line would be, word-for-word. Quite a lot of that turns out to be accurate. It was also interesting to read how the band evolved (and have done over the decades since they were founded), with a revolving cast of contributors, and that this particular album was a surprise commercial breakthrough. But did I like it? Yes, mainly, and increasingly so after I’d got the hang of the way they were operating. The lush string/synthesiser parts were pretty, and I also liked the tracks where they went a bit harder and/or more bluesy. And the variations in style kept it interesting. I’m glad I heard this and I also dipped into some more of their stuff after the album finished.
Never heard of Mercury Rev before. It's a bit of a hit and miss album. A number of tracks have vocals that seem to be sung out of tune - not by much but enough to be jarring to my ears. Endlessly seems to contain snippets of the Christmas Carol Silent Night tune. I don't know if that's deliberate but it doesn't seem to fit with the theme of the track. Then there are good tracks like Opus 40 (sung in tune), Hudson Line and Goddess on a Huway (musically good). On average the better tracks seem to outweight the poor ones.
you know how Neil Young can almost sing, but not quite, but you don't really mind since his songs are so strong and his band is so great? that's the impression I get of Mercury Rev's lead singer, except the songs underneath are obnoxiously twee and extremely undercooked. bassist and producer Dave Fridmann was helping his friends in The Flaming Lips craft The Soft Bulletin at the same time as he was making Deserter's Songs with Mercury Rev, and unfortunately I think the Lips made the better LP by a long shot. with this MR album, it's another case of a kooky, unusual sounds papering over a bunch of snoozeworthy songs. they got Levon Helm on here to play a variation of Pachelbel's Canon, a song mostly played by literal children! the orchestral arrangements sound incredibly stiff, tacky and above all, fake; the nod to Brahms' Lullaby on "Endlessly" made me think that the band was actively trying to put me to sleep. never a good sign. strong 3/10.
Standout tracks: Holes Opus 40 Goddess on a Hiway
Some neat things here, but I just didn't enjoy it.
I had never heard of this band. Now I have. The Funny Bird is my pick from this album
Great middle 5 songs.
Pretty chilled out kind of emo music. Effects applied to the vocals are kind of cool but maybe over done. Overall though it's not bad and I actually listened to it a couple of times. It's something I could see myself putting on while I'm doing some other activity like reading or playing chess etc. No too aggressive but still rocks.
I am neutral on this one. Had some nice melodies but at times sounded like music from a science fiction film. Not something I will go back to.
Initial thoughts: The Flaming Lips owe these guys some royalties. This one really caught me by surprise. I really enjoyed it a lot. This is one of the few artists on this list I had never even heard of before. 8.5/10. 4/5 on this app
Kender første sang, resten nåede jeg ikke ordentligt. -- Der er noget med den sav som får det til at lyde lidt at jammerlig julemusik. Især Endlessly lyder lidt af Glade jul.
Det var faktisk overraskende fint
I'm not familiar with Mercury Rev at all, so I don't have any idea of this album is typical of their music or not. I read that before Jonathan Donohue started writing the album, he was in a period where he was listening to some of his favorite childhood records, including one that was a collection spoken-word fairy tales set to classical music. You can definitely hear that influence on some of the songs - it's almost a whimsical feel with a little angst thrown in. I feel like this is an album I'd probably want to listen to a couple more times to get more familiar with it, but on first impression I enjoyed it.
Songs of wonder and beauty from the man with the child in his voice. Won’t be for everyone but it works for me
Better than expected but there was a lot of skipped weird stuff
I had never heard of this band before and I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t necessarily this. Some pleasant, some not so pleasant.
Did not enjoy this. I feel like a Daniel Johnston album could easily replace this—both are awkward indie vocalists with deeper lyrics.
Impeccably strange vibes with entirely too much Theremin. Forgettable with an overly synth-y aesthetic (bug, not a feature). DNF.
Was ok, but didn’t wow me
Warm, dreamlike arrangements built from hushed guitars, glowing strings, soft piano, brushed percussion, and vocals folded gently into the haze move this psychedelic indie album like drifting through a half-remembered fairground at dusk feeling gauzy and inward.
If Paul McCartney had a dreampop band, it would sound like this.
Opening track had me excited for this album - had to google if the singer was Wayne Coyne. The album feels diverse including sections that feel like Batman movie soundtrack or something but in the end kind of a muddled mess. 3/5
While the vocals are slightly middling the music makes up for it. This album is also excellently sequenced, it flows beautifully from start to finish.
I was completely ready to be pleasantly surprised by this album at the onset of the theremin solo, and then it was brought in again in bad taste. By the awful Beatles pastiche it was written off completely, and from there on it was just unnecessary incoherent rambling with one OK song thrown in the mess. I’m rounding down for this fucking wanker to have wasted my time.
5/10
It sounds all throughout very carefully constructed and music first made album. It really sounds sincerely made. Even though it doesn't work for me always that feeling gives good vibes.
Meh. All the songs were interesting in a purely scientific way but this was not a enjoyable listening experience. I'd definitely rather listen to something else.
I've seen Mercury Rev at least twice, once at an outdoor festival and once contained in a box somewhere. I can't tell you many concrete details about their performances other than to say they didn't sound fully formed the first time and maybe that was partially due to all the airy space between us and it was early in their career. And, the second time I saw them my feelings are a little more elusive but I'm not going to lie I was a little bored at the time given I was there to see the other band. They have always seemed like I band critics wished I'd like more than I did, a band the press would cheer for or write about as some kind of darling meanwhile I couldn't find the thread in the songs that pulled me through a whole album or set. Maybe it's this particular record though with Dave Fridmann juggling the recording of Deserter's Songs and The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin or maybe it's just that I finally came into a time to hear what was going on with a more open mind but I came around on Deserter's Songs with this 1001-related listen.
Some good music ruined by the annoying singing saw
mellow nice album
Had never heard of this album or any of these songs. They were fine. Cool connection to the soft bulletin and that Levon and Garth are on here.
Never heard of them until I heard that goddess song pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty good
ooh this one was quite a bit better than i expected. has a lovely mood of elegant evenings enjoyed with wine and bright gas lamps. very lush and regal. closing track is massive. i really fuck with this. deserves to be one of the 1001? myeeeeeh Yerself Is Steam should have been on it instead. but again this is pretty good
That's funny...this is another band that I've heard the name of and their music is completely different from what I thought they were. Saint Etienne was the other one and they could swap their names and it'd make so much more sense to me. Anyways, this album really didn't do much for me. The first track reminded me of Destroyer's Poison Season record, which I enjoy, but the rest didn't really stand out.
Täysin tuntematon levy ja esittäjä. Ihan hyvää musiikkia, jossa käytettiin paljon jousi- ja puhallinsoittimia. Ihan kauheasti en pitänyt laulajan äänestä.
great album
I get the occasional whimsy of the flaming lips but I didn’t much like this - too whawww for me.
I used to get "Goddess on The Hiway" force-fed to me by streaming services, and it is one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard in my life. I had to blacklist it to stop hearing it. No fucking way I'm delving deeper. Reading the reviews likening it to Tripping Daisy and early Flaming Lips only firms my resolve. Horrible.
Holes is a pretty good song
Lots of variety but nothing really connected.
It was ok ish.
Coincidentally, I just saw that Mercury Rev will be the tour opener for Afghan Whigs' 40th anniversary run of shows. Previously unfamiliar with their music, I was excited to hear them before I buy my tickets. It is not an unpleasant album, but for a band named Mercury Rev, it certainly takes its time finding the gas pedal. When it does, the result is too close to sounding like The Flaming Lips or Eels to feel entirely original. I think I've just learned that I just don't care much for Chamber Pop.
Everything about this seemed really well done, I just didn't enjoy it all that much.
Interesting, I liked the singer's voice. Goddess on a Hiway was really the only song I liked, nothing else grabbed me. I can appreciate the experimental nature of the album but I will not be returning.
Unexceptional stuff. Whiny vocals. Plodding music.
After owning their earlier album, Yerself is Steam, I was not prepared for this version of Mercury Rev. From noisy chaos to serene and symphonic (and an occasional likeness to Neil Young's voice)? Once I got over the shock of my expectation, I liked it. And I guess I need to listen to more to see what else they morphed into. - Heard before? No - Will I listen again? Maybe? - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes.
I've listened to this album a lot - it's good. Lullabies or soundtrack songs, uplifting yet also melancholy pop music with unusual instrumentation - bowed handsaw, flutes, trumpets, clarinets, sax, harp, organ, and strings. Lush and meticulous production. The vocals can be an acquired taste - they are sometimes shrill or thin-sounding but reinforce the ephemeral feel of some of the songs. The band and the producer have ties to Flaming Lips, so there is some of that weird and grandiose influence heard here but not as much as on their previous work. Worth adding to your collection.
I've heard of this band but it's my first time listening to them. Solid album and I dig what they're doing. Strong songs throughout. There's also an instrumental version I'll give a spin. I think the vocals are really good but I would like to hear how it differs. Good listen.
first half a little iffy but the the last half is really great. it sounds a bit tacky and dated and simultaneously futuristic and ahead of its time. its very confusing stylistically but, once you get over that its pretty good
As expected from a Chamber Pop album, the orchestration behind it is incredible. Excluding what I call the interludes, 'I Collect Coins' and 'The Happy End (The Drunk Room)'; and the ambient track 'Pick Up if You're There', all the songs are a mixture of different genres like chamber pop. neo-psychedelia or even Space Rock Revival. A common characteristic of the album is having quiet verses and then have the full orchestra erupt in the choruses with a wonderful and beautiful wall of sound that elevate the songs. The examples that do this the best are the opening 'Holes', 'The Funny Bird' and 'Goddess on a Hiway'. I do specially like 'The Funny Bird' because is the most sad sounding track in an album full of uplifting and happy moments, or at least that is how it sounds to me. The worst parts of the album are the already mentioned interludes. They feel like outliers, with 'I Collect Coins' sounding like a recording from a very old vinyl and 'The Happy End' being a piece of pianos and violins playing some very weird and tense melodies. There's also the secret song in the ending track, which is very weird and feels like an avant-garde classic composition or something like that. Another outlier of the album is the ambient song 'Pick Up if You're There', but instead of not adding anything of value, I think it is very beautiful. It reminded me a lot of some of the ambiences in 'Kid A' by Radiohead. Overall, I think this is a beautiful record. There are some moments more stunning than others, but I enjoyed quite a lot.
I don’t even know
Hadn't heard before today and I loved it. It has this mood like it's the epilogue of something else and I just love that vibe. We're starting where others ended.
What an odd album. Mainly in a good way, and a total mystery (to me) why it captured hearts in the UK and Europe, but I suspect it had a lot to do with how the Chemical Brothers had a hand in promoting the album, as well as creating a fantastic remix of "Delta sun bottleneck stomp" that probably drove many people to the band (and their remix in the sitcom "Spaced" probably helped a lot too). It's fascinating that it was recorded in the same studio and at the same time as The Flaming Lips were recording "The Soft Bulletin"; this album definitely sounds like it could have been a Flaming Lips album (and also fascinating that lead man Jonathan Donahue was the guitarist for The Flaming Lips for a stint just before this album). I'm not sure I had too many favorite tracks on this album, just because I'm not really all that much of a fan of Donahue's warbly vocals, but I can see why "Opus 40" and "Goddess on a hiway" became their singles from the album, and "Holes" and "Tonite it shows" are also fun for the way they channel Donahue's inspiration for the album, "Tale Spinners for Children". Also cool to know that they not only holed up in the Catskills to escape the deep downward spiral of their lives at that point, but managed to get The Band's Garth Hudson and Levon Helm to play on a couple of tracks. And many many props for the awesomely named custom instrument(ish), "Tettix Wave Accumulator", in the hidden track of "Delta sun bottleneck stomp" (and according to Wikipedia the Tettix Wave Accumulator was collecting dust in the basement of a bar in 2009...).
dreamy originals which are vaguely reminiscent of other songs, deliberately, I think. Sadly, like the Kate McKinnon character in "Yesterday" I don't really like it and am not intrigued enough to listen again to figure out why.
Guys, if you want to get high on a Friday night and jam out for a few hours in the downstairs rec room, that's cool. That doesn't justify turning it into an album for public consumption.
4/5
Great, atmospheric music with interesting vocals. 3-4
5.5/10 - This is the album I have had to listen to the most times to come up with a ranking. The start is so strong that it left me with a sense of doubt about my feelings on the rest of the album. After multiple multiple reviews I feel assured that this album starts really high and drops quite quickly afterwards.
I had high hopes for the album after hearing the first song, but it rarely lived up to that. Too many interludes or songs that meander and don't go anywhere. 5/10
Pretty dang good. Some amazing moments throughout the album. Almost a five but not quite since some synthy elements sound kind of dated, haven’t aged well, and stick out like a sore thumb.
I remember when this came out it was compared mostly favorably to Soft Bulletin. I can’t help but feel it still lives in that shadow. Some good stuff but mostly just fine.
I really liked it!
Wow, what a phenomenal first track. Left me wondering if it’d be a one-hit wonder type deal or a hidden gem, and it’s really somewhere in the middle. I was bored until Hudson Line which picked things back up and stayed rolling, Goddess on a Hiway is gorgeous and the rest continues to feel lush, but I was very surprised that it wasn’t as old as I thought. It sounds dated in a good way to me.
a fun listen; would listen again.
Very chill album. Decent variety.
Part dream scenes from a movie, part Final Fantasy soundtrack
Wanna be pink floyd but bad
Havenr heard oh them. Very unique fushion, atmospheric
6.5/10
simpa
When you get an album and you think "oh I think I know a song or two" and then you realise these songs are in your DNA, your bones, and your brain. Oh so good.
I liked this a lot. I know 'All is Dream' but hadn't heard much other Mercury Rev. To me, this sounds a bit like they're developing the dreamy, soaring-strings sound that I love on that album, but haven't quite got there yet. Still great and I'll be listening again.
Dreamier, and more atmospheric than expected. Would definitely revisit.
really enjoyed these even if some are sad
Lovely. Yeah it's a lot like the Flaming Lips. Could be a 5.
Music is amazing but once again vocals...
Overall not bad. Not life changing or anything, but enjoyable.
No private session used for Spotify. A little too mellow and timid for me. I liked the variation of instruments but I kept wanting the song to take off but that never happened. Not for me, thanks.
Not too bad! Sounds like Flaming lips or Grandaddy from that same time period. 3 solid stars.
Nope. Not for me. Goddess on a highway is great. But that voice gets annoying after 5 songs. And the pseudo classical arty-farty soundscapes aren't for me. 2/5
Um...honestly, I have no words. What did I just experience here? Like...it's mid, but what happened lol
I vaguely remember hearing about the band Mercury Rev, but I had no idea I was about to hear something I’ve rarely, if ever, heard. Deserter’s Songs is like a movie soundtrack for a movie that hasn’t been written or filmed. Cinematic isn’t even a big enough word to describe what I’m hearing with this album. that The funny thing about this album is the band was kind of down to just two people, Jonathan Donahue and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak, and none of their previous albums made a dent in any pop or sales charts. Drug problems, poor sales, debt, and battles with the record label led to the band splintering. Donahue went into a depression, and Grasshopper kind of retired to a monastery. Essentially, the band was over. But Donahue missed his friend Grasshopper and decided to write music that they wanted to play, rather than trying to find music the label thought would sell. He moved to where Grasshopper lived to write and record with him. Donahue said recording a new album was less about sales or making money, and was more about reconnecting with his friend. During the recording, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of the Band, who lived in the area as well, joined the recording sessions for Deserter’s Songs. So there’s a little bit of the Band’s essence sprinkled on the album. But the songs, my God, the songs. It’s hard to explain them because I really haven’t heard anything like it. It’s more of a vibe than anything. The songs feel happy, but they’re laced with an underlying sadness, at least the first five are. They mastered the album on 35 mm magnetic film, and they think that’s where the "weird" sound quality comes from. The theme of the album is “walking away,” according to Donahue. Now, this was supposed to be their last album, but a funny thing happened...the album caught fire in Europe. It helped that the Chemical Brothers, who had collaborated with Donahue for a project before he reconnected with Grasshopper, kept telling the world how good the album was. Mercury Rev has released six more albums, with their last being in 2024. Deserter’s Songs changed the band’s life, and rather than it being the end of their journey, it turns out it was just the beginning. I’ve done like 150 of these albums, and I rarely get one I haven’t heard that just really reaches in and grabs me by the guts, but Deserter’s Songs did. The song Tonite It Shows, Endlessly and Opus 40 are my favorites, but there isn't a bad song on the album. Check this album out, especially if you like film music. I think you’ll really love the vibe and sound of it.
I listened to it. I didn’t hate it but I won’t seek out more Mercury Rev.
Nope.
Weird synth, psychedelic. Never heard of this band. Not my vibe. Too chaotic.
This fourth mercury Rev album is hard to pin down - a lovely brittleness in the early songs, arrangements going away from rock cliche. Levon Helm and Garth Hudson (the band) appear on drums and sax remarkably. Uncut magazine used to love them. I enjoyed it far more than I would’ve done back in 1998!
Favorite track(s): Holes, Opus 40, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird
A bit too baroque for my tastes. If it leaned more into trip hop aka Massive Attack, I would have liked it more. Plus, the guy's voice is a bit annoying.
I thought it was a fun album with some really fun instrumentals.
Enjoyed but I won’t remember listening to this a month from now
Nipplers
A recent classic. Brilliant record
This sucked. Whiny, nasally, annoying bullshit.
Eh
Decent album.
What a weird album. It wasn't bad. Just bizarre. But not bad.
This would go in my hidden gems folder at the end of the project. I’m not sure how well-known they were but I’ve never heard their name. It was a beautiful album and one I will definitely come back to. Looking back at the tracklist hours after listening, I’m surprised how easily I can recall each song despite them all being coated in the same spacey texture. The Flaming Lips connection is cool because you can hear it immediately yet they both do completely different things. Also I’m a huge fan of the Band so seeing a couple of them appear on the album was an awesome surprise. Rating: 4.6
This was so boring. I am giving it 1 star because you absolutely do not need to hear this before you die, and this list has plenty of BETTER indie rock albums, so we don't need the average ones. Given there are some big omissions on this list, this is unnecessary.
this takes heavily from the flaming lips and daniel johnston. i dont like the flaming lips, and i dont like a fluffed up daniel johnston. ill just listen to the original. production budget was too high on this one
Surprising find!!!
Hmm... not bad, but also not great
Weird. Kinda dreamy at start. More instrumental. More inventive. As it went on, it became more Boushy or sounded like something Matt Berry would write. There's an instrumental only version of the album. Could be interesting. I more liked it than disliked it.
Unique album. The lore of it and the soft bulletin being a pair is real good. Psychedelic indie. Hudson Line
kinda sick
Klinkt alsof het ook dit jaar gemaakt zou kunnen zijn. Ik heb het idee dat deze sound wel een beetje terug is onder de hipsterbandjes. Ook deze is weer erg theatraal. Vreemd genoeg vind ik hem toch nog wel leuk om een keer te luisteren. Ik ben er niet zo van onder de indruk als de band zelf denk ik. 3 sterren omdat ik een klein beetje murw gebeukt ben door het recente aanbod en een kinderhand is gauw gevuld nu.
Pretty enjoyable stuff but there is just so much filler I can't give this 4 stars
Très sympa ! Une voix qui change, des rythmes plus chill avec des instru sympa, de la pop-rock chill
Pas trop ma came, quelques passages intéressants mais sinon globalement ennuyeux voire bizarre 2/5
It's like listening to your dreams. It also was a mesh of a Christmas sound, and M83. I really enjoyed it much more than I expected. Favorite Track: "Delta Bottleneck Stomp".
Standard American indie rock. Not much to write home about.
Not a fan
7/10
That iconic album cover. A figure in darkness, cigarette glowing, something half-hidden. It sets the tone visually - quiet, mysterious, detached - and gives you a sense of what you're about to experience. Almost. Deserter's Songs didn't really sound like anything else around at the time. It felt unearthed rather than recorded. There's a crackle and pop to the production that makes everything feel like it's come from another time, like a time capsule left somewhere damp and forgotten. The otherworldly atmosphere of BioShock comes to mind, like a relic from a different world. "I Collect Coins" and "The Drunk Room" especially sound like recordings that have survived some kind of apocalyptic event, echoing in a huge, empty space. The heartbreak at the core of the album hits hardest on tracks like "Holes" and "Tonite It Shows". Fragile, wounded songs that feel permanently on the verge of breaking down at any point. The emotional backbone of the album comes from the strange, aching instrumental textures everywhere. At times it sounds like a saw weeping. At others it's barely even music, just atmosphere breathing around the songs. The unusual collection of instruments creates some seriously gorgeous, sweeping and cinematic moments, especially in songs like "Endlessly" and "Opus 40". I'm fascinated by how different this sounds to The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin. The two bands were sharing studio space at the time, often using the same instruments and equipment. Mercury Rev recorded during the day, The Flaming Lips came in at night, saw what was lying around, and began experimenting themselves. Same room, same tools, but completely different results. Both bands reinvented themselves, just in completely different creative directions. "Goddess on a Hiway" is perfectly placed, turning up just when the album needs it. It was the track that first caught my attention, along with "Holes", but coming back to it now, the album clearly works best as a complete piece rather than something to dip in and out of. Deserter's Songs isn't exactly something you'd throw on at a party. It works best late at night, lights low, left to run its course. Not unlike the image on the album cover itself.
rememberably forgettable 2.4/5
Not a fan of the voice, Sounds like someone who's singing karaoke at a bar at 1 AM. i would say that the aestetic it evokes is more interesting to me than the music itself. i actually saved "i collect coins" to my liminal list. so if this was a instrumental album i would porbably enjoy this more.
Truly baffling record. Has a couple of good cuts, but outside of those, this is incredibly cloying and overwrought. This kind of psychedelic maximalism would be much more appealing to me if every instrument weren't seemingly tuned to the key of "whimsy." The vocals aren't doing it any favors either.
Favourite Songs: Holes Endlessly
Mmm musical saw
Reqlly amazing ace mega yes
Beautiful, yearning, expansive and a bit spooky. Loved this in my late teens and have always enjoyed revisiting it when I do.
Quite liked that.
Straight up garbage ngl 2/5
Parts were enjoyable but largely I found this uninspiring
++: Tonite It Shows, Endlessly, I Collect Coins, Hudson Line, The Funny Bird +: Holes, Pick Up If You're There +-: Opus 40, Goddes on a Hiway, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp -: The Happy End (The Drunk Room) 7,2/10
This kind of music appears to be my catnip. This album is every bit as shrill and nerdy as Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips, which I also loved. I don't know what it is but I can't get enough of this. Incidentally the lead singer of Mercury Dev used to be in (but not the singer of) The Flaming Lips...before they sounded like this. Parallel evolution in music? I wouldn't put it past either of these bands to have a song about that process.
I LOVE the song “Holes” - everything else I kinda like. I actually seem to like it less upon the second listen… not a great sign. But a 4 because I really really like the first song
Solid overall, but "Goddess on a Hiway" really is the standout song on this album. I was hoping for something else to rival that, but no dice. That said, the overall quality was pretty high.
You could tell me that Opus 40 and Goddess on a Hiway are Flaming Lips songs and I'd probably believe you. This album feels like it's missing something to make it good. Maybe starting with the strings. The synthesized strings this album uses sound off, I guess out of place is more what I'm looking for, but I don't know really how to describe it. Anyways, speaking of The Flaming Lips, this album sounds like it's trying to replicate Clouds Taste Metallic, just replacing a lot of the whimsy with more direct meaning and strings. When it works, it really works, especially on Opus 40, but it doesn't work too often.
Melodic rock
A couple of gems but overall the album is a bit same-y
3.5 rounded up. Enjoyable music, the last song rocked it
Pop-ish, but much more interesting with a sometimes ethereal/synth sound. Fairly unique. Pitchfork: 9.3 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Tonite It Shows Goddess On A Hiway
I haven't heard about this band, I was surprised to read this was voted as the best album in the UK in 1998. The album, especially the first half sounds like a soundtrack to a fairy tale from the 19th century. It's pleasant and nice at first listen. It works well as an album overall. Though none of the songs stood out, maybe I need more listens and I might round it up to 4 stars.
First time listening and I love it. What a great discovery. This band formed and played in my hometown and I can’t believe I had never heard of them before.
This was my first listen and I think this is a borderline 5. Wow! A beautiful album!!
looks like i rated this album 5 stars on rym on feb 17th 2014 and now 12 years later I will also rate it 5 stars as it is one of my fav albums of all time
Nostalgic and unexpectful music.
3.5 I recently rediscovered the song Holes and played it for a couple weeks because it was hitting so hard. This rating is riding hard on that one song, I also liked Hudson Line and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp. However the production of the other songs came off as B movie canned score quality, which is harsh, but I think works for Holes because they overlay great lyrics and fantastic dreamy music over this music. What I’m talking about is glaring at the end of DSBS
Mercury Rev is brand new to me, but this is very very cool. I collect coins is like a soundtrack haha. Very weird and interesting parts on this record! I feel like Sufjan likes this record?? The Funny Bird - wild! Crazy ending.
so weird! moments that felt like doves or flaming lips were cool.
Has a very cool energy. Tonite It Shows got that spooky Christmas vibe. Wild theremin moments. Vocals don’t do a ton for me. I Collect Coins is interesting, that fucked up tape sound that’s so popular now. There are some cool production moves all over this record. Has an interesting sonic signature. The very end of the record is a wild move haha. Some Stravinsky/Bela Bartok/Zelda combat music. It was an enjoyable listen, songwriting wise didn’t grab me, but definitely some interesting production and instrumentation moves.
O dziwo mi się podobało. Spodziewałam się kolejnego bełkotu spod znaku shoegaze, a dostałam porządny alternatywny rock. Ktoś tu napisał, że to gorszy kuzyn Flaming Lips i coś w tym jest, ale końcówka płyty jest naprawdę mocna i dość eksperymentalna, widać że szukali swojej drogi. 7/10
sounds like every band from the ‘90s in one
wasn't expecting to like this so much
I was honestly surprised at how much i enjoyed Deserter's Songs. I guess there were two major factors that helped in boosting my enjoyment of this album. 1. I had to listen to Ramblin' Jack Elliott yesterday so my standards were lowered and 2. I listened to this after a long day at work. There is also just the fact that the album is just really good. It reminds me of Lost Souls by Doves in a lot of ways. The album was super relaxing and always had something weird and different waiting for me at every turn. Even the intermission-esque tracks were always very enjoyable. I might not like it as much as the album mentioned above but i still thought this was a really enjoyable album. Best Song: Opus 40 Worst Song: Endlessly
to sum up my experience with this album, i was finally enjoying one of the more americana tracks that had a good beat when it faded out and literal clown music started.
this was so something! LMFAO i actually did really love holes and then it kinda lost me! so imma give it a 2 for holes alone cause i added it to my playlist. it was almost a 3 but whatever the fuck was going on at the end severely pissed me off?? it sounded like those weird goofy sound effects in a movie
I enjoyed this album fine from Mercury Rev! The main singer’s voice was a little eccentric and different which was intriguing. This album was a little cooky and different from what I usually listen to which made for an interesting experience. Overall, I enjoyed this album but it wouldn’t be my first choice for an album that I would revisit again.
Beautiful late night sort of album.
Tried to get into it, but couldn’t
This album felt like less twee Flaming Lips.
I remember this one quite well. All the prettiness came as a bit of a surprise. Until then I mostly new the Rev, as nobody called them, from their quite strange and noisy indiehits like Chasing a Bee and the one about the car wash. We really should have known; they've always had a knack for lovely otherworldly melodies. It's just that on this album they don't hide them behind swirling psychedelic walls of guitar. Doesn't meant it's all straight forward of course but that's what makes it so special. Not all the songs are a strong as Tonite It Shows or Goddess on a Hiway but really nice to hear again. There's maybe a bit too much theremin on here. All that wobbling is making me a bit seasick.
These are some really talented musicians and their compositions are quite sophisticated. I'll have to listen to them and explore their albums more. As good as I think they are, at first listen I didn't hear anything that really grabbed me, although the last couple of minutes of "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" were pretty cool.
My first intuition about this album was that it looks like the most 3/5 album ever. And what do you know, the rating for it was 3.01, so I was spot on. And it really is a pretty good 3/5 album too. Some very nice tracks here, some underwhelming ones, you know how it goes. Really liking how 90s it sounds and feels.
A couple of really majestic songs don’t make up for the overly quirky feeling I got from this. Just not enough to latch on for me to really love it beyond appreciating the musicianship.
Odd and not really my thing but not bad either
Wild, experiment and strange. But in a good way.
Definitely unique. Oddly cozy. However nothing really that exciting for me.
Genre: Chamber Pop A very capital-B BIG album. Lots of swelling strings, large production value type elements, and not too full of itself which I appreciated. Some great moments, but not enough to feel like this deserved entry in the book. May re-listen on a rainy day, good atmosphere, but pretty meh. 3/5
Would not buy
No thanks
une cocotte qui siffle, papi aussi
the happy end = professeur layton mystique bien 3 mais le rock truc voix geniarde plz stop 1001 album
Hated the last two minutes but besides that it was a lovely, strange album by a group I've never heard of. Holes is an absolutely beautiful opening track. It's melancholy, it has a sense of nostalgia, and the trumpet (or whatever brass) is stunning. Favorites: Holes, Goddess on a Hiway, Funny Bird
I don’t know what I’m listening to, but I’m pretty sure I don’t like it. They sound like a less interesting Flaming Lips cover band.
This was..... OK? It's really trying to be operatic and grandiose and not really getting there. It has very melancholy undertones and is rather depressing overall.
A great record from mercury rev.Part of a great run of albums they had at the time .
Yeah, I don't know. It started off okay, but then I kinda got lost and it was all over the place. What genre of music was this? I'm not sure. I didn't really enjoy listening to it, but it had some ambitious soundscapes and some hummable tunes. Two stars.
Checking back into this on a Monday after the weekend spaced out my listening to this album and having to rewrite my review following a computer crash. I have no memory of this album. It's name, music, style and themes have been forgotten. That tells me everything about this album's presence on this list. 3/5
Nothing special
I’m not sure what to think about this album it’s doing so much stuff
the forst song had my hopes up and his american accent threw me off
So good
Pretty boring
This is extraordinary in every respect. I think the human impulse is to react to pain and desolation through fear and anger; engaging in behaviors that perpetuate the pain, for the perpetrator and for those unfortunate enough to be in their orbit. Anyone who can, instead, react to pain and desolation through reflection and sorrow and use it as motivation to make the world a more beautiful place, (artistically, socially, personally . . . ) breaks the chain and is, in my estimation, a hero of the highest order.
Sounds ok, but not catchy at all
Exemplar of mid
This grew on me. Maybe mostly by reminding me of other music, but I like it. I probably wouldn’t seek it out, but I’d vibe to this again
I can hear the influence this had on the indie of the future. Reminded me of Neutral Milk Hotel but less enjoyable. Good ideas and seeds for melody, but made a lot of instrumental choices that bothered me and I don't love the lead vocal performance. The production is scattershot and unfocused as well.
This album sounds like it could be from any decade from the 1970s to today. The theremin and dreamy vocals make me feel like I am in a fantasy movie soundtrack.
I really enjoyed this album. Had never heard of it but I will likely go back and listen to it again as well as some of their other music.
This passes for great in some cultures. It’s fine.
Generic 90s indie-rock...I'd rate it as "listenable" but definitely not "memorable"
fine. recognize one song
I'm not sure what I'm listening. One or two good songs to me
Jack Skellington and David Bowie meet to perform a party for Andy Warhol. Lou Reed nods vociferously. Immediate impression was, "boy, does that ever sound like The Flaming Lips..." ~ I was correct in my assessment (Jonathan Donahue being a former member). Not sure if one influenced the other, but the connection is obvious. Another enjoyable new find brought about from Album generator.
I liked this a lot. It was on in the background and it felt like it fit well with the rest of my music to the point I didn’t realize it was new to me
liked it
Late 90s Indie pop. Shoegaze. Dreamy vocals over lovely music. Floaty and epic.
A strange alternative album. Off kilter but I liked it.
Never sure I like it or not
Vibes: 3/5 Instruments: 3/5 Production: 3/5 Emotional Value: 2/5 Storytelling: 2/5 Stand Outs: Tonite It Shows, The Funny Bird Overall Rating: 2.6
Goddess on a Hiway is the first Mercury Rev song i remember hearing, thank i think to Mark snd Lard on Radio 1. It’s such a beautiful track i was compelled to buy the album. Holes sets the scene perfectly for the album as a whole. Its skeletal instrumentation and pained vocals create an atmospheric wonderland. I really like the chugging backing to Hudson Line that perfectly captures a steam engine plowing along the tracks and is relatively upbeat in tone
I could have done without the reminder that Mercury Rev existed, and “Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp” scared the shit out of me.
I have never listened to this album despite loving Goddess on a Hiway, Holes and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp as singles in the 90s. I kept expecting Endlessly to turn into Silent Night and then the bowed saw appeared - I always enjoy a weird instrument appearing and reading that Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips were sharing a studio and producer during the recording of this makes complete sense. However the instrumental The Happy End (The Drunk Room) is a strong of example of why I suspect some people hate this album: it could certainly be accused of pretentiousness. But then Goddess on a Hiway is up next and I forgive them everything because it's a perfect 90s alt-rock classic. I really enjoyed The Funny Bird immediately afterwards too. I enjoyed this a lot. I would say it's a 3.5 for me, and I've really agonised over rounding up or down but the second half felt really strong to me so I think I'm going to go: 4/5
First track Holes was absolutely doing my nut in cause I knew I recognised it from somewhere. Turns out it was in Sing 2 which I’ve watched with the kids approximately 600 times lol. As for the album, it was bloody great. I was on the fence about giving it the full 5 stars until Goddess On A Hiway which is an OUTSTANDING track. I ended up listening to it 3 times before continuing on. Second listen of the album I loved it and had zero doubts about the score. Top Track - Goddess On A Hiway
I was pretty bored with this one. This is my second ‘best’ album of the year of 1998 this week. Must have been a slow year.
Liked this a lot. Several standouts
The only thing I really remember about Mercury Rev is the local community copper telling Sul off for wearing one of their T-shirts to college as it had a swear word on. However listening to this now with a cheap bottle of red wine I feel I missed out a bit. Really enjoyed it.
A great album and a bold change of direction for the band. The vocals and lyrics are just perfect and are accompanied by a haunting and soaring unique sound. Holes, Tonight It Shows and Opus 40 are the standout great songs, but the whole album has a majestic flow to it. The follow up album All Is Dream is equally as good too.
I’ve always wished Mercury Rev had changed their name after David Baker left. This version of the band is just such naff indie pop compared to the excellent and much darker, menacing and challenging first 2 Rev albums. Other than Goddess on a Highway this album is extremely vanilla, and I’m not convinced adding lots of theremin and a dose of harpsichord makes it particular edgy or psych or whatever they were trying to achieve. On the upside, this made me read about them again, and I discovered an album ‘World’ David Baker recorded after he left under the moniker Shady. If you’re a fan of the Rev’s first 2 albums head there, it’s good. If you prefer this Rev album, more fool you and go and have some more bland time.
It's ok - that voice is a bit weird. I didnt hate it but i wouldn't be bothered about listening to it again. Last song was the best one. The other album All is Dream was a better album for me.
Although I’m a fan of a lot of psych bands…this album doesn’t do it for me.
This is why I got in on this little project -- unexpected gems like this one. Just a lovely, quirky album with plenty of heart and interesting instrumentation. (Theramin solos? THERAMIN SOLOS!) Liked this quite a bit. Certainly worth spending some time with.
Sounds like a band trying to sound like the Flaming Lips.
Incomprehensible in a good way. Cinematic. Singer’s voice sounds like the Flaming Lips and the concept-y ness has that sort of quality too. Kinda eerie. Unintuitive arrangements.
spacey chamber rock music that sounds dreary and rough. this band was already feeling the heat due to their last album not selling as well, so they all went to a secluded area in new york to write some meaningful and experimental material. this album is very... murky. this is chamber pop that leans heavily in its neo-classical influence. a lot of tracks, while swampy and mysterious, the strings and woodwinds add a certain... unique flavor overall to the music. it's... something alright. it sounds like a haunted gramaphone playing a ballroom song. not sure what i can say about it. i hope that these guys ended up feeling better after this album came out.
There is a lot going on here. Fairly solid for a good chunk of it, just some weird stuff towards the end.
Ugh, just no. 1
It's like Strawberry Fields, Pink Floyd's The Wall, and Radiohead had a methed out love child. The combination is so much less than the sum of it's parts. Weird and boring. I do hear sounds that echoed into the later indie rock movement 10 years later, but since I really can't stand indie rock that's not a compliment.
An album they made just for themselves; funny how that works!
:)
Much better than I thought. Sounds like flaming lips
It sounded all the same, but OK background music. 5/10
3.5
The Funny Bird Pick Up If You're There. Enjoyed while record but these are the two tracks I went straight back to.
There are parts of this I enjoyed but there are parts that sound like music which belong to a weird cartoon movie
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: 💊🚬❄ Production (2011 Remaster): 🌬️😇⚖️ Music: 🌌🎬👻 Ratinng: 🍚🍚🍚/5
Album #937 I've never heard of this band before. It's hard music to categorize. Sort of ethereal with strings, and ... I don't know really. One song reminded me of the Beatles' Golden Slumbers. The singer is higher pitched though, like Supertramp. A couple of tracks stood out to me. Goddess on a Hiway and The Funny Bird.
Interesting sound and songs. I'll have to listen to more of this groups work. Not bad.
In places quite pretty, but by god the words are pretentious dog shit.