Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I enjoyed this, and I'm pretty sure I would have picked up that they are somehow associated with the Flaming Lips even if I hadn't read it before listening. Good daytime work music.
east coast flaming lips
Orchestral, the singers voice is annoying yet interesting
Ok
Spotify has spent the last 10 years absolutely convinced that I want to hear Goddess on a Hiway. And, as if to prove that the algorithm always gonna get you, they're now absolutely right. It's physically impossible not to sing along with the 'it ain't gonna last' bit of that song. The rest of the album doesn't match up to be honest, it's a poor man's Soft Bulletin-era Flaming Lips, with a singer who can't really carry off the far out wonder that he's going for.
This isn’t bad. It just doesn’t knock your socks off which you kinda need a new album to do if it’s going to earn a 4 or 5.
Hm ja, wat vinden we hier nou weer van. Meerdere keren gedraaid, niks valt op behalve het verborgen nummer. Wel aardige alternatieve pop, maar ze hadden wel wat beter hun best mogen doen.
A fine album, but I'm not convinced it is an all time great album. I don't generally enjoy The Flaming Lips, but I enjoyed this in places, so it achieved a victory there. The song arrangements worked more often than not, and the album managed to lean away from the pretension that is rife with indie music and instead lean into humble lyrics and the clarity of well crafted psychedelic rock. Favorites: "Holes", "I Collect Coins", "Hudson Line", "The Happy End (The Drunk Room)", and "Pick Up If You're There"
Endlessly is a fun, swimming in stars kind of song.
Sunday afternoon, dealing with a flu while my chest is heavy. Turns out that going food shopping while sick is never the best idea. Leaving the supermarket, I play this album. As my movements slow within every block, Deserter's Songs did little to put pep in my step. What I do respect about this is the dedication offered by the baroque instrumentation weaved throughout. Maybe I should have come to this on a better day. Favorites: Holes, Tonite It Shows, Endlessly, Opus 40, Hudson Line, Goddess on a Hiway, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp.
The funny bird belongs in a film where the protagonist is walking through an urban hell-scape while drowning under the crushing weight of enormous unblinking skyscrapers.
this album is as though an orchestra made a rock / indie album. holes is a sick opening track, i also liked goddess on a hiway
Overall, this is good album. I preferred the songs without the rock influence but it's just... so beautiful. Hope we get more albums like this :) Fav song: Endlessly
Propper pop songs
Quite a quirky little album with some gems lurking about in some otherwise barely tolerable tracks. Sometimes Floydish, sometimes a bit of Supertramp, and a whole lot of Broadway musical. Strange...
Artsy grand pop-rock. A bit pretentious too me. Some great rock parts, like in The Funny Bird. Dislike the vocal a lot.
Great
This was a lot better than expected. I see a lot of references to the Flaming Lips, and a little REM, and I’m okay with that. This is hard because I’m not sure how much I needed to hear this, but it wasn’t an unwelcome album.
Eclectic collection of songs
Like The Flaming Lips or The Postal Service, but way weirder. Some really solid tracks. Loved (and saved) Tonite It Shows and Hudson Line. Lyrics were a bit....Vampire Weekend? Cool album. Not mind-blowing though.
Very interesting album. Dont really know what to say lol
mid i guess
I had personally never heard of Mercury Rev. I am in real danger here with this band. I love the raw, sort of "unsophisticated" feel of the sound production. I did not love when it slipped into "self-produced" territory. The reason for my troubles here are that EITHER this is going to become one of my "favorites" after a few listens, or they will fall off the wayside if I don't warm up to their style. I am certainly willing to give them a chance, and maybe someday i will look back and think I should have given this album a higher rating. But for now, after a first listen I will conclude that they are curious and interesting and I never got bored with the album that seemed to fly by as I listened.
Good album to think about outer space to
I knew nothing about Mercury Rev other than the name. Apparently this album is unlike their earlier, noisier sound. This is delicate, fragile, ethereal. There are orchestral sounds, string quartets, mellotrons, calliopes. It is reminiscent of Funfairs & Saloon pianos. It’s well-played and sounds great and, although the material didn’t grab me, it’s a pleasant listen. The second half rocks a little more and is more compelling. Enjoyable but not essential.
These guys sound a lot like The Flaming Lips. That like psychadelic rock/indie/chamber pop crossover. Super ethereal sounding. Some pretty solid ideas on this record, and some really odd choices as well. For example, in the middle of the song Endlessly, it sounds like they sample the Christmas Carol, Silent Night. Also, they use some form of "instrument" to make that shitty ghost sound effect that was big in the 90's around the same point in the song. They brought the shitty ghost sound back for the song Pick Up If You're There. This is definately a rear loaded album. After the song I Collect Coins, the album gets loads better. Favourite songs: Goddess on a Hiway, Opus 40, Holes, The Funny Bird, Hudson Line Least favourite songs: Endlessly, Pick Up If You're There 3/5
I liked some of these songs for the instrumental but I found the singing voice quite strange and at times irritating. spoilt it for me at times. But as a whole this wasn't bad
Album of weirdly dark lullabies in that kind of ambient music that they liked in the 90s. Probably needs more listens but it’s getting one 3/5
Listened to this first thing and it’s got a nice sound. Was just a little bit too cry yourself to sleep for my tastes. Possibly on another listen will score higher
Never heard of this group or album before. If I were to describe this in one word, it would be fantastical, yet melancholic. It felt like I was listening to a somber fairy tale or a storybook just purely based on the unique instrumentals and soft vocals from Jonathan Donahue (who I learned was briefly part of the Flaming Lips! The sound makes a little more sense now). Reading up some more, it sounded like the group was having a rough go of it as their previous album didn't do so hot in terms of sales. The group was able to muster the effort to record one more album (thinking it would be their last) and lo and behold, this became their best known work. It's pretty inspirational and you definitely hear this sense of "walking away" as a central theme throughout the album. It's not going to uplift you or anything, but this was a pretty unique album that I wasn't expecting as soon as I tapped play. A low 3 or thereabouts.
ight
It was an interesting sound. I'm not surprised that the band was tight with the Flaming Lips. It reminded me of their early stuff. But I didn't really get hooked by anything. I'll give it another shot someday
Ya know, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I didn't expect the orchestral moments to be so prominent and I thoroughly enjoyed the weird whimsical vibe many of the songs had. Is this the kind of album I'll reach for again? Probably not. But am I glad I listened to it? Yup!
Favorite tracks: Opus 40, Hudson Line, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp This feels pretty different from the other albums I've gotten so far. It also feels like it'd fit best in a specific environment - as atmospheric background music when friends come by, say. Someone left a review describing this as soundtrack-esque, which I agree with. I zoned in and out while listening to it, which I think is fine. 3 stars.
I had mixed feelings about this album. I listened to it twice and sometimes I was liking it a lot and sometimes not so much. I thought it was really creative and interesting, either way. Rating: 3
Gave lots of sci-fi/video game soundtrack vibes. I think it had a theremin. A couple of songs I’d listen to again if they were a bit shorter/didn’t have weird excessive outros
I was ok giving this an average and unoriginal 3, for sounding a lot like the flaming lips and abbey road. Then the last track actively pissed me off and I was leaning towards a 2… Ah, the whole thing was pleasant enough though, and I don’t know enough about the flaming lips to really know who was being ripped off. So a 3 is fair.
like kind of weird but i liked it. if indie were techno.
I can’t say that I dislike this.
Okay, a bit boring
interesting and peaceful
I was thinking this sounds like the Flaming Lips, and I see they have ties. Pretty good production value here, interesting mixing. Goddess on a Hiway is a nice track. Sonically I might like this more than the Flaming Lips albums we have had. At the end of the day this didn't blow me away, it was nice album and it is a fine addition to the list.
Groupe inconnu. Premier constat : l'instrumentation est originale (+2). L'utilisation d'une scie musicale (que j'ai pris pour un theremin avant de voir la liste des musiciens) n'est pas courant ! Viennent s'y ajouter des sifflements, pas courant non plus. Certains morceaux contiennent aussi des chorus de sax, et de guitare. Ceci dit je n'ai retenu aucun des morceaux. =>3/5
01) Holes - 7,0 02) Tonite It Shows - 6,5 03) Endlessly - 7,5 04) I Collect Coins - 6,5 05) Opus 40 - 7,0 06) Hudson Line - 7,0 07) The Happy End (The Drunk Room) - 6,0 08) Goddess on a Hiway - 8,0 09) The Funny Bird - 7,0 10) Pick Up If You're There - 6,5 11) Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,95 (70/100) Current ranking: 240/356
Une voix atmosphérique, intimiste, sur des arrangements lyriques, parfois grandiloquents ou cinématographiques, mais qui m’ont tout de même paru originaux
I was looking forward to hating this as much as some other reviewers. Alas, it didn't live up to that. In fact, I found I enjoyed some of the songs (to be fair, there is a bit of carnival sounding nonsense too). I must have been caught in a moment of weakness or something.
Liked the overall package, some parts of it didn't immediately grab me though, just blended in Needs a relisten Favorite track: The Funny Bird
3.3 2x
New one for me. Sounds like Flaming Lips.
not what i thought they would sound like. a bit jangly and inoffensive
Zelden heb ik zo erg bij een opener gedacht - 'Holes' in dit geval - ''waarom is dit niet de afsluiter?''. Deze heeft al het grandioze van een 'end credits' song. Maar naarmate het album vorderde begon het in te dalen dat die stijl, melancholisch doch opbeurend met aanzwellende orkestraties, gewoon het ding is wat Mercury Rev doet. Want ook 'Opus 40' en nog wat andere nummers zouden zich prima schikken in de rol als afsluiter. Maar toch mist er iets om me echt om ver te blazen. Het zweeft bij vlagen heerlijk, en de songs hebben bijna een sprookjesachtige 'dream like quality'. Maar het is ook nogal repeterend, en als het niet zo fabelachtig als 'Opus 40' of 'Holes' is, dan is is het al snel saai. Het had van mij nog wel iets wackier mogen zijn, zoals in de neo-psychedelia van 'The Funny Bird'. Ze blijven wel erg binnen de grenzen van hun veilige droomwereld. Maar desalniettemin toch genoten van een aantal bijzondere momenten. 7/10 Highlights: Holes Opus 40 Goddess On a Hiway
Mercury Rev gaat al jaren mee in mijn lijstjes, maar eigenlijk ken ik het niet goed. De stem van Donahue is op het randje van aangenaam voor mij, wat mij per nummer wat doet twijfelen. Laat me voorop zetten; Holes is een fantastisch nummer. De opbouw van de dromigere soundscape is heerlijk en ik vind de tekst mooi. Matt Berninger heeft het nummer gecoverd waaruit ook blijkt hoe fantastisch deze in elkaar zit. De rest van de plaat zweeft en droomt mooi, al is het geen 'classic' dreampop. Ik lees iets over de link met Flaming Lips, en dat is goed te horen. Mercury Rev mag vaker terugkomen, al heb ik nu niet meteen zin om de andere platen te checken. Middenmoter. 7/10 Highlights Holes Goddess on a Hiway
Feels like the Flaming Lips want to be this band.
Some really nice orchestral indie rock with a few sublime songs, like Holes (one of my favourite songs of all-time), Goddess on a Hiway and Opus 40. There are other good moments here but unfortunately some others are either lacking or a bit too cheesy in a bad way. I wish it was better because I really like the vibe of this album.
When you buy a Flaming Lips record from Wish.
Pretty decent for late 90s/early 2k post-grunge alt rock. A bit quirky and fun, but I probably won't play it again.
This album feels like it would be to listen to if I was high. Not bad, but not great.
Alright.
These guys wanna be the Beatles so bad.
This was fine
I’ve listened to this fairly recently—maybe within the last year?—because it was always one of those albums you hear about as important, but I had never before listened to it. Then, as now, it was fine. Goddess on a hiway is my highlight, and it seems Spotify users agree.
53
I don't really know what to make of this so I'll just give it a three and move on.
Very British poppy stuff. Nothing very original here. Nothing very bad.
This is another type of band that should be up my alley but eh.... it's fine. 3.5/5
Strange, creative, whispery, soothing yet eerie. Indie Disney is the best way I can describe the sound. This is not really my thing but definitely worth hearing. Best song: Endlessly
This was background music at best. I don’t understand songs seeming to end, then having random sounds for two more minutes. I would certainly not seek this album to listen again.
3.5 mainly due to the instrumentals it would be higher but there was too much repetition for me and his voice wasn’t the best
Very much gave me Flaming Lips vibes, seriously this just felt like a knock off of them. Liked the sound and the music of it but again, just like the Lips, dude can't sing well at all. Made it kinda cringey to listen to. I did like this more than The Flaming Lips because there were much more instrumental tracks on it where I didn't have to listen to the man sing, but seriously why did they make this dude their frontman he does not sound good.
Another unknown to me. Some songs were good while others were just bizarre.
Interesting. Honestly decent if you’re in the mood for something a little different. Some bad weird songs but I think most of them were pretty solid.
This album is thoroughly alright. It had a definite late-90s coffee shop-turned- theatre feel with Beatles, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac influence. Key songs were Goddess on a Hiway and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp. It was a fun vibe for a Wednesday morning.
I have a soft spot for this one due to this sounding similar to the Flaming Lips. This seems like one you’d have to give yourself time to grow into. It didn’t quite have the highs of the Flaming Lips but seemed to have a more polished and consistent musicality. I’d definitely revisit this one.
5/10 - приятный чилобассный психодел
Just had it as background, nothing caught me to much, but it was alright
Ends on a strong note with the last 3 songs, but generally just okay
Not a bad record but it has too much pop appeal for me. With a bit less it would be a perfect psych rock record.
This is one I appreciate more than I actually connect with. It's quite floaty and quirky and unusual. They have some interesting instrumentation and chorusey swells and saxophone and all sorts. I really do like the moments when it goes grand and operatic, and that's when it's at its best for me. It's well put together and I appreciate the skill and how they stand out in the scene. I get it, it's just a bit too indie quirk for me in general.
Definitely Flaming Lips-esque, but with it's own feel.
I found my interest waning at time, to the point I felt it warranted a second listen. It is often at times Flaming Lips-esque in its instrumentation and brittle vocals, but 'The Soft Bulletin' it is not. Overall a pleasant album, with some interesting flourishes and a couple of standout tracks like Opus 40 and Holes. But I didn't quite understand the significance of this one.
That's not my taste in musik. But some pleasant songs
Nails a very particular mood, a certain mid twenties city based alienation. A success on its own terms, I think, but didn't speak to me personally.
meh
Honestly, about as puzzling as the Doves album the day before. Who's picking these? I do like this one more because it's weirder - some really engaging instrumentals that hit me out of left field, and some that remain in left field for me to laugh at. The variety alone elevates this above the previous, but again, don't think I understand why it's here. We're at album 1011, the end is (theoretically) in sight, and yet we're still getting British rock slop. Favorite tracks: I Collect Coins, Opus 40, Pick Up If You're There. Album art: Very mysterious picture of what seems to be a guy on a coach. Is he smoking something? Holding a gun? Some other "Device?" Not sure at all, just can't see. Not enough light, and the whole thing is filtered through blue. Decent cover though, to match a decent album. 3/5
Chaotic
Me la torra
Favorite Tracks: Goddess on a Hiway Holes
3.5/5
Very Flaming Lips. It's an ok album that listened fine but it wasn't my favorite. Holes and Tonite it Shows are good, didn't really care for Endlessly.
Great band. Mostly great songs. A couple I had to skip
Very quaint
creative and fun album with a wide range of pop influences
Dork really got confused about whether or not this was Doctor Dog. It is not. (It's also not the Flaming Lips.) We enjoyed this. Holes is particularly good. Quite an atmospheric album.
Deserter’s Songs is another album that starts so strong and I slowly lost interest. Holes is a beautifully amazing song. In general it’s not necessarily dream pop, but dream rock. It deserves more listens. 6.8/10
Never heard of them, but not bad.
disney melancholia
There is a lot on this album that I quite dislike but the three or four songs I do like are good enough to make me look farther into this band and rate this album at 3 stars or C-.
Barely noticed that this was even playing.
Mostly Inoffensive, with a hint of the Beatles’ drug years.
It's giving me big Flaming Lips vocals, but an okay listen.
Diet Flaming Lips, now with more weird instrumental tracks. This was ok. It didn’t have any bite in the regular tracks and the instrumentals left a bad taste in my mouth.
This sounded very like Flaming Lips. Decent enough; I enjoyed it a fair bit. A solid three
A rather solid listen, though I didn't get much out of this that I haven't heard from the group's contemporaries. I will say I'm surprised to hear songs like Goddess on a Hiway on a late 90s album, this would slot cleanly next to Supertramp in my mind.
Shades of Queen here
Flaming Lips sound
Not bad but not super interesting. Favourites: holes, I collect coins, opus 40, Hudson line, goddess on a hiway. Decent but too long also a weird silence in the middle of the last song. 3/5
Pretty cool but I think I may be experiencing album listening fatigue. Nevertheless I enjoyed the dreamy atmosphere throughout, but there were a few songs that didn't really work for me. I think the most popular songs were the best ones and the rest were just okay. But I really did love some of them: Holes, Tonite It Shows, Opus 40, Hudson Line, and Goddess On A Hiway. Since I liked half and was indifferent to the other half, I will give it a 3
Decent. Mellow.
boy, this is a bit of a mixed bag. sometimes i can't get past the lead vocals, sometimes the instrumentation is a little too avant-garde for my liking, sometimes the songs are really cool. the ending of the final track sounds like a cat is jumping on a keyboard. i still think overall, i liked it, but it is definitely a bit of a mixed bag. maybe it would grow on me with repeated listens or maybe only partially.
Never heard of them. Reminds me of the flaming lips a little. Liked the album though.
Not good not bad
One of those albums that I think if I tried learning a few instruments over the course of a year I'd probably be able to match it. Not sure why it's on here. Few songs were ok, most were pretty bland. Inoffensive overall. 2.5*
Theremin was really popular for a time
This is one of those albums that simply exists as a space filler. It's not bad by any means, but it also doesn't stand out. It's easily forgettable and doesn't leave much of an impression.
I’m not really sure how I should have felt about this one. I was looking forward to it but found myself in a perpetual state of nothingness. Disappointed to say the least.
I’ve never heard of this band or album before, and I thought this album was okay. The overall sound of the album had a dreamlike quality to it, which I thought was fine, but certainly not earth-shattering. However, I did like the way the lyrics flowed, especially from “Holes” through “Endlessly.” The lyrics were mostly pretty melancholy, and I felt like that pattern of the lyrics helped enhance that melancholic mood. Musically, I loved the odd little elements that were peppered throughout the album. I thought that a theremin was being used on some of the songs, but after doing some reading, I think that was a musical saw. There were several other instruments that I liked, but I can’t identify what they were. “Endlessly” had some of my favorite arrangements on the entire album; I loved the way the musical saw was used. “Opus 40” was really good too, and I liked the background vocals. I enjoyed “Hudson Line” as well. The saxophone, woodwinds, and guitar parts were really different, but still felt like they fit really well with the dreamlike feel of the album. After that though, I didn’t really enjoy the album as much until the final track. I loved whatever instrument it was that was playing during the beginning of “Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp.” I think it was a clavinet, but I’m not sure. But I loved how it took a background to the strings as the song went on, and the overall sound of the song was really enhanced by the deep bass drum sound. The second half of the song really lost me though, and felt like a strange way to end the album. My biggest complaints against this album are that I didn’t care too much for the second half of the album, I wasn’t as a huge fan of most of the vocals. Still, this was an interesting album, and I enjoyed the quirkier musical elements that were used.
Fun, energetic and interesting.
It’s ok
It was a long weekend ago, but I remember considering this quite a nice vibe!
Album 411 of 1001 Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs Rating : 3 / 5 As an album, not bad. Good background music to enjoy as I carry on with work. Another where there are really not specific tracks that stand out from the others but overall a good listen. Little pop...little rock. British band.
I'm surprised at how much I like this. UK bands that didn't make it in the US are usually anathema to me but I'm digging it. I don't care much for Jonathan Donahue's voice, but the lyrics are nice and I love the lofi, mellow vibes. It's uneven though. Holes and Opus 40 are great tracks, but Tonite It Shows and Endlessly were both significantly worse. Looking forward to hearing how the rest of it plays out. The Happy End (The Drunk Room) is a great track. I like this band's theatricality. The bonus track was fun too. All in all, I love how much this band seems to be having fun with themselves compared to other shoegaze/atmospheric bands I've heard. The end result is inconsistent and I don't think think I can give it more than a 3, but it's a very strong three. Much better than the nonsense from War on Drugs. I'll probably be coming back to this band. It was fun.
Cool sounds - Opus 40 stood out for me.. first listen of this guy.
Kind of a fun poppy late 90's. Enjoyable but not outstanding to the next level
Far more Flaming Lips adjacent than I was expecting, as I was expecting something more ethereal and space-lie. Instead, you have this tinge of 90s nasal with an alternative synth aesthetic to make the listener really feel as though they're truly on some otherworldly shit. It really only succeeds in this effect, however, in this department on the first track, where the blowout really strikes me in a way not unfamiliar to Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space, and just like that album, it similarly feels as though it is trying to chase that initial rush for the rest of the album. Luckily, it doesn't feel too up its own ass, with lighter, pop-ier tracks to ease the dreamy haze, and the hidden track really achieves this lighter effect. It is a flawed album, but one I can respect more overall. I think this neo-psychedelia movement just isn't fully my cup of tea, and that's a bit of a shame.
It was ok
3/5
Honestly, it's something different, something odd, but somewhat refreshing in a self-experimental way. The saw adds a lot. 3.5/5.
Mercury Rev has been on my list of bands to check for quite a while, so this was the perfect chance to do so. This albums opens on a high with Holes, my favorite, but while I liked the general vibe the rest of the album didn’t quite grab me. A 3.5 if we could give half points.
I have never listened to this or heard of this band before. I listened to it twice. I enjoyed it. I like the dreamy quality of the lead singer's voice, but it can be somewhat sing-song at points. The musicianship is on point. Particular favorites are: "Goddess on the Hiway" and "The Funny Bird".
Not bad but the singer's voice is a bit irritating
More Flaming Lipsy than i expected it was gonna be. Liked it
An album that probably needs repeated listens to fully appreciate it. I can see the similarities with The Flamping Lips
What sounds like ethereal indie pop, Mercury Rev’s album “Deserter’s Songs” is in a category of its own. The album has a grand, and very unique, assortment of instrumentation, including brass section with flugelhorns, woodwinds, strings, and even a musical saw… While not everyone’s idea of great music, this album is absolutely a great, idiosyncratic specimen in the study of music.
2.5
Interesting
3-
Passion Pit’s daddies
To me this is one of those albums that's like a mountain range with just one or two visible, snow capped pinnacles, where the rest of the songs are foothills. Definitely not a bad thing. Those high points are beautiful and wouldn't be there without the surrounding support.
dreampoppia.. alussa meinasinkin nukahtaa melkeinmpä. onneksi toinen osio otti ensimmäisen maasta, olalleen, ja alkoi ravaamaan. ensimmäusteömmmmmmm impressioiden jälkeen tosiaan hyvää musiikkia löytyi tästä. rallakasta surulluseen, paljon eri tuntemuksia tulee mutta albumi kokonaisuudessaan melankolinen...ikävöivä...suomi... hudson line
Didn't like his voice. But the last couple songs were really good 1st listen 2.5/5
Very chill ambiance, I liked it a lot 3.5
Pretty nice!
Borderline Stoner Hall Of Fame album. If Dark Side Of The Moon is a first ballot HOF Stoner album, this is one that ultimately gets in on the sixth or seventh ballot.
Modest Mouse vibes, never heard of them before.
I’ve never been more confused by an album? I loved parts of it and absolutely hated other parts. I don’t understand the vibe at all and can’t fully align with it, but with that said, some songs were cool. What did I just listen to?
A bit boring, nothing caught my attention at all, easy listening but no real point
Good sound. I can get into this one. Never heard it before - never heard of the band before either. 3/5 (for now)
Holes - 7.5/10 Tonite It Shows - 7.5/10 Endlessly - 8/10 I Collect Coins - 7.5/10 Opus 40 - 7.5/10 Hudson Line - 7.5/10 The Happy End - 7.5/10 Goddess on a Highway - 8.5/10 The Funny Bird - 7/10 Pick Up If You're There - 7/10 Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 85/110
Coolt album, digga dom mera episka spåren och också den poppiga Goddess on a Hiway. Underligt slut på skivan
3.5 Holes, Goddess on a hiway, and opus 40 were all great songs. The rest of the album however weren’t as stellar got a little busy
Kinda quiet and oddly distorted vocals. I liked the orchestra mixes behind "The Funny Bird." Never heard of these guys and I doubt they'll leave a lasting impression.
Uff, hm, das war...interessant.
I went into this with no idea what to expect and it turned out to be an enormous amount of fun. In places it sounded like the soundtrack to a Disney film directed by David Lynch featuring flugelhorns, wurlitzers and even a musical saw. Stay around for the hidden bit on the last track!
Some of this reminded me of Mogwai
Never heard of this band, was interesting having zero expectations for an album that is all over the place (in a good way, I think!). Some really great moments on here, though I feel like I need multiple listens to pin down a true rating.
Not sure if I’ve never heard this band or if I never paid enough attention. Anywho, nothing sounded familiar. It was a pleasant listen, a nice surprise. [0135/1001]
Rating: 7/10 Very good album overall. A lot of the instrumentation was beautiful, the production and mix was also great. The highlights on this album are stellar, catchy instrumentals with great vocals. The lows are pretty boring and not interesting to listen to or the group experiments in ways that do not sound good. Favorite songs: Holes, Opus 40, Hudson Line, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird. Worst songs: Endlessly, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp.
quite good, but far from great
3/5
Avante-pop, as their artist description says. Kinda artsy, atmospheric
I had to look up if this was a "Flaming Lips" side project or something. First song was awesome, but then every song after that sounded pretty much the same to me. I feel like this would get better on repeated listens but on first blush it was too repetitive. 3.5 stars
Yung art rock
fun album. nothing amazing and no song stood out massively. I did not mind it but I wont go looking for it
Hudson,Godess, Bird....the rest was lost on me
Idiosyncratic and hauntingly lovely. You can feel the level of care that went into building all the layers of these songs and there are so many musical threads to follow. Wore a little thin by the end, but I enjoyed this. Fave Songs: Opus 40, Goddess on a Hiway, I Collect Coins, Tonite It Shows, Holes, Endlessly
I like it 😊
2/3
intriguant mais pénalité pour la fin de l album
This is sure pretty at moments. Sounds like a soundtrack to cheap animated movie
Interesting but not for me
Pretty great late 90s rock run through pedals till it melts into fuzzy soundscapes. It gives me shoegazey vibes, especially The Funny Bird. Reading about the band it seems like they've changed their music a bunch over the years, and both influences from their previous and future album comes through in this album which is nice. Top songs for me are Holes, The Happy End, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird, and Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp. Unfortuantely, it feels a little forgettable, so sadly only 3 stars - (I'm trying to be a bit more critical here - I have too many 4s and 5s y'kno)
So whimsical at times that it comes across as circus music. There are some songs that take a darker tone, so overall this music reminds me of sad clowns.
I think MR has some really strong songs that i like but this album didn’t affect me too much still.
Tämmöst röökinpolttomusaa! 3/5
Ei erottunut listalta edukseen, joskaan ei haitakseenkaan. 3/5
4/5
I enjoyed Some songs were very good I liked Opus 40, holes
Interesting album. Weird sounds but I like the rest of it Top songs: Hudson Line, Goddess on a Hiway, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
Flaming lips, Built to spill and M83 vibes
I have never heard of this band or album. It's OK.
some cool sounds, but otherwise sounds like every 90s album
I don't know. It's not good, it's not bad. It's fine. I don't want to spend my time listening to this again.
Not bad
Pretty dreamlike and ethereal, but alright
If someone were to ask me I don't even know how I would describe this music or what I would call it. After one listen I can't say that I loved it but I didn't dislike it by any means either. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it to be an interesting listen. This album gives me a vibe that if I were to give it a few more listens that it would probably grow on me so I'd give it a solid 3 or 3.5.
The album overall not bad with a few good songs but holy shit The Happy Ending is the worst song I have ever heard. A kid playing random notes would be more tolerable
Oh cool, another artist I've never heard of before, I like listening to these ones, though I am getting immediate Flaming Lips vibes from this. A ton of reed and wind instruments right out of the gate, feels kind of 'fairy-tale-esque', along with a bunch of differing tinky percussion. Omg..... I read the wiki linked here and the lead singer of this band WAS a member of flaming lips! lol. It said he left the band because of creative differences with Coyne, makes me wonder how much influence he had over FL cause they sound almost exactly the same. There's definitely less of a 'pretentiousness' around this album compared to FL but it is for sure still coming through to me. I'm also getting Neutral milk hotel vibes as well. I don't know how to describe this music.... seems kinda like an off-shoot of dream-pop, like dream-psychedelic i guess. I like the album and will probably give it an above average score but I'm pretty sure this is the band's most acclaimed album and I don't see myself enjoying an entire discography of this genre. The Funny Bird is by far my fave track on this record.
Today is a day where ambiguity ruled and this album rounded it off. This is such weird music, I really love parts of it until there is someone wailing like a banshee and it quickly throws me off.
Quirky but interesting and relaxing.
I liked it a lot more than I thought considering I had never heard of Mercury Rev.
I’m not sure how I feel about this album just yet. It was partly soothing and partly WTH is going on. I think it will grown on my so it’s added to my playlist.
A good mix of genres, some tracks were unsettling, but most were listenable.
These guys are pretty great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the album. But, man, if you didn't know better you'd think you were listening to a Flaming Lips album.
Best song - Goddess On A Hiway
This is another band I had never heard before. Sounds like the Flaming Lips...which is a sound I really like. That being said, I'm not sure I would have put this on the list, but I am glad to have heard the album.
Arcade Fire vibes. Not my thing personally but I don’t hate it tbh.
Very Flaming Lips but this is unsurprising looking at the history. Both bands leave me a bit cold if I’m honest. And I think calling them ‘celebrities’ in the UK after this album is a bit of a stretch.
Obviously heard of Mercury Rev, but never actually HEARD them. Feels a bit Polyphonic Spree in places. Favourite tracks: Endlessly (which has a strong Silent Night vibe in the melody), Goddess on a Hiway, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
Gloom rock
It's alright
Interesting I guess.
Ik vond dit een zeer interessante plaat
Aardig, maar ook wel iets teveel mi-mi-mi-mah-mah-mah gejengel.
There were some low moments here and there but overall pretty decent
a friend described this one as disney music and yeah they're kinda right. "holes" and "the funny bird" are worth it but i could live without a lot of the rest.
Definitely had a flaming lips feel to it, but disappointed after the first track (which I loved). Beyond that and maybe one or two others not much stood out to me. 5/10
Enjoyed the experience of this album. Not really in my wheelhouse so would not listen again.
Interesting and somewhat dramatic, but ultimately too overwrought to make an impact beyond being a minor footnote. It preens and posits, but never really flows, and never even comes close to rocking. The near soprano vocal style works only on a few cuts and the symphonic aspirations never really pay off (end of "Holes" is probalby as close as the band comes). Still there are winning moments, especially the closer "Delta Sun..." which is the best of the lot. "Opus 40" and "Goddess on the Highway." One remembers trying to get the hang of this band in real time – this was state-of-the art fin de siecle art rock – but couldn't quite, an impression that feels familiar this time round, too. The similarity to Neil Young is passing at best and the comparison to Pink Floyd a full-on reach. .
It’s ok
2-3 stars. I hit like on 1-2 songs.
Didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, it was definitely a mix in terms of the songs but those I enjoyed, were really great.
Inicia bastante bien, pero luego me aburre un poco xd
Liked the style, but got old after a while.
Not a band I’d put in a 'bands I listen to often, or at all, really’ list, but I enjoyed this. Maybe I should give them a better listen
This was not what I was expecting. I had in my mind that Mercury Rev were the kind of boring, semi-corporate quasi-indie band that proliferated in the late 90s and early 2000s, and with which I was (and continue to be) bored by. But, when I started playing this record, I recognized the songs Holes, which is a a woozier, more interesting song than I was expecting. The connections to the Flaming Lips are significant. This album was the one of the first of that late 90s softly psychedelic, quirky rock sound (possibly twee?) that followed, especially centred around the production of Dave Friedman (Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, Pond, etc). I liked some of the records that followed more than this, but I can see how this was instrumental in breaking the way through and showing that music like this could be commercially viable. I admire that they made it for themselves, as this was highly unfashionable at the time, personal, and quirky. It certainly did not resemble much on the charts at the time Some critics have accused this of having some strong songs (Holes, Opus 40, Goddess on the Hiway), and some filler. I don't mind the "filler". It's different and weirdly produced, even if not particularly memorable. I really am on the line of 3 or 4 starts, but, in my heart of hearts, I wished this rocked just a little more, and his singing voice does get on my tit after a while. I can also live without the musical saw. I am putting it in as a three, on the understanding that this is clear 3.5.
Never heard of this band, so I have no idea what to expect. From the cover and name I expected Stoner rock, but the first song doesn't sound like it. Really chill album, I like it quite a bit.
I listened to this back in the day, the band was surprisingly good and this album is a solid and at times, beautiful listen. A lot of comments compare them to the Flaming Lips and I do remember listening to similar like-minded alternative bands around this time and probably discovered Mercury Rev through listening to the Lips. Nothing essential here and they're music never really grabbed or stuck with me, in fact this is the first time listening to the album since the early 2000's.
This is a bizarre album, hard to define, and for some reason, this is a compliment. It does not look like anything from the 90s that I've listened to before, and, at the same time, it is strangely comfortable for my 90s ears. I think that deserves a second listening session to ensure everything is correct.
Pour etre franc je m'attendais a rien mais j'ai été agréablement surpris. Je connaissais pas et j'ai aimé l'ambiance de l'album ainsi que les élans. Surtout dans Funny bird. 3.85
Not really my cup of tea
Never heard of the band or any of the songs. I enjoyed it.
ok but nothing really stood out
I enjoyed this. I don't think I ever listened to this album in high school when it came out. I knew the hit, but nothing else.
first time listening favorite the funny bird
I was walking past a small, intimate, local concert venue a few days back, trying to remember who I was supposed to see in said venue many years back but had to miss the gig due to various broken limbs. Could I remember? Not on your Nelly. And then this album popped up this morning and I am pretty sure it was Mercury Rev I missed that time. I love the ethereal quality of this album. Donahue’s voice has very sweet childlike qualities. The overall impact is not brilliant but it has a very space agey quality. I could have been in an episode of Star Trek. Goddess of the Hiway is gorgeous. Not sure how I’d feel if I actually got to see them all those years ago. They’re falling very much in the middle for me now although I do love all the experimentation. But whereas The Stooges made me feel bouncy and upbeat yesterday, this lot just make feel wistful and dreamy. The irony of this album being about ‘walking away’ and me simultaneously not being able to walk into the venue has not escaped me.
Hey Jimmy, I got a theramin! Cool! Bring it over. I just bought an aquatic-themed refrigerator magnet set. I'll come up with words and you do something cool. Sounds good, I just listened to "Golden Slumbers," think I might borrow from that to write an eipc tune. Let's call it "Opus something." Love it! I've been binging Flaming Lips for a month. Pretty sure we wont sound anything like them, though. Radical! I didn't dislike it so much as had this running commentary going on in my head as it played. Kinda hard to take this too seriously.
meh
they're like a less fun version of the flaming lips.
🫠
Mellow and trance-like at times. There's a mood for albums like these, such as nighttime road trips, but otherwise I didn't find a lot to connect with. Wikipedia says it shares a bond with The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips (an album I've already heard) so I'll consider listening to them together in the future. 3/5
This band is probably perfect for when you are on ecstasy and pondering the meaning of life when you are in your 20's.
Pop tranquilo y fácil de escuchar, con buenas voces, sosegadas, ritmos en ocasiones que se sale un poco de lo habitual.
The other Lips 5 - Masterpiece, 4 - Love it, 3 - Like it, 2 - Whatever, 1 - Turn it off
Not super my kind of music but can appreciate it. Happy road trippy vibes
Listened to this in the morning and it fit the mood Liked it Some funny lyrics, liked the music Will listen to this again
I remember that I enjoy the music. I replay the album a couple of times but nothing really sticks. I dont know. Maybe because I just play them on the background. 2.5/5
I was not surprised when I went to Wiki to see if this band was an iteration of The Flaming Lips to see that there is cross-pollination between the bands. Album is quite audibly lush, though the vocals aren't really to my taste.
Holes has to be one of the best openers ever, but the rest is a bit boring.
- Never heard of Mercury Rev before - Can see the Flaming Lips comparisons, think it also sounds a lot like Smashing Pumpkins - The opener was clearly the best track - Fav songs: Holes, Endlessly, Opus 40
Pretty good
Twee.
3.75
It was interesting, very artsy. It wasn't bad, not really my style.
This was interesting, but I didn't love it. It just maybe didn't come together for me. For example, I love a musical saw, but it just seemed to be really sticking out here, rather than an integral part of the songs. I appreciated it more as a group that took risks than something I will keep listening to. There are some great lyrics, and "Goddess of the Hiway" is wonderful.
Yawn!
3/5. Sounds a little like too many other songs. Like almost similar note patterns. Some fun and unique instrumentation keeps this from being a bad album.
Pop rock. Indie
What a change from butthole surfers! Found this music and voice very unique. From the very beginning, I thought I was going to hate, but Holes grew on me and I have to say I liked Opus 540, Hudson Line and Goddess on a Highway. I re-listened yesterday and think my Mindy may like this. The last 2-3-4 minutes was a little out there, but overall, I kinda liked this album and don't have many complaints. Ill give 2.5 but will rate a 3
3 Never have I ever heard of Mercury before this. “Please be cool” I thought as tender synth started playing and when Mr. Rev started singing my stomach dropped. Another quiet album with nothing to grab on to. I was already tenuous until BAM! Saxophone! By the end of the first song a lot of my fears were quelled and I was drawn in. This album sounds like lullabies for nightmares. This album was starting to put me to sleep near the middle until OPUS40 gave it a jolt of life which lasted through Hudson’s Line. Poppy and bluesy but the momentum was quickly halted by a song I can only describe as a Legend of Zelda song that was cut from the game. Goddess on a Hiway is fuckin’ awesome which I think highlights this album’s biggest problem which is it’s consistency. Is it elf-core or 90s pop rock? Tender and acoustic? Jazz? Idk but I’d say I like more than I didn’t like. That ending though… Favorites: Holes, Tonite it Shows, OPUS40, Hudson Line, Goddess on a Hiway, The Funny Bird, Pick Up If You’re There
3 I saw that the frontman for this band was previously a guitarist for The Flaming Lips, and I can definitely hear how his time with the group influenced this album. However, this album was also supposedly recorded while the band was at its lowest point, after a period of commercial failure, personal hardships, and amassing debt, and I think the ensuing sound does a good job of encapsulating the desperation of the band. I kept thinking how each song would fit behind a character’s “come to Jesus” scene in a movie or show, when they realize they’ve bottomed out, and are about to begin their redemption arc (or tragic ending). The tone throughout is very consistent, and nothing feels out of place (except for the hidden track, though those are usually deliberately jarring), but it’s also not overly interesting. Holes was a great opening track and moodsetter, but not much else stuck out to me after that. I think the fact I kept thinking of movie scenes is proof of the music here being more complementary sound than the forefront. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing and that music should always be flashy and catchy, but in this case I wasn’t left with much of a lasting impression.
музыка интересная, а вокал чё-то не
There were some songs that were okay, but this is sitting at a 2.5.
This had it's moments but didn't quite get there
Meh fine.
Weird- but I think I like it. Vocals are squeaky and it has a psychedelic thing happening. The dischordant breaks are not for me but there are a few tracks I went back to and listened again because I’m not sure if I like them or not
Never heard of Mercury Rev before sound slot like the flaming lips, good album just didn’t wow me
Really enjoyed Funny Bird and Pick Up if You're There a lot, but the rest sounded like mid tier Flaming Lips. And Like Flaming Lips, I appreciate what they're doing more than I actually enjoy it.
Hey!!! I already had this one
Not a good album of theirs. But, it got me back into them. I went back and listened to “The Great Migration” which was one of my favorite albums for a couple of years in the mid 2000s. I also tried listening to other albums, but only found that I liked the one.
This album is a rollercoaster in terms of tone, but in a good way. Long periods of music without lyrics allows for the neo-psychedelia aspect to really show itself off.
Hiway of a godess was good
T3B 1. Goddess on a Hiway 2. Holes 3. The Funny Bird Wasn’t expecting much, but what a good listen. Ups and downs but pretty surprised! Solid 3.
What a schizophrenic, creepy album. I was walking the dog as it was getting dark behind a railway track and through a tunnel whilst Pick Up If You’re There was on. Head was on a swivel. 3 stars.
ok i guess
flaming lips lullaby album
Flaming lips makes an elevator music album. Delightfully vanilla.
I liked the cinematic sound with the strings and the saw doing theremin type stuff. There’s some pretty cool stuff but I feel like I might like this better with a different singer. 3
His voice kinda sounds like the Death Cab guy. There are specific parts I like but for the most part, the lyrics aren’t great. Endlessly definitely rips off Silent Night.
seems okay, i dig the strings and the dreaminess, the vocals get old for me
Interesting. I like the album but if I saw this live I leave early so I can fight traffic.
Rock-pop alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
soft spoken. garage rocky. i thought it was the flaming lips for a second. it was good.
"Holes" is the big opener and second biggest track on here going off of play count on Spotify. I think it sounds alright, has a cinematic sort of chord progression/melody/arrangement with a super pleasing dissonant final chord in each repeating progression. "Tonite It Shows", the second track, continues with the cinematic type of sound. Oboe, clarinet, harp, and pizzicato strings are pretty different for a singer-songwriter type of sound. I liked the album the more that I listened to it. I don't love the timbre of the singers voice, which is something I really hate saying. It simply doesn't grab my ears enough for me to want to listen again after a song finishes. It's not terrible or anything, but I think it's just a little bit uninteresting. The overall sound is nice though and I can tell that there was a lot of effort put into all of the little details on the record. If this was a simple singer-songwriter indie rockish sort of record then it would be a 2/5 for me but production and arrangement bumps it to a 3/5.
So shimmery.
Lovely artsy alt rock sound, feels like the laying of tracks for the weirder alt rock of the 2000s
On flirte avec les Flaming Lips ici. Je crois bien avoir déjà entendu la pièce Holes. Ça ouvre bien l'album. Ça se gâche par contre avec l'exploration avec la scie qui devient parfois très agaçante. Pour le reste, il y a d'autres bons moments (comme Goddess on a Hiway), mais la production me dérange parfois. Après avoir lu sur le groupe, je suis plus intrigué d'aller écouter les premiers albums que de réécouter cet album qui est très inégal.
ok mas nada de mais
Yeah, it was fine
Quite pretty. I like the lyrics, but not so keen on the Flaming Lips style vocals. Very mellow.
Liked this. Didn't love it. So like 3.5 but not 4. And since 3.5 isn't an option I'ma round down on this one.
I hear the Flaming Lips comparisons that a lot of people have made, but yeah... not as good.
Part ‘90s alternative part turn of the shoegaze there’s some real interesting stuff going on here. It’s struggles with being interesting enough throughout the run time.
3.5/5
first listen quirky and chambery, but also boring?
Not my favorite, had a hard time getting into it
I enjoyed this. Interesting and eclectic. 3 stars.
Rock-pop alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Nice music, very ethereal sounding and soothing
I like that album. Very much a mellower Flaming Lips that highlights the best parts.
Un d'aquests discos suposadament obres mestres i que no passen de ser un meritori exercici d'art des de la depressió. La voluntat i el que envolta els objectius del disc solen encumbrar-lo més enllà del que realment és: un bon disc de psicodèlia noventera, amb una veu molt característica, uns arranjaments amb classe i dos grans temes, 'Opus 40' i 'Goddess on a Higway'
pretty groovy
Apparently the similarity to The Flaming Lips I was hearing was no coincidence, since Donahue was a former member. I want to like this because the music seems deep and meaningful, but the wandering vocal delivery and doofy orchestration are irritating.
Really liked the first song, definitely has some Sparklehorse and Flaming Lips vibes. However much of the other songs are kind of misses for me, not sure I loved the execution. I dig the concept though.
This is so good 4 for "Holes" and "I Collect Coins" "Endlessly" was pretty good too 3
The list described this as Neil Young fronting Pink Floyd, but to me it sounds more like sad, somber Flaming Lips. Dece.
As a 90's alternative fan, this just fit my sensibilities. How had I never heard this band/album before? The question behind the album's sound... what would a late 90's alternative band on an asteroid belt mining rig sound like? It's belter music influenced by some mixed tapes salvaged a passed down that contains Nirvana, Jane's Addition, Moist, and Chemical Brothers.
Good composition. This album was similar to flaming lips with some composition through in
This was not what I was expecting. I had in my mind that Mercury Rev were the kind of boring, semi-corporate quasi-indie band that proliferated int he late 90s and early 2000s, and with which I was (and continue to be) bored by. But, when I started playing this record, I recognized the songs Holes, which si a a woozier, more interesting song than I was expecting. The connections to te Flaming Lips are significant, and this album (jin many ways) was the first of that late 90s softly psychedelic, quirky rock (possibly twee?) that followed,d especially centred around the production of Dave Friedman (flamings Lips, Tame Impala, Pond, etc). I liked some of the records that followed more than this, but I can see how this was instrumental in breaking the way through and showing that music like this could be commercially viable. I admire that they made it for themselves, as this was highly unfashionable at the time, personal, and quirky. It certainly did not resemble much on the charts at the time Some critics have accused this of having some strong songs (Holes, Opus 40, Goddess on the Hiway), and some filler. I don't mind the "filler". It's different and weirdly produced, even if somewhat unmemorable. I really am on the line of 3 or 4 starts, but, in my heart of hearts, I wished this rocked just a little more, and his voice gets on my tit after a while, , so I am putting it in as a three, on the understanding that this is clear 3.5.
Can't say I feel too special for pointing out how eerily they sound to Flaming Lips, from the etheral instrumental to vocal style. I wouldn't question it if you told me "Holes" was actually Flaming Lips. It's a lovely dreamy style for us fans of traditional pop and chamber pop. The songs were memorable and pleasant, especially with all the unique strings and other instruments (a saw?) The instrumental tracks were decent interludes to divide the experience. I was only impressed by two tracks. Besides the unique instruments, the lackluster performer failed to satiate me, especially when compared to the crazy psychedelia of Flaming Lips. I do appreciate their efforts to get wild in "The Funny Bird." I would enjoy listening to this again, especially as background music.
Not too bad. Not too good. Would listen to if on