The Undercover Review

Mercury Rev's last album "Deserter's Songs" so one of the surprise albums of the year. The more you listened, the deeper it got. Mercury Rev came from a different influential direction. Neil Young is their role model but from the ballad Neil perspective. Think of Neil doing "Philadelphia" or "Tonight's the Night" and you have the Mercury Rev template.

"The Dark Is Rising" grabs you the moment Jonathan Donahue's haunting fractured falsetto vocals begin. "Tides Of The Moon" take it one step further with a Crazy Horse like guitar solo punctuating throughout. Into "Chains" and Mercury Rev launches into band mode, but all along maintaining the distinctive vocal line of Donahue. "Chains"' gets classical as well. Mercury Rev would be an interesting band to do the symphony orchestra number.

"Lincoln's Eyes" starts with an operatic vocal then Jonathan's vocal backed by piano before this wave from the rest of the band builds to replace him.

"Nite and Fog" is the first dose of trad rock but away from their trademark sound Mercury Rev as a rock act just doesn't work. "Little Rhymes" takes us back between the lines and has a nice bass line lead that flows through the song. If Neil Young sang lead on a U2 song, this would be the result.

"A Drop In Time" is almost stage show and "You're My Queen" reverts to the dreamtime. "Spiders And Flies" is back to the piano / Philadelphia Younglike ballad.

The final moment combines all things great about Mercury Rev. The epic "Hercules" clocks in at just over 7 minutes but builds from the tender beginnings to a powerful art rock conclusion.

- Paul Cashmere

Track Listing
1 The Dark Is Rising
2 Tides Of The Moon
3 Chains
4 Lincoln's Eyes
5 Nite And Fog
6 Little Rhymes
7 A Drop In Time
8 You're My Queen
9 Spiders And Flies
10 Hercules

Label

Zomba