yerself is steam

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anus dust or lovely like loveliness?

― Dave, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Still utter fractured brilliance, but you know... really, not as good as BOCES.

― masonic boom, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No babe, "Yerself Is Steam" outclasses by a fair buttfuck. I mean "Girlfren", baby; not what I want to hear any time of the week, no siree bob.

― Dave, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Girlfren' ? Give me a break, that is the one imperfect song on an otherwise CLASSIC album. Come on... the amazing flute-intro to Rockette's Kick, through Trickle Down and Bronx Cheer... I have *never* heard such a strong three opening tracks for an album, it grabs you by the throat and sucks you in.

Doo doo do do do dooo yeah! yeah! yeah! yeah! yeah!

Yerself Is Steam is a nice debut album, an interesting exploration, but it is NOT the magnificence that is BOCES.

― masonic boom, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

oh well.

― Dave, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm a fan of Mercury Rev: Deserters' Songs. Perfect songs to sit in the county side at night and watch the road .........

What a beautiful album.

I hope they don't muck it up on the new one.

― ty@hotmail.com, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

_BOCES_ always felt like _Yerself_ redux more than anything else -- there are some wonderful songs on it, like "Boys Peel Out," but it still couldn't quite escape the other's shadow. "Very Sleepy Rivers"? Freakin' majestic. In contrast, whatever ended _BOCES_ sounds...nice, but nothing more.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah, yer all on crack! Yerself was a dress rehearsal for BOCES. Deserters is nice, but it's got way too much filler, and it just seems to be missing the out-and-out madness of the earlier work, which I thought was pushed the band beyond merely good into brilliant.

Have been very impressed by Rev spin-off, Hopewell. They seem to have the pastoral attitude of Deserters, but capture some of the zaniness. A bit Spiritualized, as well. Though someone compared the singer's voice to Wayne Coyne and now I can't help but think he sounds like an insect... weex.

― masonic boom, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Excellent album. Their best. The vocalist always reminded me of Howe Gelb of Giant Sand.

― bnw, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm with Ned on this one: Boces, really nice one, but after Yerself's astonishing entrance as a debut album, it couldn't feel but a bit more of the same, really... So, for Yerself the verdict will be: lovely as anus dust, my favorite piece of sparkling out-rock weirdness of its period. I mean, all the other MM/Everett True weirdo pets: Pavement, Truman's Water... pshh! And on vinyl it comes in a vivid shade of blue!

― Janne Vanhanen, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hey, don't be knocking Trumans Water -- I actually had a chance to meet the guys a few times and hang out at their house. And they put on some freakin' hilarious shows. But as good as they were, the Rev was better -- though they both beat on Pavement's skinny butt, methinks. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Frittering', or 'Frittered' or whatever it's called. The sound of Everton winning crushing FA Cup semi-final victories on April afternoons.

― the pinefox, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yrself is steam is majestic, absolutely superb, esp frittering, stands up to just about anything from the 90s.

boces is excellent too, but can be a bit patchy, but much of it is as good as yrself.

but what about see you on the other side? that too is wonderful, particularly the incredible everlasting arm, which is everything a lysergic showtune should be.

deserters songs is THE most overrated album i've heard, and quite possibly the most disappointing too. how did all that frazzled magic disappear? mercury rev are quite possibly the best band i've ever seen live, but, at bowlie weekender 99, they were the worst, most tedious band i've ever seen, john lennon covers and jamming are not necessary.

― gareth, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

See You On The Other Side: = worst album *ever*.

It nearly turned me off the Rev for good. Maybe I should dig it out and give it another chance, but it never *stuck* to my record player like the others did. A Mercury Rev album should grab your stereo and take it over and refuse to let you play anything else for weeks. See You was merely "eh" and I moved to the next record in the pile.

And BTW, Mercury Rev *PISS* on Pavement. From a GRATE HITE!!!

― masonic boom, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I haven't seen the Rev live, but tv appearances and the like (circa "deserters songs") were pretty bad. "Goddess On A Hiway" is fairly horrificly performed. "Holes" on the other hand, quite facking nice, and with the sight of bubbles all around.

― Dave, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Saturday 9th April 1995, is that, Reynard?

― Robin Carmody, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've seen Mercury Rev twice. Once was supporting Ride in 1992, and then they were brilliant. Like on Yerself, only louder and even more fucked up. The second time was at Glastonbury 1999 and then they were pure wank. Reminded me of the Eagles for fucks sake. Not that suprising, given the mediocre nature of Deserter's Songs, but they even managed to make Chasing A Bee and Frittering sound shit. Bastards.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Sunday, 10 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You'll have to consult with Steady Mike, I think.

― the pinefox, Sunday, 10 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

richard. 1992.

they didn't by any chance do a cover of the specials' ghost town did they?

― gareth, Monday, 11 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not at the gig I was at (Portsmouth Guildhall). It's a shame, because it sounds as though it would have been great.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Monday, 11 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

they did however cover galaxie 500's tugboat on that PRECISE occasion didn't they? ohmagad...

― cw, Monday, 11 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Classic of course. Probably their best, although parts of Boces and See your on the other side come close. Seen them 3 times live, 2 times was sheer madness and utter genius, 3rd time (circa DS) they suddenly became a pro-band, a very good pro-band, but they used to be so beautiful.

― Omar, Tuesday, 12 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"See You On The Other Side: = worst album *ever*."

Wow, really? I honestly liked it, to the point that my Mercury Rev collecting began and ended right there. But after this thread, I am running right out get get all the others. Well, okay, after dinner maybe.

― jenny, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And on vinyl it comes in a vivid shade of blue!

Hmm... I recall the one we had in my college station as being like this clearish pink color. Maybe it was a different printing or something...

― bnw, Wednesday, 13 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I really liked See You on the Other Side. Packed full of noise and sound, it kept growing beyond itself. What a loud record. I saw them play "Deserter's Songs" at Bowery Ballroom and was less than impressed - they were all on Rohypnol or something.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 14 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

four months pass...

Saw the Rev play last night after they'd completely fallen off my radar post-Boces. How things have changed from the deranged volatile group that blew me away supporting Sprititualized in 92. Polished Wilson-esque pop-songs, two key-board players, Donahue's kooky vocals and only flashes of genius from Grasshopers guitar.

Had me thinking that the white knuckle ride intensity of the first line-up must have been impossible to maintain. David Baker looked like he'd been let out of psychiatric hospital for the occassion. 'Yerself is Steam' is a work of manic genius, a luminous record. 'Boces' could never be as good but came pretty damn close. My question for the ILM massive have I missed anything I really should hear post-Boces?

― stevo, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Everything. They just can't do most of the stuff well in concert. At all.

― David, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm in the vocal minority of "Boces" being the best of the bunch. They somehow nailed a really good pop rock sense here... "Something For Joey" is an amazing tune.

― Brian MacDonald, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stevo, i would say See You On The Other Side is also very necessary, after that? well, blah...

David, live 93-95 they were untouchable, even better than on record. after that, tedious rock, even worse than on record

― gareth, Sunday, 28 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah what Gareth said. On both counts btw. Although I would say from 91 to 95 they were untouchable live and indeed even better than on record.

― Omar, Monday, 29 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

what Omar said, i said 93 rather than 91 because i hadn't seen them until 93, although i'm sure they were just as good at that time

― gareth, Monday, 29 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

bugger, i saw them support Ride in march92 (and got in trouble for sciving off school for it!)

― gareth, Monday, 29 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Yerself Is Steam is a classic debut disc. Mind blowing really, when you think about it. Boces is in the same class, more experimental perhaps, but a shade behind it. See You On the Other Side was great too, but not up to the onslaught of the 1st 2. All of their stuff is great, IMO.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Friday, 14 March 2003 03:42 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't got boces, but i love everything else they've done ( i must concede, though, all is dream is quite a bit behind the rest). yerself is steam remains astonishing: so much noise and beauty.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 14 March 2003 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with John on this one. Kilian, if you like Yerself is Steam, you owe it to yourself to get Boces, it's just as good.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Friday, 14 March 2003 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Absolutely brill. I miss David Baker.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 14 March 2003 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

he did a solo album, didn't he? is he still making music?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 14 March 2003 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, and boces is generally cheap, so i'll pick it up soon...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 14 March 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Boces is another great and unjustly maligned record.

I always like the way the rest of Mercury Rev talk about Baker - they say "we never want to meet him again, but we admire him as an artist and he is responsible for much of what is good about this band".

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 14 March 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish Baker would do some more with his life -- there was the Shady album, some production for Comet, and that was about it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 14 March 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Shady was a bit spotty, but i still spin it every now and then.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 14 March 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

U R all gay! BOCES still ROXORS!!!

I listened to it the other night while jogging and doo-doo-doo-do-do-DOO YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH is fantastic for powering right through Kings Cross at rush hour. Heh.

― kate, Friday, 14 March 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

Oh my, I made a huge mistake with Yerself is Steam.
I found a cheap used copy of it for a few bucks a couple years, listened to the first few tracks, wasn't that impressed, and didn't listen to it again.

Admittedly, the first few tracks still haven't grabbed me, but starting at the fourth song ("Blue and Black") on, fucking fantastic. "Frittering" may be one my favorite new (<to me) songs I've heard all year.

― Z S, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

I had pretty much given up Mercury Rev, but now I'm desperate to listen to Boces.

― Z S, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

Boces is great, barring one or two songs (I was never into Dave Baker's stuff). I may be in the minority that actually considers "See You On The Other Side" the best

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 18:44 (eighteen years ago)

Yerself might be (marginally) the best, but Meth Of A Rockette's Kick is in my view THE definitive, unconquerable Mercury Rev song. One of the best songs of the decade.

― Just got offed, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 18:48 (eighteen years ago)

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