Issue #54 - August/September 2015 - CHVRCHES
The Light in You
Bella Union
Sep 18, 2015
Mercury Rev
We’ve been here before, countless times. A band whose heyday was a generation ago returns, sounding just as they did 15-20 years ago and dropping an evocation of just how wonderful that music we always loved was. This though, proves a double-edged sword as we realize that their music proved too influential and that every B-list indie band today has caught them up and made a career out of sounding like them. And we lament.
Or at least if we did, then Radiohead would be the only band critics liked (despite what you may believe, this is not the case). The Light in You is Mercury Rev’s first LP in seven years and few returns are more welcome.
After all, 1998’s Deserter’s Songs is one of the best, most underrated albums of its decade: that this isn’t much of a departure is probably a good thing, as the worst case scenario is that we get the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the band’s brilliance, which is more than welcome. But whisper it quietly: this might turn out to be even better.
Okay, the lyrics can be a touch trite at times, but that’s beside the point. Jonathan Donahue’s vocals are merely an ingredient in the sounds of the songs. The raucous funk of “Sunflower,” the light kaleidoscope of percussion on “Central Park East,” and the reverb-heavy vocals and strings on “Emotional Freefall” create pieces that go beyond songs and become soundscapes. Without losing their hooks and melodies, they are the sound of a summer breeze rippling over a cornfield, or dappled sunlight on a picturesque harbour.
These 11 tracks have been carefully honed over the last two years and it shows. Nothing—the moogs, the timpanis, the mandolins, chimes, bells, guitars, keys, and the rest—gets wasted here. The album is clearly painstakingly and expertly crafted, yet still sounds effortless. (www.mercuryrev.com)
Author rating: 8/10
Average reader rating: 9/10
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Comments
Submit your comment
June 28th 2018
2:38pm
This is a great article thank you for sharing!
July 2nd 2018
8:53am
I love this album. Although the lyrics may be tough, I still think this album us great!
September 27th 2018
9:00am
Great album - great story.
November 23rd 2018
8:03pm
Great article. Very informative.
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December 27th 2018
10:01am
Huge fan of this album. What Mercury did was nothing short of stellar! I seriously love it so much.
February 15th 2019
3:07pm
You took the words right out of my mouth ‘expertly crafted, yet still sounds effortless.’ Thanks for the read.
February 19th 2019
11:35am
I was a huge fan of Mercury Rev back in the day. I was super excited when this album came out to hear them back at their top form.
February 22nd 2019
12:55pm
Love this album. Always dug their reverb-heavy vocals and use of strings.
February 26th 2019
12:18pm
Still one of the greatest albums of all time!
March 12th 2019
2:57pm
Love this album, so beautiful! carpet cleaning Medicine Hat, Alberta
March 23rd 2019
6:12pm
Good album, thanks for sharing
April 5th 2019
12:14pm
Nice review! Thanks for sharing.
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April 17th 2019
12:30pm
I love this review! Very honest. Hope you continue doing the same to the rest!
April 30th 2019
6:51pm
Great comeback album
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May 5th 2019
3:18pm
Great album thanks for sharing!
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May 6th 2019
3:28pm
Great, insightful post! Thanks
May 13th 2019
1:40pm
Thank you!
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May 13th 2019
1:41pm
Wonderful content :)
May 13th 2019
1:43pm
Great stuff here!
May 13th 2019
2:01pm
This is a great album. Thanks for sharing!
May 15th 2019
8:31pm
This is actually a great album/musician, I’d highly recommend you guys check them out!
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May 20th 2019
12:15pm
Great review!
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May 21st 2019
8:53am
Have listened to your songs and they are awesome! :)
May 21st 2019
9:48pm
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May 30th 2019
12:15pm
Still one of my favorite bands out there. Thanks for this amazing review!
June 2nd 2019
9:13pm
This was a great read. Thank you again for continuing to post articles like this
June 3rd 2019
7:34am
The mercury needs added focus in regard to ability to support life, and so will other planets.
June 4th 2019
12:48pm
Great album review!
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June 5th 2019
7:46am
All the hardwork for making this music for 2 years is so worth it! Congratulations to all those people behind this success. :)
June 7th 2019
9:33am
Nice article! we have the same rate. Keep it up!
June 7th 2019
9:36am
Nice article! we have the same rate. Keep it up!
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June 14th 2019
11:22am
Nice album review!
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June 14th 2019
3:16pm
Love this album! Bug Bros Hutchinson
June 19th 2019
10:28am
Thank you for this wonderful post! :)
June 24th 2019
3:56pm
Love their sound. Older music was always so much better.
June 24th 2019
3:59pm
Love their sound. Older music was always so much better.
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June 24th 2019
5:40pm
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June 28th 2019
9:11am
Great album, I am pretty sure everybody will love this music too.
June 28th 2019
3:54pm
The power of hard work combined with the power of great art speaks volumes here! Mega thankful!
June 28th 2019
3:55pm
The power of hard work combined with the power of great art speaks volumes here! Mega thankful! Mercury Rev deserves a lot of support.
June 30th 2019
4:13am
The Light in You-The line is really touching.Thanks for sharing.
June 30th 2019
12:58pm
Thanks for the post!
July 9th 2019
10:17am
You’ve shared us with your great information! Thanks
July 9th 2019
10:19am
You’ve shared us with your great information! Thanks
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July 11th 2019
5:56am
Waow this is quite pleasant article, my sister love to read such type of post, I am going to tell her and bookmarking this webpage. Thanks
July 16th 2019
4:15pm
Fantastic album! Thanks for the review.
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July 17th 2019
1:39pm
Great review! I love this album!
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July 18th 2019
10:27am
I absolutely loved this album. I can not wait for their new work to be released. It is going to be epic!
July 18th 2019
8:35pm
I watch their album in youtube yesterday and it was really cool. am not a great fan of them but songs are really impressive. Thank for sharing this. click here
July 31st 2019
10:37pm
Great album thanks lawn mowing service
August 1st 2019
9:36am
You have a nice information. Thanks!
August 6th 2019
2:08am
Mercury Rev’s album introduces its symphonic melodies which is the most affecting so far.
August 6th 2019
2:14am
Mercury Rev’s music after 7 years is like a piece of symphonic music which is most affecting to the listeners. social security card application
August 7th 2019
8:18am
My dad super loved their alvum
August 11th 2019
4:40am
Helpful article and really nicely explained so thanks a lot.
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August 11th 2019
4:41am
Helpful article and really nicely explained so thanks a lot.
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August 12th 2019
1:18pm
Great article, great read and most of all what an inspiring story. Ice Dams
August 12th 2019
10:32pm
Still one of the greats!
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August 13th 2019
8:01pm
The music is like a product of experimentation with a beautiful music as an end result.
August 14th 2019
8:03pm
Hey thanks!!
August 18th 2019
7:41pm
Love this album!
August 19th 2019
8:51am
While I like their symphonic attack in most songs, I also can find a psychedelic rock in their songs.
August 24th 2019
8:37pm
Hi Thanks!!!
August 25th 2019
9:41pm
I cannot believe this site is this amazing. Thanks for the great content!
August 30th 2019
12:48am
Hi! This website is so amazing!Very good webpage.thanks alot god blessed…
August 30th 2019
7:24pm
Mercury Rev was one of the best pieces of entetainment I had the pleasure of enjoying these past two weeks. Thansk for sharing and an extra thank you from the whole tree service company who I enjoyed this with. Love you guys!
August 30th 2019
7:29pm
Thanks for posting this I love you.
September 2nd 2019
10:58pm
This website has a good article and alot of content.thanks alot god blessed.
September 3rd 2019
12:31pm
Great post! Looking forward to your next album.
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September 4th 2019
9:21pm
This is great thanks!!!
September 5th 2019
12:02am
Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.
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September 11th 2019
3:42am
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September 11th 2019
2:03pm
Yes, Merucry Rev super good!! Good article.
September 14th 2019
7:23pm
Mercury Rev is one of my all time favorite bands! I will say Radiohead is the gold standard, though. This is a great article reviewing The Light In You, and I’ll make sure to play some of these great songs in my next Lubbock DJ set!
September 19th 2019
11:23am
This was definitely the band’s best album. I’m currently working on my own remix for ‘Sunflower’ to play at my next show. Check out <a >http://www.eventmastersdjservice.com</a>
September 25th 2019
7:46am
Loved Mercury Rev, glad they’re back
September 26th 2019
8:50am
This is perfect thanks
October 8th 2019
8:05am
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October 15th 2019
3:53pm
Just found Mercury Rev on Spotify after reading this article. Can’t wait to check them out on the drive home!
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October 16th 2019
9:39pm
Very informative and useful site. Thank you!
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October 20th 2019
4:44pm
This sounds like an amazing LP. Can’t wait to check it out!
November 6th 2019
4:52am
Thanks for your sincere post
November 6th 2019
4:55am
thanks for your great info.
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November 8th 2019
12:34pm
Great article, and great album. Thanks for reminding me of this!
November 18th 2019
10:30pm
This was an amazing album and what an amazing story.
November 20th 2019
10:49am
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November 20th 2019
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November 20th 2019
10:53am
Beautiful music! Great melodies and tunes.
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November 21st 2019
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Great album - this is great. Keep rocking.
November 29th 2019
5:59pm
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December 1st 2019
5:53am
Ah this album is just brilliant, huge mercury rev fan here.
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December 2nd 2019
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December 3rd 2019
4:49pm
This was a great album. Let alone when you know the story behind it.
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December 6th 2019
9:52am
What a great effort, good article.
December 8th 2019
10:08pm
Thanks for sharing, this was a great article.
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December 11th 2019
10:36am
A big fan of Mercury!
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December 11th 2019
8:25pm
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December 17th 2019
9:10am
This article is amazing
December 17th 2019
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