DoublePlays: All Is Dream/Deserter's Songs

Artist: Mercury Rev
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2
EAN: 5033197277424
ASIN: B00023XXAE

Release Date: 2006-10-17

DoublePlays: All Is Dream/Deserter's Songs

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Noise

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Rock

| Imports | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Dark Is Rising
Tides of the Moon
Chains
Lincoln's Eyes
Nite and Fog [Album Version]
Little Rhymes
Drop in Time
You're My Queen
Spiders and Flies
Hercules

Tracks:

Holes
Tonite It Shows
Endlessly
I Collect Coins
Opus 40
Hudson Line
Happy End (The Drunk Room)
Goddess on a Hiway
Funny Bird
Pick up If You're There
Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp

Album Description

Import exclusive two CD set combines the critically acclaimed alternative pop act's 1998 & 2001 albums.

Customer Reviews:

All is dreamy in "Songs".......2005-05-15

Mercury Rev is not like other rock bands. Nowhere to be found is either punky catchiness or moody depression, that bands like Travis and the Futureheads have made a living off of. Instead, as shown in the "Deserter's Songs/All Is Dream" two pack, they prefer symphonic rock'n'roll with a fairy tale twist.

"Deserters' Song" is their crowning jewel so far: a dark, bluesy album full of dreams, moonlit sands, leaving behind the city, and love that you're losing. None of that sounds terribly interesting -- that's where the music kicks in. A delicate, expansive, polished sound, full of epic sound sweeps, smashing drums and bass, and mournful vocal calls, although it's broken by a by some lo-fi pop, and an acid-jazzy song.

"All Is Dream" is an appropriate name for the follow-up. It's not as expansive and impressive as the previous album, eschewing epic misery in favor of a fantastical, happier pop sound. Eerie sound effects echo over the tight melodies, and the songs are less grounded in reality -- there are vague visions of running over "snakelike" paths, constellations, pharoahs, dragons and much more.

Mercury Rev is one of those bands that really can't be compared to anything but itself. The closest I can come to a comparison is that they sound like the soundtrack to an unusually good fantasy movie. While they occasionally have dud moments (what is up with the acid jazz and twee pop?), most of the time they are spot-on.

Which one is better? It depends on the standards. Some may prefer the expansive, melancholy sound of "Songs," while others might love the fantasy edge of "All Is Dream," despite its less epic sound. Both are definitely above standard, however, with exquisitely complex music and well-written songwriting.

Basic instruments like guitar, bass, piano and drums are backed up with everything needed to create that eerie, epic sound: chamberlin strings, mellotron, wurtlitzer, harpsichord, flute and clarinet. But be forewarned: Jonathan has a high, somewhat nasal voice that isn't quite in tune with the music. It takes some getting used to.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music

Heatwave ~ Gregg Karukas

Verve Jazz Masters 36 ~ Gerry Mulligan

Open Window ~ David Darling

Dutch Masters

Attraction ~ Paris Combo

Alma Alma ~ Yulduz Usmanova

Fete Foraine and Cirque: 1928-1954 ~ Various Artists

Master Series, Vol. 2 ~ Eddy Mitchell

Oka Surfer ~ Hekireki

Rail ~ New Cinema Tokage