Deserter’s Songs
Price: $16.99 - Amazon Music Unlimited
(as of Nov 04, 2024 04:43:13 UTC – Details)
A touching, majestic gem of a record, DESERTER’S SONGS raises the bar not just for Mercury Rev themselves, but orchestrated pop in general. There’s a timelessness to both the compositions and the arrangements here. Grand sonic visions are realized with horns, keyboards, strings, even a bowed saw! No matter how big the sound gets, though, it’s all carefully controlled, and the cinematic scope enhances the songs, rather than obscuring them. Simple-but never blunt-lyrics benefit from an infectious melodicism that speaks to the pop songcraft skills Mercury Rev has mastered. The sweeping scale of DESERTER’S SONGS never denies the small, intimate pleasures that pop up from song to song, as the band combines psychedelia, ’60s pop, Flaming Lips-ish indie rock and a homey folk-rock sound (the Band’s Garth Hudson and Levon Helm even appear here) for a masterpiece of epic proportions. V2.
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 4.92 x 5.63 x 0.39 inches; 3.6 ounces
Manufacturer : Pias
Item model number : 7937661
Original Release Date : 2006
Date First Available : June 1, 2008
Label : Pias
ASIN : B0000246KA
Number of discs : 1
13 reviews for Deserter’s Songs
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Late Night Reviews –
Masterpiece, with Saw
From the first notes of this record you know that you are listening to something new and unique, to wit, a saw. Who else has put the saw to such exquisite use in popular music? OPUS 40 is a rock sculpture near Woodstock, NY, created by a sole man over a lifetime’s work in his backyard. My girlfriend took me to that place ten years ago. How nice to see it remembered here in a song by the same name. That is one of the more traditional songs on this record, but I’m drawn to the odder ones upon repeated listenings. Impossible to categorize, unique, strangely affecting, this is the band’s breakout record and masterpiece, although “Secret Migration” comes close.
Christopher B. Eddy –
a modern classic every music lover should hear
A classic of the era. If you’ve never heard this album, but love smart, textured, atmospheric and experimental pop music (Beatles, Xtc, early Floyd, nick drake, swervedriver, oasis, jellyfish, beach boys, Eric Matthews. Etc) buy this record today, right now. I can’t believe I missed out on it so long – best record I’ve heard in ages. A modern classic.
ann H S –
My daughter-in-law loves it!
A birthday present for my daughter-in-law & she was so excited to get it. She loves vinyl LPâs & Amazon always has what she likes.
Jonathan –
Itâs probably just me but itâs not quite as good as I remembered it being.
Itâs not as shoe-gaze-ish as I remember. Not a bad record just not what was in my head. I suppose 24 years will do that. Still Opus 40 is great but a remaster would make the dynamic theatricality of it more impressive.
Starla B –
It’s Mercury Rev of course it’s badass. Great Album!
One of the greatest
joey mathews –
Five Stars
Such a good album. Was pleasantly surprised to see them re-release this on vinyl. It did not disappoint!
Amazon Customer –
ypuneedthis
dang
Dad of Steve –
Even better than expected.
Heard these guys on The Mansion of Fun on Sirius. Turned out to be as good as a “Best of” CD. Start to finish.
Pedro –
Producto de calidad. Tuve un problema con el envÃo y me lo solucionaron muy rápido y de maravilla
Hafsaoui –
c’est un album très réussi avec une certaine mélancolie dans beaucoup de titresmais très mélodique et agréable a écouter et réécouter sans se lasser caril se dégage une belle énergie de ce disque.
Federicoð –
Monumento artistico di rilievo ed importanza è Deserter’s Song dei Mercury Rev.Suonando il rock psichedelico, la band,lo arricchisce di melodia incantevole e dream Pop, che sfocia in un universo fiabesco dove il biglietto per entrarci è proprio una canzone del disertore, che in questo caso abbandona la vita umana, per immergersi profondamente in quella dei sogni e delle fiabe.Un grazie ad Amazon che tratta in maniera impeccabile i propri clienti, facendo arrivare i CD nei tempi stabiliti e in ottimo stato.
KaleHawkwood –
With the presence on a couple of tracks of The Band’s Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, and a distinct Americana feel to it, this is a key ’90s album, and almost unique in the spell it casts if you’re in the mood for it. I seem always to play it in the evening by candlelight. It’s good for what ails you. Sometimes it’s the only thing I want to hear.You’re going to either buy into Jonathan Donahue’s deceptively fey little-boy vocals or not, but they are all of a piece with songs that flirt with tweeness but come out fighting too. His singing grows on you, like soft moss, and the eclectic choice of instruments throughout is heartening and a rare pleasure.Holes is a compelling opening track, but the song which startles immediately is Goddess on a Hiway, with its catchy verse leading into powerful chorus:An’ I know, it ain’t gonna lastAn’ I know, it ain’t gonna lastOther singers have their moments too, including Amy Helm, Marie Spinosa, Mary Gavazzi Fridmann, and Joel Eckhouse plays a mean bowed saw.The Funny Bird is another highlight, as is The Happy End – but really this 1998 album is like a suite of songs with a mood and atmosphere as beguiling as it is hypnotic.I listen to it when I need to ~ it’s that kind of album ~ but when I do, it’s like visiting an old and trusted friend, who places a calming hand on my head and lulls me to a mildly exotic, ancient place of calm and inevitable peace. In its way it is quite beautiful.Endlessly fascinating, musically therapeutic, grows on you like moist moss.
Dietmar Müller –
Die Bestellung wurde recht schnell ausgeliefert. Qualität der Ware entsprach den Internetangaben. Es gab meinerseits keine Kritik.Diesen Händler kann ich nur weiterempfehlen.