Mercury Rev

Mercury Rev is an American rock group from Buffalo, United States, formed in 1989 and still active. The band’s line-up has included David Baker, Jonathan Donahue, Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak, Suzanne Thorpe, Dave Fridmann and Jimy Chambers, with later members including Marion Genser, Jason Sebastian Russo, Carlos Anthony Molina, Jeff Mercel and Paul Dillon.

The group begins in experimental and psychedelic rock, then moves towards a more melodic and orchestrated style. Its early recordings build a cult following, especially in the UK, while later work brings wider recognition. Mercury Rev is often associated with chamber pop, dream pop, experimental rock, indie pop, indie rock and neo-psychedelia.

Early releases and developing sound

The debut album, Yerself Is Steam, establishes the band’s underground reputation. The follow-up, Boces from 1993, draws critical attention for its alternative sound. After that record, Baker leaves the group following musical and personal disputes, and later records an album under the name Shady. With his departure, the band’s darker and more difficult edge recedes.

See You on the Other Side marks a transitional point, moving away from the extremes of sonic experimentation towards the more elaborate classic-rock framework that shapes later Mercury Rev material.

Rise in profile

Deserter’s Songs, released in 1998, becomes the band’s breakthrough and includes appearances by Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band. The album gains strong critical acclaim, and in the UK NME names it Album of the Year. It also produces three UK top 40 singles, helping Mercury Rev reach a much larger audience.

All Is Dream follows in 2001 and includes “The Dark Is Rising,” which reaches number 16 in the UK singles chart. The band’s sound at this stage is defined by Jonathan Donahue’s high-pitched vocals and a greater focus on concise, melodic songs.

Later work and related activity

The Secret Migration appears in 2005. In 2006 the group issues the compilation The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006 and the soundtrack album Hello Blackbird. In 2008 it releases Snowflake Midnight alongside Strange Attractor, a free MP3 album of instrumentals.

Mercury Rev also has close ties with The Flaming Lips. Soon after forming, Donahue joins The Flaming Lips as a second guitarist and appears on two of their albums, while Dave Fridmann co-produces every Flaming Lips studio album from In a Priest Driven Ambulance onwards except Transmissions from the Satellite Heart. In 2011 the band performs Deserter’s Songs in full at several UK festivals.