Mercury Rev

It would be easy to say they went downhill after David Baker left, but of course its not true- they made some classic records before Grasshopper mutated totally into Mickey Mouse and they disappeared up their own behind with the double impro lp.


The first I heard of them was in a Melody Maker live review, they played at the Mean fiddler before anyone knew who they were and the write up talked about this band who were playing this new kind of music that no rock band had played before. Then there was an interview where Davd Baker spoke of trying to make his vocals sound like Richard Harris in the Camelot musical. Of course you cant trust what you read in the musc press but I bought the ( blue vinyl ) product and both turned out to be close to the truth.


This clip has David Baker, stuffed animals - including a smoking lion but alas none of the Finsbury Park  bumble bees and is from one of those daft music shows were they booked out a venue, recorded the band then had them mime (maybe the vocals are live?) to an empty house...great idea team.

Mercury Rev: Something For Joey/ Bronx Cheer