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Amazon.co.uk Review
That Mercury Rev avoided a messy, chemically-assisted burnout in the middle of the 1990s is remarkable; that they should return in 1998 with an album as fine as Deserter's Songs is almost unfeasible. But working by the old adage that "what does not kill us makes us stronger", Deserter's Songs is an album of unparalleled scope. Drawing on the legacy of America's pioneers and the nascent scenes of folk-rock and psychedelia, Mercury Rev have formed a living, breathing piece of heritage. "Holes" is dizzied in America's vast scope, and warmed by woodwind instruments, mellotrons and a Wurlitzer organ. It sounds like a beautiful climax, but it's only the first song, and there's better to come, what with the weathered "Goddess On A Hiway" and "Opus 40". Deserter's Songs is one of the essential American albums at the end of the 1990s. It's hard to see that they--or anyone--can top it. --Louis Pattison
Review
Given their current position in the music industry picture as main stage players at the world’s most highly regarded festivals, it’s easy to forget just how from out of nowhere Deserter’s Songs was. NME’s album of the year in 1998, its makers hadn’t registered on many radars with the preceding See You on the Other Side, and the disappointing performance of said 1995 album had left vocalist Jonathan Donahue, fronting the group for the first time, in a dark place. He couldn’t have predicted how their next long-player would be received.
Deserter’s Songs emerged with little initial fanfare, but soon its beautiful constituent pieces – shimmering psychedelic pop, immersive indie-rock, spectacularly engrossing passages of sumptuous instrumentation – pricked ears in the direction of the New Yorkers. As a whole, the album doesn’t actually hang together that brilliantly – 2001’s All Is Dream is arguably better conceived – but when you’ve got stand-alone songs like Holes, Opus 40, Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp, The Funny Bird and the gorgeous Goddess on a Hiway in your aural arsenal, who cares that the comparative filler’s not quite up to scratch?
Of the aforementioned offerings, opener Holes sets a fine tone for the best of what follows – woozy, romantic, achingly earnest in its fine articulating of deep emotions, it’s the sort of precedent-setting song that ends many a band’s (reputedly) finest album with the very first track. But there’s better to come here, amazingly, the pinnacle of the record’s impressive pulling on the heartstrings arriving with Goddess on a Hiway. Listening a decade after its original release, its impact hasn’t dimmed in the slightest, Donahue’s plaintive cry that “I know it ain’t gonna last” stirring something untouched by the majority of allegedly affecting outfits, something sitting in the very depths of the soul. It’s a stunning track, still – relatively rudimentary of verse-chorus-verse arrangement, but captivating of execution. It remains Mercury Rev’s most vital recording.
That line – “I know it ain’t gonna last” – could have heralded the end of the band. So disillusioned were they with the reception of See You on the Other Side that Deserter’s Songs was released as something of a swan song. How plans changed: as a direct result of subsequent across-the-board acclaim, Mercury Rev were elevated to mainstream status and have enjoyed considerable exposure ever since. This collection is more than a catalogue classic – it’s the catalyst for a career that might never have been. --Mike Diver
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"What was all that about?"was my first reaction when I heard this album, I couldn't believe how hyped it was.But as experience has taught me before the best albums are the ones you initially hate so I listened a few more times still not really getting it,but on the umpteenth listen I started to notice it's charms no longer was the lead singers voice annoying and with each subsequent listen it get's better and better and I even like the odd incidental tracks which litter the album, this now ranks alongside OK computer and Moon Safari as one of my favourite albums.It also has the strangest hidden track i've ever heard at the end and I love that too.Play this one full blast with the window open and look at the bewildered faces on people walking past.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an album that you hear and say "they can't be serious, can they?" as you listen to the singer's strangely cartoon like voice and impossibly twee mellotrons and ultra high strings. It's only when you listen to the complex orchestrations that you begin to realise this band is indeed serious. "Deserters Songs" sounds like candy but tastes like something darker, giving us glimpses of an american landscape full of despair, humour and hope. It's an emotional ride, and has the feeling of albums like OK Computer and Achtung Baby, that drift along and leave hundreds of layers of meaning, saying far more than they suggest but never appearing to be pretentiously profound. It even ends with a good ol' downhome footbanger in Delta Blues Stomp, that lifts the spirit and leaves you with a reflective, exciting and technically superb album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Not sure how you explain this CD to people not familiar with Mercury Rev. Brilliant, Innovative, Defined, Inspirational, Refreshing............all would be appropriate adjectives. But that still doesn't get across the true essence of the Band.
My introduction to MR was the track "Holes" which was on a compilation disc given away with a music magazine. It sounded so different and enchanting that I had to explore them more.
When I bought and listened to this CD, I was completely taken aback by the sheer beauty and uniqueness of their approach to writing and producing.
Jonathan Donahue has a voice that often sounds as if he is about to go off key but never does. He keeps an edgy side to his vocals that make you feel both uneasy and consumed at the same time. Quite simply it works so well with the material they write. And what material.
The songs and arrangements on this CD are sumptuous and beauty personified. It really takes you by the hand and leads you to another land........zone even. The unusual instrumentation, at times sounding like ethereal garden saws crying in the wind of some enchanted forest. I told you it wasn't easy to describe.
This is music on a much larger and grander stage. It is almost like a fairy tale melding with high class ballet. Close your eyes and it does far more for the imagination than any mind warping drugs. Absolutely brilliant.
This is the sort of escapism that really makes you forget stress, bad times or sad times. Each track unfolds into something magical. I cannot rate this CD highly enough. This should be in everybody's collection.
My introduction to MR was the track "Holes" which was on a compilation disc given away with a music magazine. It sounded so different and enchanting that I had to explore them more.
When I bought and listened to this CD, I was completely taken aback by the sheer beauty and uniqueness of their approach to writing and producing.
Jonathan Donahue has a voice that often sounds as if he is about to go off key but never does. He keeps an edgy side to his vocals that make you feel both uneasy and consumed at the same time. Quite simply it works so well with the material they write. And what material.
The songs and arrangements on this CD are sumptuous and beauty personified. It really takes you by the hand and leads you to another land........zone even. The unusual instrumentation, at times sounding like ethereal garden saws crying in the wind of some enchanted forest. I told you it wasn't easy to describe.
This is music on a much larger and grander stage. It is almost like a fairy tale melding with high class ballet. Close your eyes and it does far more for the imagination than any mind warping drugs. Absolutely brilliant.
This is the sort of escapism that really makes you forget stress, bad times or sad times. Each track unfolds into something magical. I cannot rate this CD highly enough. This should be in everybody's collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
BEAUTY
Mercury Rev are one of the coolest bands ever and this album is lovely.God this soundtracked my numerous hangovers,comedowns and heartaches when i was younger and was popular with... Read more
Published 13 months ago by mister joe
Pretty much the happiest album in the world.
So yeah, this is pretty much the happiest album in the whole world. Any fan of the Flaming Lips, or the Polyphonic Spree or anything in that area will definitely love this.
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by C. Hay
10-year anniversary for 1998 masterpiece (9/10)
Mercury Rev's 1998 album was undoubtably a turning point, a massively influencial re-envisioning of the pop-rock form that inspired countless imitators. Read more
Published on 24 April 2008 by Demob Happy
A Perfect Record
It can suit any mood, any time of day, any age group, etc. This really is one of best records of the past 20 years. No doubt about it. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2007 by G. Davies
How does that ol' song go.....
Arrived hear via The Flaming Lips & now I don't wish to desert this box of delights for some time.... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2007 by There'd be plenty of stars And not too many
Brilliant
It takes a while to get used to the voice, but when you do it takes you places. I equate MR songs with a favourite book, every time you go back to them you enjoy them and you find... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2006 by Georgi
Very pleasant change
It is nice to find that there are people making music out there which isn't entirely based upon post-punk cranked up guitars. Read more
Published on 18 July 2006 by Robert O. Davidson
It's a dream!
Yep, Mercury Rev are one of those bands for the small hours, perfectly capturing that hazy state inbetween conciousness and sleep. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2005 by Elliot Davies
a stonewall classic from 1998...
I considered it my duty to write a review of this album in order to boost its overall star rating which is low due to some clueless numpties slagging it off. Shame on you! Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2005 by "dimorphodon"
Buy some old Supertramp instead...
This is a sad place for a once great and original band to end up. 'See You On The Other Side' hinted at the bad things to come, but managed to maintain a modicum of dignity. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2004 by N. Barnden
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