Mercury Rev "Deserter's Songs" (1998)
Another of those "I knew the band-name but not the music" situations.
Apparently this isn't necessarily the album to start on with this band
as it was a bit of a departure from their previous albums. It's baroque
pop with a range of interesting rock and orchestral instrumentation (right up my alley).
The book makes comparisons to the Beach Boys, and while that is usually
made as a lazy comparison to say they have nice vocal harmonies (I
should know, I've used the reference myself at times), this is actually
quite reminiscent of Brian Wilson's sonic experimentation in "Pet
Sounds" and "Smile".
Another comparison made was Neil Young Singing
over Pink Floyd... true, vocalist Jonathan Donahue does have a similar
voice to Young and the music does have a Floydish vibe in places. I'd
add a third reference to the pot, Flaming Lips. Donahue's high, clean
vocals over such progressive, swirling pop can't help but bare a
resemblance to that other innovative art pop group.
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