All Is Dream

09/20/2001 8:36 PM, Yahoo! Music
Rob O'Connor

Producer Jack Nietzche died before he could deliver to the band his scores for several tracks. Instead, glam-rock producer Tony Visconti (Bowie, T Rex) added his input and one of the only psychedelic band to still have a major label record deal went to town for the grandiose follow-up to their surprise 1998 hit Deserter's Songs. Strings, mellotrons, rolling thunder drums suggesting troops marching through thick fog, thick wafts of reverb, warbling falsetto vocals, organs and pianos, and even the standard rock rhythm section combine for an album that takes full advantage of what the recording studio has to offer.

Much like the Flaming Lips, with whom they've shared comparisons and producers over the years, Mercury Rev seem doomed to cult status since they lack a singer who can take charge and sing on pitch. But as long as they keep all their balls in the air with confounding arrangements ("Tides Of The Moon" shimmers without the light show), their ever-swarming cult won't notice. It's a nice cult and you should consider joining.