Track Listing

1. Gratitude Walks
2. If I Had A Hammer
3. Challenger
4. I've Been A Mess
5. Hollywood 4 5 92
6. What Godzilla Said To God When His Name Wasn't...
7. Keep Me Around
8. Dallas Airports Bodybags
9. Apology For An Accident
10. Over And Done
11. Johnny Mathis' Feet
12. Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10000 Whores
13. More Hopes And Dreams
14. Will You Find Me
15. Book Of Life

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7675 in Music
• Released on: 1993-03-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

CD Description
AMC toiled in obscurity for years, the group's albums delighting only its cult following and discerning critics. When the band's press got too good to ignore, AMC was snapped up by the majors. AMC's Reprise debut, MERCURY, failed to set the charts afire, but it continued the band's artistic progression in spades. Uber-producer Mitchell Froom makes a significant impact on the sound. The looseness of the band's earlier albums is replaced by painstakingly constructed arrangements that are idiosyncratic enough to match the band's songs, but sophisticated enough to bring the band to a new sonic level.
Singer/lyricist Mark Eitzel, never known for his positive outlook, is possibly at his bleakest here, delivering song after song detailing his disappointment, disaffection, and low self-esteem. Fortunately, the masterfully arranged songs are musically varied enough to keep things from gettingbogged down. "I've Been a Mess" is something of an AMC theme song, while even Eitzel's songwriting comes under suspicion as he lays his songs down in supplication at "Johnny Mathis' Feet", as the song billows with ironically grandiose keyboards and timpani. After an album full of exotic, angular guitar and keyboard sounds, MERCURY closes with a ragged, tentatively hopeful acoustic ballad "Will You Find Me?"

Customer Reviews

Pure Genious
Seeing Eitzel live, you appreciate just how pain, regret and melancholy can sound so real and in Mercury with the aforementioned singers now defunct band, a roller coaster ride of goose bump down the back true feeling is assured. The album (almost harsh at times with the title track loud with a backdrop of big music bass and guitar rift) really excells with the more reflective hurt of 'I've been a mess' and the albums pinnacle 'Apology for an accident'. Eitzels voice displays such emotion, it's hard not to want to give the guy a big hug and assure him everything will be alright. Unfortunately that might sound somewhat ridiculous as poor solo album sales (even the help of REM's Peter Buck couldn't deliver commercial success on the solo 'West' album) have left Eitzel without a current deal all of which has coincided with the death of the long time inspiration who fuelled much of his unrequited lyrics. Mercury remains a belter of an album which would grace the record collection of music lovers everywhere with iron in their soul.

I'm Almost There...
When people talk about Mark Eitzel, AMC frontman and now solo artist, it's not long before they're talking about either the words or the voice. Here, both are showcased to the absolute max as the album staggers punch drunk from tale to tale. Gratitude Walks sets the tone for the whole collection as Eitzel turns himself inside out searching for the answers to his predicament. I've Been A Mess has to be another highlight, with the band's twisted take on the rising of Lazarus as a metaphor for that love that left but continues to torture the mind. Apology For An Accident is another fine storyline, the music ebbing and flowing with the sentiment but always remaining distinctly "late night". A token epic amongst the subdued fables of love lost comes Johnny Mathis' Feet, the black humour of Eitzel asking the Vegas showman for life saving advice and finding himself pitied and sympathised with in equal measure. It's an album that needs listening to and a classic "grower" but somehow when the quality of songs is as high as these, it's an altogether richer and more satisfying experience for it.

Legendary
This was supposed the be the album that made AMC huge - the next REM. They had earnt themselves a major label deal with a big production budget and hot shot producer to boot but somehow it just didn't happen. This is probably the strongest set of songs Eitzel ever came up with and the band play a blinder. It's very uncompromising tho - not in the least bit commercial. Froom's atmospheric production doesn't help. 'If I Had A Hammer' was originally going to be a single until the label heard the finished article. Halfway through the music drops out to be replaced by an out of tune fairground sample which then leads into a wobbly guitar part. Don't get me wrong - I love it - it's just not REM... If AMC have a famous song it's probably 'Johnny Mathis' Feet'. Neil Hannon - whose a big Eitzel fan - used to play this live for a bit. It's classic Eitzel "Johnny looked at my songs and said 'Well at first guess, never in my life, have I ever seen such a mess'". Eitzel's voice soars throughout. The lyrics are heartbreaking, poetic. Anyone whose ever been in love should listen to 'I've Been A Mess' - "I can barely tell you just how pale I get without you. I've been a mess since you've been gone." Vudi plays lead guitar like only Vudi can - fractured soundscapes - beautiful in places, like twisted shards of metal in others.

AMC never made it big. They ended up splitting up and Eitzel produced some good solo lps. They've recently reformed. Yay! If you ever get a chance to see Eitzel or AMC live don't pass it up. Legends.