Product Description

While somewhat more based in the feel and forms of "rock" than Mercury Rev's subsequent releases, the band's 1992 debutis still nothing less than a gem of late-20th century psychedelic pop innovation. The kooky, expansive opener, "ChasingA Bee", which infuses an ironic, slow motion dream narrative with excruciatingly beautiful squalls of guitar noise, gives voice to the band's epic, utterly unique sonic project.
What follows is a breakneck visitation of punk aggression,folk/pop melodicism, VU-inspired drone explorations, quirkycartoon nightmares ("Blue and Black" sounds like Syd Barrett on a particularly bad day) and shimmering, never-ending waves of echo and chorus-drenched guitars, feedback and generally blissful noise designed to elevate brains. YERSELF IS STEAM is the first in Mercury Rev's astonishingly impressive string of records, and merits the attention of both newcomersand fans of the group's later work.

Track Listing

1. Chasing a Bee
2. Syringe Mouth
3. Coney Island Cyclone
4. Blue and Black
5. Sweet Odysee of a Cancer Cell
6. Frittering
7. Continuous Trucks and thunder under
8. Very Sleepy Rivers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64188 in Music
• Released on: 1999-02-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mercury Rev's 1991 debut, with its atmosphere of spontaneity and its loose contemporary updating of psychedelia, in which melody and noise competed for attention, belied the fact that it supposedly took three years to create. Nevertheless, despite its inconsistencies and lapses into self-indulgence, this was the sound of a band resolutely striving for originality: the addition of flute and woodwind to the bass, guitars and drums gave an occasional hint of dreamy 60's folk without seeming derivative or nostalgic, and without detracting from the record's nod to the sonic experimentation of the likes of Sonic Youth (as on "Syringe Mouth"). At times frustrating and willfully chaotic, occasionally genuinely inventive and tunefully inspired, Yerself Is Steam manages to exert a long-lasting appeal that deserves revisiting. --Burhan Tufail

Customer Reviews

I had to join in
I just wanted to say all the reviews that give five stars are right on the button!

sonic architects
This first time I heard this I didn´t rate it at all. I think it remained in my wardrobe for about a year collecting dust. And then one rainy day I fished it out and gave it another try.
I listened to it a good five or six times that day and by the end I was completely entranced. This is one of those incredible records that grows on you with every listen, over ten years later I still don´t think I understand everything about it.
This incredibly bold debut is a masterwork of ranging sonic noise. "Chasing a bee," along with all the other tracks begins so insipidly and calmly before building to it´s tumult. It´s an incredibly brave way to begin your first record. I imagine most bands say to themeselves,"let´s really try and enter with a bang." Mercury Rev have conjured up a bulbling caldron of noise.
"Coney island cyclone," with it´s terrifically catchy riff is the only composition that comes remotely close to what you might call a conventional pop song. "Frittering," with it´s inventibly bassy start is probably my favourite track. I also like the moaning sound and haunting lyric on,"very sleepy rivers." Individual tracks are of secondary importance on this record, they all marry together to form a unique panorama.
This record is a complete one off, a beautiful never ending story that I never tire of going back to.

A very definite five stars
Not to undermine the other reviewers, but this is truly the weirdest album I have ever heard. Definitely un-easy listening. It bears no musical resemblance to, say, Captain Beefheart's 'Trout Mask Replica' but I guess it is structurally similar - based on juxtaposition of noise and melody, sudden inexplicable bursts of beauty and lyricism giving away to chaos. Challenging, but well worth it. An absolute classic.