Mercurotones | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1990 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Label | Island | |||
Producer | Michael Beinhorn, Dust Brothers | |||
The Buck Pets chronology | ||||
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Mercurotones is the second album by the American band the Buck Pets, released in 1990. [1] [2] They supported it by opening for Jane's Addiction and then Neil Young on North American tours. [3] [4] "Libertine" peaked at No. 25 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. [5] The album sold around 35,000 copies in its first six months of release, which led Island Records to not renew the band's option. [6]
The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn, who worked with the band to keep an unpolished sound. [7] [8] Its songs were written by frontmen Andy Thompson and Chris Savage. [8] The Buck Pets were influenced primarily by the Replacements; Thompson briefly attended school with Tommy Stinson. [9] [10] The lyrics to most of the songs were of a personal nature, as the band wanted to be direct and relatable to their listeners. [9] Jack Irons played drums on the majority of the tracks, as Island Records was not happy with the ability of the band's drummer, Tony Alba. [11] They used a horn section on "Libertine", which was produced by the Dust Brothers. [12] [13]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Calgary Herald | B+ [15] |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Illini | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Tar Heel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Tampa Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Washington Post called the album "semi-raw, semi-catchy hard rock that reveals itself on 'Ave' F Blues', the Mercurotune that most wants to be a Replacements song (and almost makes it)." [19] The Los Angeles Times noted the "bone-crunching riffs, tunes that are actually tunes and not-a-boy-but-not-a-man lyrics that largely manage to avoid cliches", and stated that "the band relies on songs as much as sonics". [20] The Chicago Tribune said that the album "has its share of gonzo rock: big slabs of guitar that roar and fade, bodacious drumming and lunging bass riffs", while praising the Buck Pets' decision to take musical chances on some tracks. [16]
The Calgary Herald labeled Mercurotones "12 bloozy numbers—with a great ballad thrown in—stripped to their metalesque essentials that flounce, swagger and cajole you into believing the American garage is the quintessential birthplace of rock." [15] The New York Times said that "the Buck Pets have honed their songs with pop concision, even when they defy pop formula." [21]
In 2009, Spin included the Buck Pets on its list "Unsung: The 100 Greatest Bands You've (Probably) Never Heard", and said that Mercurotones was "ruggedly catchy" and "just a little slick". [22]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Moon Goddess (R. T. Cocaine Blues)" | |
2. | "Pearls" | |
3. | "PM – Sick of It All" | |
4. | "Some Hesitation" | |
5. | "Five O'Clock or Thursday – Up to You" | |
6. | "Ave F Blues – Down Through the Avenue" | |
7. | "Libertine" | |
8. | "Ready to Break – I'm So Tired" | |
9. | "Shameless" | |
10. | "Brother – Take These Dreams" | |
11. | "Guilty – Where's My Head" | |
12. | "Hey Sunshine" |