| The Backyard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Recorded | Presence Studios | |||
| Genre | College rock, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 26:09 | |||
| Label | Rough Trade Records | |||
| Miracle Legion chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Backyard is the second release by the American alternative rock band Miracle Legion, released in 1984 on Rough Trade Records.
Released on both 12" vinyl and cassette, [1] the six song EP The Backyard was recorded at Presence Studios and released under Rough Trade Records in 1984. [lower-alpha 1] The songs were composed by Mark Mulcahy and Ray Neal. [2]
The eponymous title track "The Backyard" became a staple on college radio charts following its release, [2] and there was a music video for it which received regular rotation on MTV. [3] The lyrics to "The Backyard" focus on Mulcahy's youth. [4]
A tribute album to Mulcahy, Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy , was released in 2009 by Shout! Factory and features a cover of "The Backyard" by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr. [5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+ [6] |
Drawing comparison to R.E.M., [6] the record received much acclaim. [7] Music critic Robert Christgau writing positively on Mulcahy's lyrics says that they are of "dazzled childhood and yearning adolescence," and likens the vocals to Loudon Wainwright III. [6] The album has been called a "landmark" by Trouser Press , and calls the title track "sheer brilliance." [8]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Backyard" | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Butterflies" | 4:45 |
| 3. | "Closer To The Wall" | 4:06 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Just Say Hello" | 4:56 |
| 5. | "The Heart Is Attached" | 4:14 |
| 6. | "Steven Are You There?" | 4:07 |
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