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Album Details

• Artist: Mercury Rev
• Album: The Secret Migration
• Label: V2
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-04-28

I made the mistake of seeing Mercury Rev on their All Is Dream tour. Well, it wasn't a big mistake. Not the kind where you are totally disappointed with a band and you drop them like a hot rock. No, the kind of disappointment in the fact that Jonathan Donahue was way too flamboyant for anything I ever wanted to see. Jonathan, hold back dude. Restrain yourself a little and you may not scare off people. Oh, the live show was brilliant and the band sounded beautifully tight. Jonathan was just too conceited. The Secret Migration is Mercury Rev's follow up to the partially ill received All Is Dream and I think this one has what people are looking for in the latest incarnation of Mercury Rev. It's a huge album with a lot of things going for it. Where people called All Is Dream to similar to Deserter Songs, people will realize that the Secret Migration is not so secret. The band took the criticism to heart and did something about it. You may balk at a band that does what their fans ask but have a listen to this album before you judge the Rev. The production is magnificent, so much in fact that it outshines everything else on my iPod by miles. Set that aside, the music contained really is beautiful and improves much on All Is Dream but I, as many, consider Deserter Songs to be a masterpiece and one that will take some very clever reworking what they do to trump. The sequence of The Secret Migration is perfect. The album starts off with the soaring "Secret For A Song" and then follow it up with the gentle "Across Yer Ocean" that has a gentle build to it. Grasshopper's guitars really shine making this Mercury Rev album one of the brightest yet. They never resort to cliche riffs here. Really, the only big recognition factor is Donahue's vocals.
Given time The Secret Migration might overcome Deserter Songs as my favorite but for now, this is the way it sits. I will have to forgive Mercury Rev for their live performance and stick to listening to their albums. Remember, this ain't Yerself Is Steam, not by a long shot.

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