Got to be Mercury Rev for me, mainly because of Boces which still sounds incredible.
Used to be a massive fan of Rev but then Deserter’s Songs happened which I hate with a passion. Objectively it’s probably not a bad album but after see you on the other side it was such a disappointing direction for them to go in.
I remember seeing them just before deserters songs was released at the London garage and them absolutely butchering car wash hair. If I hadn’t wanted to enjoy it so much I’d have walked out.
Have dipped in and out of them since deserters songs but Donahue’s voice is such a deal breaker for me.
Still feel bad I never saw them with David baker. They even played at qmu when I was at university in Glasgow in ‘93on a double bill with spiritualized and I couldn’t make it because of other stuff.
Couple of early deep cuts I’d recommend. David baker released a post Rev album as shady. A bit patchy, but this is a banger:
After see you on the other side Mercury Rev released this as the harmony rockets, a lovely bit of improvised drone (which would be an ideal candidate for the listening club):