Mercury (American Music Club album) explained

Mercury
Type:	Album
Artist:	American Music Club
Cover:	American Music Club - Mercury.jpg
Recorded:	November–December 1992
Studio:	Sunset Sound Factory (Hollywood, California)
Producer:	Mitchell Froom
Prev Title:	Everclear
Prev Year:	1991
Next Title:	San Francisco
Next Year:	1994

Mercury is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band American Music Club. It was released in March 1993 on Reprise Records as their major-label debut. Virgin Records released the album in the United Kingdom.

"I've Been a Mess" remained a staple of the band's concerts. The album's title comes from a beverage featured in the lyrics of "Challenger."

Release

"Johnny Mathis' Feet" and "Keep Me Around" were released as singles from Mercury. The "Johnny Mathis' Feet" CD had a 10-track bonus live CD; it was recorded at Slim's in San Francisco on June 15, 1993, and is usually called Live at Slim's.

A black-and-white 11-minute promotional VHS tape, generally referred to as "1992 press kit," was issued in advance of the album's release. This contained interviews with each band member, live performances, studio footage, and assorted clips, including of Mark Eitzel riding his bike by the ocean. The band members talk at length about the origins of American Music Club, with two of them commenting on how scary it is to be in the band.

Critical reception

Spin magazine ranked Mercury the 14th best album of 1993.^[1] The same magazine called the album a "lushly arranged collision between indie rock and adult-alternative music".^[2] Treble ranked the album among the "10 Essential Slowcore Albums".^[3]

Legacy

In a retrospective "On Second Thought" feature for Stylus Magazine, critic Todd Hutlock wrote that "the rock-solid ensemble musicianship and straightforward production... let in just enough light to let Eitzel's darkness contrast but not overwhelm things."^[4]

Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady has cited Mercury as one of his biggest musical influences.^[5]

Personnel

American Music Club

• Mark Eitzel
• Bruce Kaphan
• Tim Mooney
• Daniel Pearson
• Vudi

Production

• Tchad Blake – engineering, mixing
• Mitchell Froom – production
• John Paterno – assistant engineer, additional engineering on "Over and Done"
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Artwork and design

• Bobby Neal Adams – cover and inlay photography
• Jeff Gold – art direction
• Tom Recchion – art direction, design
• Ralf Strathmann – other photography

Management

• Wally Brill – management for Building Management
• Ross Schwartz – management for Building Management

Production notes

• All songs recorded and mixed at Sunset Sound Factory, Hollywood, November–December 1992, and mastered at Gateway Mastering.

Notes and References

1. 20 Best Albums of the Year — 14. American Music Club: Mercury. Spin. 9. 10. January 1994. June 26, 2020. Greer. Jim. 41.
2. Beaujon. Andrew. May 2005. Mope Rock. Spin. SPIN Media LLC. 21. 5. 108. June 30, 2022.
3. Web site: Terich. Jeff. May 22, 2012. 10 Essential Slowcore Albums. June 30, 2022. Treble.
4. Web site: American Music Club – Mercury. Stylus Magazine. July 5, 2005. March 25, 2018. Hutlock. Todd. https://web.archive.org/web/20060329210704/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1725. March 29, 2006. dead.
5. Web site: Interview: Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady). Stereokill. February 16, 2009. March 1, 2012. Lindsay. Andrew. https://archive.today/20090328223649/http://www.stereokill.net/2009/02/interview-franz-nicolay-the-hold-steady/. March 28, 2009. dead.