Meson Ray Explained

Meson Ray
Type:	Studio
Artist:	the Ernies
Cover:	Meson Ray.jpg
Released:	April 20, 1999
Length:	41:08
Label:	Mojo/Jive
Producer:	Howard Benson^[1]

Meson Ray is the third, and last, studio album by the alternative rock band the Ernies, released in 1999. Meson Ray was the first record by the Ernies to be released under Mojo Records.^{[1] [2]} The album includes the band's biggest single, "Here and Now," which was featured in the popular 1999 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, as well as in the 2004 documentary The Rise & Fall Of ECW.

Critical reception

The Washington Post wrote that "even if the band's instrumental arsenal were suddenly muted by a power failure, its lyrics would suggest an almost relentlessly manic pulse tempered by a disarming sense of irony and humor."^[3] CMJ New Music Report wrote: "Partying like it's 1989, the Ernies are to skate culture what the Black Crowes are to classic rock 'n' roll--a soothing throwback to a period of time close to the heart of funk rock historians."^[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Will Hummel, except where noted.

1. "Polarized" - 3:49
2. "Here and Now" - 3:30
3. "Fire" (Hummel, Mike Hughes) - 3:16
4. "Winter Stars (You and I)" - 4:02
5. "Organism" - 5:23
6. "The Hitman Tommy Stearns" - 4:50
7. "It's Digestible" - 3:26
8. "Where Do You Hide?" - 3:35
9. "Bacteria" - 3:19
10. "You Are Everywhere" - 2:25
11. "Mr. Benson and the Meson Ray (SOD-1)" (Hughes, Hayes Smith) - 3:33

Band members

• Mike Hughes - bass, vocals
• Matt Goves - drums
• Hayes Smith - saxophone, vocals
• Chris Bondi - turntables, theremin
• Will Hummel - vocals, guitar, keyboards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Popular Uprisings. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Inc. April 17, 1999. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books.
2. Web site: The Ernies. Richmond Times-Dispatch.
3. Web site: THE ERNIES. Mike. Joyce. July 2, 1999. www.washingtonpost.com.
4. Web site: Reviews. CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network. Inc. April 5, 1999. CMJ Network, Inc.. Google Books.