City Newspaper Archives - 8/2007
The Mercies "The Mercies"
Recordbabies
Published by Frank De Blase on Aug 08, 2007
The Mercies' Mike James isn't a particularly abstract cat, he just likes the edges left on. As drummer for Longwave, James was ready to move on from the comfort that the band's atmospheric wash provided. With Footage - which would morph into The Mercies - James aimed for the angular.
The group's self-titled debut is sharp and tight, with choppy guitar that adds to what would typically be more fluid pop lines. The herk and jerk gives it plenty of hip shake appeal and the addition of strings, toy piano, and various electronic treatments adds dimension and texture. This is a tremendously cohesive body of work with some cuts still rising above. "You Can't Stop Me Now" could easily get my vote for song of the year. And though there is little reference to more stock rock tones, this is still a rock 'n' roll record with an inside cover commanding it to be played "at maximum volume."
