Mercy (Remo Drive album)
| Mercy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 23, 2024 | |||
| Length | 36:25 | |||
| Label | Epitaph | |||
| Producer | Phil Ek | |||
| Remo Drive chronology | ||||
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| Deluxe edition cover | ||||
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| Singles from Mercy | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Sputnikmusic | 1.5/5[1] |
Mercy is the fourth studio album by American rock band Remo Drive, released on February 23, 2024, through Epitaph Records.[2]
Background
[edit]Mercy originated when Remo Drive frontman and guitarist Erik Paulson moved to Albany, New York while his brother and Remo Drive bassist Stephen Paulson stayed in Minnesota. This led Erik to "[contemplate] the complexities of being in a relationship, of making art and having it be received by a wide audience, and the complexities of finding your footing in a new place".[3] The album was produced by Phil Ek, who is known for his work with bands such as The Shins and Band of Horses. Speaking about working with Ek, Erik Paulson said, "It was refreshing to work with Phil. It made music feel like how it did when we were younger. He was like fuck it, let's go, let's have fun".[4] Remo Drive released the album's lead single, "No, There's No Hope for You", on October 31, 2023, alongside an animated music video. The song served as the band's first release of new music since their 2020 album A Portrait of an Ugly Man.[5] Mercy's second single, "New in Town", was released on December 6, 2023, alongside a music video that, as described by Michael Major of BroadwayWorld, "features a melodramatic karaoke style performance of the song in an empty bar full of mannequins".[6] The album's title track was released as its third single on January 11, 2024, alongside the announcement of the album and a music video, which was described by Logan White of Substream Magazine as "black and white Spaghetti Western style" and "complete with a standoff involving toy guns".[7] "All You'll Ever Catch" was released as the album's fourth single on February 7, 2024.
On August 20, 2024, Remo Drive announced the deluxe edition of Mercy, which will be released on October 18 and will feature cover versions by Field Medic, Boyish, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, and Wilt. Wilt's cover of "Please, Please Be Smart" was released alongside the announcement.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]In a negative review, Jesper of Sputnikmusic said that while the performances on the album were "fine", the band "does an excellent job at making everything sound so goddamn lifeless that it's hard to find any value in absolutely anything here". He also stated that Remo Drive have become "an utterly pointless project" and felt that the energy and passion of their early releases was nowhere to be found on Mercy.[9]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Sam Becht, Erik Paulson, and Stephen Paulson.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Please, Please Be Smart" | 4:12 |
| 2. | "I Find Trouble" | 5:13 |
| 3. | "All You'll Ever Catch" | 4:07 |
| 4. | "White Dress" | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Mercy" | 3:08 |
| 6. | "Makin' Muzak" | 2:51 |
| 7. | "Houseplant" | 4:01 |
| 8. | "No, There's No Hope for You" | 2:41 |
| 9. | "New in Town" | 2:45 |
| 10. | "Hold You" | 3:46 |
| Total length: | 36:25 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Mercy" (Field Medic version) | 2:41 |
| 12. | "No, There's No Hope for You" (Boyish version) | 2:29 |
| 13. | "White Dress" (Caleb Lee Hutchinson version) | 4:20 |
| 14. | "Please, Please Be Smart" (Wilt version) | 3:58 |
| Total length: | 49:53 | |
Personnel
[edit]Remo Drive
- Sam Becht – drums, percussion
- Erik Paulson – vocals, guitar, keyboards, production assistance
- Stephen Paulson – bass, synthesizer
Additional contributors
- Phil Ek – production, mixing, engineering
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
- Garrett Reynolds – engineering assistance
- Tim Houston – pedal steel guitar
- Dane Folie – piano (track 10)
References
[edit]- ^ Jesper. "Review:Remo Drive - Mercy". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Records, Epitaph (23 February 2024). "Remo Drive - Mercy" – via www.epitaph.com.
- ^ Records, Epitaph (January 11, 2024). "Remo Drive Announce New Album 'Mercy' Out February 23 Via Epitaph Records". Epitaph Records.
- ^ Hatfield, Amanda (January 11, 2024). "Remo Drive announce new LP 'Mercy,' share title track (watch video)".
- ^ River, Julie (October 31, 2023). "News: Remo Drive Release New Single 'No, There's No Hope for You'". New Noise Magazine.
- ^ Major, Michael. "Remo Drive Embrace Loneliness In New Single 'New In Town'; Announce Headlining Tour". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ White, Logan (January 12, 2024). "Remo Drive announce new album 'Mercy' + share title-track".
- ^ "Remo Drive Mercy Deluxe". 20 August 2024.
- ^ Jesper. "Review:Remo Drive - Mercy". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 27, 2024.