YERSELF IS STEAM

The debut Mercury Rev album sounds like a grab-bag of late 1980s Flaming Lips B-sides. This makes absolute sense when you consider the close links between the two bands, but the Lips do this sort of material better and the passage of time has made this feel increasingly dated. It'll be particularly jarring if you came to Mercury Rev after hearing the smoother, gentler sound they provide on latter-day releases like The Secret Migration. That said, if you cannot get enough early Flaming Lips, it'll probably tickle your fancy and keep you reasonably entertained, even if it won't knock In a Priest-Driven Ambulance off its perch any time soon.