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Rating:
If this morning, while I was in the car and listening to this album for the very first time, I had a laptop or a PC at my disposal to jot down this review, I would have written something like this:
"I am absolutely furious. Especially with myself. I should have realized that I risked wasting my money. After all, that review I read mentioned (I must deduce at this point) that celebratory work of saccharine and over-arranged musical nothingness that is See You On The Other Side in conjunction with this The Secret Migration. Another review stated that it was a flat, formulaic work, without any noteworthy ideas, boring. And maybe I wouldn't have bought this record if I hadn't also read reviews like 'Sure Album of the Year', 'The definitive consecration of Mercury Rev's greatness'. In the end, my musical greed caught me out. But I want to take revenge on Debaser, so Final Rating: 1 out of 5"
and I would have managed to fully follow a piece of advice I read a while ago on Debaser, namely to increase the number of slams compared to the praises of reviewed albums. But I didn't have the laptop, so I find myself now writing the following, and I have to hurry before I end up, by listening to it again and again, calling it "almost" good: "It is indeed a flat, boring, and formulaic album. I don't know if it's also due to Dave Fridmann's arrangements (too similar to those used in the latest by Sparklehorse). Dave Fridmann whom I still consider one of the best "alternative" arrangers, if only for what he did with the Flaming Lips. Flaming Lips who at this point I consider perhaps the only ones (perhaps due to their real "creative anarchy") capable of not allowing their albums to be homogenized and ultimately flattened to the advantage and because of our man's elaborate arrangements. I think there are still ¾ songs in The Secret Migration that are worth saving (the first, the penultimate in particular). For the rest, it's truly hard to get to the end, as the songs resemble each other and are shapeless and devoid of ideas, with absolutely misplaced and ill-conceived citations. Believe it or not, in one song they openly emulate the Smashing Pumpkins of Mellon Collie (!!!). In another, I almost feel like they cite CSN&Y. Want some advice? Just let it go.
PS: It has nothing to do with this, but I wanted to tell you that before this major purchase, I was only listening to Goodbye and Hello by Tim Buckley (damn me if I hadn't continued to do so...). Do you know Morning Glory? Do it, as soon as you can, and have the tissues ready, for how heart-rending and above all "REAL" it is.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Secret for a Song (04:01)
Dawn brought a wild light, back into her tired eyes,
Like violets, opening her eyelids to the light,
Oh she was golden, I caught her still glowing,
I told you where we're goin' girl,
We're off for a dark country ride
I'll tell you a secret, I'll sell you a secret for a song,
Some day I'll tell you and take you back home where you belong
All the leaves are falling, Two suns are slowly rising,
I'll take you where the morning star burns just for you,
My dark country bride
I'll tell you a secret, oh I'll sell you a secret for a song,
I'll give you my soul, babe, an one day you'll give me yours
Oh I'll tell you a secret, I'll sell you my secret for a song,
I'll give you my soul, babe, an one day you'll give me yours
I'll tell you a secret, I'll sell you my secret for a song,
Some day I'll tell you and take you back home where you belong
03 Diamonds (03:51)
Look how the sun, captured by the rain,
Glimmers and falls, and lands in golden balls,
Like a bracelet hung, from a spider's web,
For me to show to you, like gifts,
That you won't forget...
For as long as you live...
See how the rain, captured by the leaves,
Shimmers and falls, and lives on in diamond balls,
Like a necklace hung, over limb and branch,
For me to show to you, like gifts,
That you won't forget...
For as long as you live...
Watch how the stars, captured by the sky,
Appear to die, before our eyes and live on, in other ways,
Well tonite they're mine, for me to show,
For me to shower you, like gifts,
That you won't forget...
For as long as you live...
And you will always have...
For I will always give them...
To you
04 Black Forest (Lorelei) (04:46)
If I was a white horse...an offered you a ride...
Thru a black forest
If we took a strange course...promised you a danger...
For a while
Ooh-ooh (..a white horse)...Lorelei
Ooh-ooh (..a white horse)...Lorelei
There's no way 'round the forest...the only way is thru
An' there's no way I'll ever make it on my own..without you
But if you are persuaded...by all those dragonflies offering you a ride...
I'll know why
Ooh-ooh (..a white horse)...Lorelei
Ooh-ooh (..a white horse)...I'll know why
I'll know why
Forests come in all size...danger many shapes...
Well who's to say
If I was a white horse...offered you a ride...
Thru a black forest
06 In the Wilderness (02:32)
Has she found a way to make her man work out rite,
An' has she found a way to let her man into her life,
Has she found a way to teach her man some control,
Oh to make him understand her, as a whole,
Will she find a way to tell him just how lost she is,
An' will he find a way to lead her out of the wilderness,
Take her by surprise, and not by force,
Oh able to withstand, all her storms,
In the wilderness..things aren't what they seem,
In the wilderness..life is but a dream,
That flows on..that flows on...
Will he find a way to let her play such a sacred role,
Will she find a way to forgive him as a whole,
Oh how can he have been so blind for so long,
An' how can the woman I love, be so strong
In the wilderness..things aren't what they seem,
In the wilderness..life is but a dream,
That flows on..that flows on...
07 In a Funny Way (04:01)
On a summer day you can hear her call,
But in a funny way she reminds you of the fall,
On a summer day you can hear her call,
But in a funny way she reminds you of the fall,
Thru the fields an the streams an the lakes an the trees,
An the grass an the logs run all my dogs,
And I am home again
In the autumn air,
You can see her smile,
But in a funny way she reminds you of a child,
In the autumn air,
You feel her soul unfold,
And in a funny way you feel your own explode,
Thru the fields an the streams an the lakes an the trees,
An the grass an the logs run all my dogs,
And I am home again
Ahhhh Ahhhh
Ahhhh Ahhhh
On a winter day,
You can hear her call,
But in a funny way when the snow begins to fall
On a winter day,
You can hear her call,
And in a funny way,
You love her even more
Thru the fields an the streams an the lakes an the trees,
An the grass an the logs run all my dogs,
And I am home again
Thru the fields an the streams an the lakes an the trees,
An the grass an the logs run all my dogs,
And I am home again
On a summer day you can hear her call,
But in a funny way she reminds you of the fall,
On a summer day you can hear her call,
But in a funny way she reminds you of the fall
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Other reviews
By josi_
The CD packaging is a true little book... it really resembles an ancient book of fairy tales.
The tales of Mercury Rev are 'sonic', full of supernatural sounds: carpets of strings, polished glimmers, Jonathan’s ethereal voice.
By Dune Buggy
From the very first listen, you can notice that the band has toned down the 'hypnotic' elements of their style and returned to a more genuine rock.
Unfortunately, the album’s flaw is tracks like 'My Love', 'The Climbing Rose', and 'Black Forest (Lorelei)', which sound repetitive and ultimately seem like unnecessary and boring fillers.
