Retreat from Memphis
Retreat from Memphis | ||||
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Studio album by the Mekons | ||||
Released | 1994 | |||
Label | Quarterstick[1] | |||
Producer | Ducky | |||
the Mekons chronology | ||||
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Retreat from Memphis is an album by English band the Mekons, released in 1994.[2][3] It followed a few years of label troubles that saw the band considering a breakup.[4][5] The band supported the album by touring with Man or Astroman?[5]
Production
The album was recorded in Chicago.[6] Some of its songs engaged with military motifs; many were recorded after the band had played them on a 1993 tour.[7][8] The Mekons brought in a new drummer for the recording sessions.[9] Susie Honeyman, the band's violinist, was on maternity leave during much of the production of Retreat from Memphis.[10]
"Our Bad Dream", about the Mekons' time with Warner Bros. Records, incorporated elements of rap music.[11][12] "Ice Rink in Berlin" was sung by Sally Timms.[13]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 4/10[17] |
The Tampa Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Washington Post wrote that "the exuberant eclecticism of the late-'80s Mekons has settled into an almost classic-rock sound, and the band's attempts to vary the sound on its new Retreat From Memphis are not inspiring."[7] Entertainment Weekly thought that the album "finds them, as usual, gleefully musing in their wry, existential style on matters ranging from amorous entanglements to global upheaval."[18] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "the Mekons fall back to rocking out with a neurotic, decidedly '80s post-punk edge."[11]
Spin deemed Retreat from Memphis a "stronger, more classic-sounding [comeback]."[19] The Austin American-Statesman labeled it "another album of borderline brilliance from these overeducated sociopolitical gadflies, one in which the zest of the music belies the deadpan dread of the lyrics."[20] The Chicago Tribune considered the album "one of the band's most spirited offerings of communal, life-affirming-here we go again-rock 'n' roll."[10]
AllMusic called the album "direct, straightforward, and angry in a way the Mekons had not been for quite a while."[14] The Rough Guide to Rock considered it "probably the weakest in the Mekons' catalogue."[21]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Eve Future" | |
2. | "Lucky Devil" | |
3. | "Do I Know You?" | |
4. | "Insignificance" | |
5. | "His Bad Dream" | |
6. | "Our Bad Dream" | |
7. | "The Flame That Killed John Wayne" | |
8. | "Ice Rink in Berlin" | |
9. | "Spinning Round in Flames" | |
10. | "Machine" | |
11. | "Hostile Mascot" | |
12. | "Chemical Wedding" | |
13. | "Spirals of Paranoia" | |
14. | "Missing You All" | |
15. | "Submerged" | |
16. | "Soldier" | |
17. | "Never Work" |
References
- ^ Marcus, Greil (May 1994). "Top ten — Retreat from Memphis by the Mekons". Artforum. Vol. 32, no. 9. p. 15.
- ^ "The Mekons Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Mekons". Paste. February 12, 2004.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen (April 29, 1994). "New CD Releases Ready to Hit the Stores". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18.
- ^ a b Wood, Sam (1 July 1994). "Mekons Acknowledge Their Place on the Fringe". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 19.
- ^ Terrell, Steve (4 Nov 1994). "The Mekons deserve the Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award...". Pasatiempo. The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Mekons Plumbing Different Delta". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Wright, Rickey (November 12, 1993). "New Direction? Mekons Are 'Always Punk'". Preview. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 11.
- ^ "Mekons". Trouser Press. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Caro, Mark (9 June 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ a b Toombs, Mikel (August 11, 1994). "Retreat from Memphis". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
- ^ a b (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 535–536.
- ^ a b O'Neill, Mike (June 24, 1994). "Mekons, Retreat from Memphis". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Retreat from Memphis". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 690.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 744.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 248–249.
- ^ "Retreat from Memphis". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Gladstone, Eric (Jun 1994). "Music". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 3. p. 58.
- ^ McLeese, Don (16 Aug 1994). "Mekons Retreat from Memphis". Austin American-Statesman. p. E5.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (March 5, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides.
- v
- t
- e
- Rico Bell
- Lu Edmonds
- J. Mitch Flacko/Flacco
- Steve Goulding
- Tom Greenhalgh
- Susie Honeyman
- Jon Langford
- Sally Timms
- Dave Trumfio
- The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen (1979)
- Fear and Whiskey (1985)
- The Edge of the World (1986)
- The Mekons Honky Tonkin' (1987)
- So Good It Hurts (1988)
- The Mekons Rock 'n Roll (1989)
- The Curse of the Mekons (1991)
- I Love Mekons (1993)
- Retreat from Memphis (1994)
- Me (1998)
- Journey to the End of the Night (2000)
- OOOH! (Out of Our Heads) (2002)
- Punk Rock (2004)
- Natural (2007)