Mezcal Head: Album review and songs from Answers.com

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Artist: Swervedriver
Rating:
Release Date: October 05, 1993
Total Time: 60:47
Type: Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: Rock

Review

After the spotty but promising Raise, England's Swervedriver put it all together in a big way. Right from the opening "For Seeking Heat," one can tell this is one of the hottest albums of 1993 -- certainly it's the hottest-produced album. The album explodes with the first onslaught of guitars and keeps up the crackling, monstrous, gargantuan feel thereafter. Add to that some pretty massive melodies they've never before displayed (a heretofore hidden pop sense), complete with pond-deep vocals and harmonies, especially the splendid harmonies that enliven the all-powerful "Blowin' Cool" chorus, the LP standout track along with "Duel." Best of all, they've discarded what little bothersome metallic tendencies Raise had, yet Mezcal Head pulses with even more chops. Additionally, the wah-wah here is used more judiciously, making it more of a flavor element. In the end, though, it's these tremendous songs -- a dozen unique, never-repeating compositions, so big and bold they latch on with the first play and kick your ass without seeming like they tried hard to do it -- that are the benefit of increased confidence, direction, and the bulging, steam-edge production. Behind the mixing desk, this is by far the best work yet by Alan Moulder (Ride, Boo Radleys); this is the warmest, biggest, most dynamite-loud yet clean sound he (and Swervedriver, together) has ever achieved. The band's new lineup (new rhythm section) is tighter and more flexible, with nicer bottom end and stylistic touches, while also being precise -- the otherwise unnecessary jam at the end of "Last Train to Satansville" is redeemed somewhat by the bass and drums' disciplined two-note pounding. As an added bonus, 1992's breakthrough single, "Never Lose That Feeling" (a harbinger of Mezcal Head's greatness), is added to the U.S. release. The only minor flaws are that some of the songs seem to go on a little too long, and some of the really good songs on the second half of the LP aren't quite as breathtaking as the first half, but that's getting greedy; most bands would kill for this side two. In any case, this is one whale of a record. ~ Jack Rabid, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
For Seeking Heat (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(3:46)
Duel (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(6:19)
Blowin' Cool (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(3:57)
MM Abduction (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(2:51)
Last Train to Satansville (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(6:45)
Harry and Maggie	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(5:27)
A Change Is Gonna Come	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(4:00)
Girl on a Motorbike (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(4:08)
Duress	Swervedriver, Marc Waterman	Swervedriver	(8:03)
You Find It Everywhere (Lyrics)	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(4:09)
Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn	Swervedriver	Swervedriver	(11:49)

Credits

Alan Moulder (Mixing), Howie Weinberg (Mastering), Ronan Keating (Assistant Engineer), Swervedriver (Producer), Alan Moulder (Producer), Stewart Dace (Saxophone), Jimmy Hartridge (Guitar), Adam Franklin (Vocals), Jez (Drums), Andy Vella (Cover Design), Steve George (Bass), Andy Vella (Photography), Screwdriver (Producer), Adam Franklin (Guitar), Andy Vella (Cover Art), Nick Addison (Engineer), Alan Moulder (Engineer)

Overview

In 1993, Swervedriver re-emerged with the core of Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, along with newly-recruited drummer Jez Hindmarsh (a.k.a. "Jez"), and released the album Mezcal Head. The album gave them their most successful single, "Duel" (NME's Single of the Week), for which a music video was released. Adam and Jimmy both perform bass on the album as they were left without a bassist when Adi Vines departed before recording began. "Never Lose That Feeling," from the 1992 EP of the same name, and the extended krautrock/drone/saxophone instrumental "Never Learn" were added as a bonus track to the U.S. version of the CD. Swervedriver toured U.S. arenas with Smashing Pumpkins and Shudder to Think in October and November 1993.

Track listing

The album features 10 tracks, including the single "Duel". The album had one bonus track for the U.S release and two bonus tracks for the Japanese release.

"For Seeking Heat"

"Duel"

"Blowin' Cool"

"MM Abduction"

"Last Train to Satansville"

"Harry & Maggie"

"A Change Is Gonna Come"

"Girl on a Motorbike"

"Duress"

"You Find It Everywhere"

U.S Bonus Track:

"Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn"

Japan Bonus Tracks

"Planes over the Skyline"

"Year of the Girl"

Sony BMG reissued the album in 2008 in the UK as a "Remastered and Expanded" edition (Hi-Speed Soul/Second Motion released it in the US in 2009) with four bonus tracks

"Never Lose That Feeling"

"Planes Over the Skyline"

"Hitcher"

"Cars Converge on Paris"

More Information

The U.K. CD has "Mickey" and "Dragging It Under" printed on the CD as tracks 4 and 6. The U.S. CD has "Harry and Maggie (Dragging It Under)" printed on the CD as track 6. The U.S. promo is identical to the official release except that it has the word "PROMOTIONAL" printed on the CD. The Japanese edition comes with a biography and lyrics.^[2]

The tracks Duel and Last Train to Satansville were featured in the Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation and 3DO versions of the game Road Rash.

Mezcal Head