Details
Track Listing
1. Memphis, Egypt
2. Club Mekon
3. Only Darkness Has the Power
4. Ring O'Roses
5. Learning to Live on Your Own
6. Cocaine Lil
7. Empire of the Senseless
8. Someone
9. Amnesia
10. I Am Crazy
11. Heaven and Back
12. Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet
13. Echo
14. When Darkness Falls
| Details | | Producer: | Ian Caple, The Mekons | | Distributor: | E1 Distribution (USA) | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | AAD |
Album Notes
The Mekons: Tom Greenhalgh (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, synthesizer); Jon Langford (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer); Sally Timms (vocals); Susie Honeyman (fiddle); Mr. Knee (bass, cumbus); Steve Goulding (drums).
Additional personnel: Brendan Croker (guitar, background vocals); Dick Taylor (guitar); Rico Bell (accordion, background vocals); John Gill (melodeon); Bobby Worby (organ).
Recorded at Terminal 24, London, England. Includes liner notes by Robert Christgau.
By 1989, the year the Mekons made THE MEKONS ROCK N' ROLL, the band had already been through countless personnel changes, stylistic shifts, and industry hassles (this was the last album they would put out on A&M before being "released" from their contract). But what never changed for the Mekons was their dedication to intensity and integrity. Almost all of their records succeed on that order, but THE MEKONS ROCK N' ROLL does so on a nearly epic level. Passionate, diverse, loud, and indignant, the Mekons crystallized their entire modus operandi on this release.
While the roaring "Memphis, Egypt" and the rootsy rocker "Only Darkness Has the Power" display the group's trademark punch, the country and folk influences that characterized albums like FEAR AND WHISKEY are present as well. Fiddle, accordion, and organ enhance the band's guitar attack, and Sally Timms's vocals grace the dreamy "Learning to Live on Your Own." There are also drunken barroom sing-alongs ("Ring O' Roses"), message-driven folk-rockers ("Empire of the Senseless"), and dark, swirling post-punk ("Echo"), all tied together by the Mekons' righteous, uncompromising stance. THE MEKONS ROCK N' ROLL is often claimed as a favorite by their legion of fans, and newcomers looking into the ensemble's discography will find no better entry point.
Industry Reviews
Ranked #15 in AP's list of the `Top 99 Of '85-'95' - ...If the Stones had made this album, mainstream critics would have called it the revitalization of rock'n'roll. Just the Mekons being brilliant...again...
Alternative Press (07/01/1995)
3.5 Stars - Very Good - ...a witty blend of screaming raveups and spooky ballads...
Rolling Stone (02/08/1990)
Recommended - ...you can be damn sure there'll be little letdown...
...A blistering take-no-prisoners offensive from within the belly of the beast....[their] most overtly scabrous sloganeering is matched with their most coruscating musical assault...
No Depression (07/01/2001)
Ranked #15 in AP's list of the `Top 99 Of '85-'95' - ...If the Stones had made this album, mainstream critics would have called it the revitalization of rock'n'roll. Just the Mekons being brilliant...again...
Alternative Press (07/01/1995)
Q 4 Stars - Excellent
Goldmine Recommended - ...you can be damn sure there'll be little letdown...
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