Rev is an album by the American band Ultra Vivid Scene, released in 1992.[2][3] It was the band's third and final album. The single, an edited "Blood and Thunder", reached number 27 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4][5] Ultra Vivid Scene supported the album by touring with Grant Lee Buffalo.[6]
| Rev | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 16, 1992[1] | |||
| Recorded | Zabriskie Point and Axis Studios, August 1992 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 53:20 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | 4AD | |||
| Producer | Kurt Ralske, Fred Maher | |||
| Ultra Vivid Scene chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Rev | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Kurt Ralske and Fred Maher.[7] Unlike previous albums, Ralske recorded Rev with many other musicians instead of just going it alone.[8]
Ralske often wrote lyrics while still mostly asleep as he preferred the "naturalness" of the process.[9] "Mirror to Mirror" is about materialism.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| Calgary Herald | B[12] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [13] |
The Washington Post praised the "elegance" of the album.[14] The Toronto Star wrote that Rev "has Nick Drake-like melodies, T. Rex-ish riffs, ethereal sliding guitar licks, restless rhythms, silences and explosions."[15] The Chicago Tribune noted that Ralske "seems so juiced to be working with a live rhythm section that he just grooves on and on with little heed paid to pop structure."[13]
Track listing
edit- "Candida" – 4:38
- "Cut-Throat" – 5:33
- "Mirror to Mirror" – 4:50
- "The Portion of Delight" – 6:12
- "Thief's Love Song" – 6:07
- "How Sweet" – 4:40
- "Medicating Angels" – 8:11
- "Blood and Thunder" – 10:21
- "This Is the Way" – 2:48
Singles
editPersonnel
edit- Ron Baldwin – backing vocals
- Everett Bradley – conga
- Dorit Chrysler – backing vocals
- Jack Daley – bass
- Julius Klepacz – drums
- Fred Maher – acoustic guitar, drums, producer
- Lloyd Puckitt – engineer
- Kurt Ralske – guitar, vocals, producer, engineer
- Rasputina
- Melora Creager – cello
- Serena Jost – cello
- Julia Kent – cello
- Matthew Sweet – bass
- Sarah Walker – backing vocals
References
edit- ^ "The official website for independent record label 4AD".
- ^ Unsworth, Cathi (Nov 7, 1992). "Rev by Ultra Vivid Scene". Melody Maker. 68 (45): 33.
- ^ "Pop". Features. The Times. 6 Dec 1992.
- ^ Mayhew, Malcolm (May 7, 1993). "Ultra Vivid Scene is selling out and losing out". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 11.
- ^ "Blood and Thunder - Ultra Vivid Scene". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ Lozaw, Tristram (April 16, 1993). "Psychedelia a state of mind for Vivid Scene". Boston Herald. p. S18.
- ^ "Rev by Ultra Vivid Scene". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 8. Feb 20, 1993. p. 60.
- ^ Jaeger, Barbara (April 18, 1993). "Ultra Vivid Scene, 'Rev'". The Record. Hackensack. p. E3.
- ^ Rule, Sheila (14 Apr 1993). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C18.
- ^ Semon, Craig S. (14 Mar 1993). "Grabbing his audience with warmth and weirdness". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 10.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Phillips, Shari (20 Dec 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
- ^ a b Caro, Mark (4 Mar 1993). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (19 Apr 1993). "Ultra Vivid's Bad Scene". The Washington Post. p. C2.
- ^ Punter, Jennie (22 Apr 1993). "Ralske's out of Ultra Vivid studio". Toronto Star. p. WO6.