Blogs by Mercy Arms
Sat 1:12
Jan 3rd, '09
It's been a few months since we released our debut album, here's a few excerpts from the positive reviews it's received. It's great to know that people have enjoyed listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it!
“Mercy Arms have made an album that shows depth and maturity” - Triple J
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/album/s2350457.htm
“On a simplistic level, there are pop-inspired hooks that absorb you helplessly, in much the same way that would the rhythm of a Strokes riff or the emotion-drenched vocals of a Smiths song. On a more complex, mystifying and, it, even divine level, Mercy Arms have these weird and wonderful guitar echoes and orchestral diversity that operate simultaneously, creating this surreal, mood-laden subconscious stream. Quite frankly it’s beautiful.
A thunderous debut, this album is pop-mastery meets epic-mystery, and screams acclaim to the tune of Capitol kicking themselves.” - David Elliot-Jones, Beat Magazine.
http://www.beat.com.au/review.php?id=1273
“a distinctly moody record, full of fascinating pages of sound and interesting bric-a-brac of sonic ephemera… the band has a debut album that completely sets them apart in the Australian market place, and that strikes a balance between beauty and malice. It’s the sort of album that, as a debut, not just offers promise for the future, but also delivers on it in the here and now.” - Andrew Weaver, FasterLouder, September 18th, 2008.
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/14956/Mercy-Arms--Self-Titled.htm
“Mercy Arms is such a dreadfully good record.” - Alex Silveri, Sputnik music
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=30133
“Mercy Arms have a deep, liquid sound, offering a persuasive amalgam of Echo and the Bunnymen and Ride.” - Craig Matherson, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 26th, 2008.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/cd-reviews/mercy-arms/2008/09/26/1222217488331.html
“this is a thrilling and incredibly exciting debut album.” - Polaroids of androids, September 25th, 2008
http://polaroidsofandroids.com/reviews/mercy-arms-mercy-arms/176.html
“the self-titled debut from Mercy Arms demonstrates a remarkable authority over the diverse avenues of their sound. Finally, it seems, Aussie kids has been gifted with a band worthy of comparison to such giants of antipodean alternative rock as You Am I, The Triffids and Clouds. 4/5 stars.” - Last FM, August 24th, 2008.
http://www.last.fm/user/mistermusic26/journal/2008/08/24/24oejk_mercy_arms_record_review
“At the right moment Mercy Arms released their debut, a grand and ambitious effort that sounds new and old at the same time without being overly pretentious. The same magic I remember from Kept Low is still there, only now it's more sparse, hypnotic and matured. Nothing about this record really screams 2008, there is a timeless quality to the production and atmosphere and songs like 'To me Now' and 'Firing Line' sound weirdly familiar, or at least have echoes of something beautiful you've heard before, long ago.
This album has the potential to endure beyond any current trend or scene, it has the same timeless feel you get when listening to other Australian greats like The Triffids or The Go-Betweens. Regardless of whether or not great things happen for Mercy Arms following this release, this record is definitely one for the ages.” - Tune! FM.
http://www.tunefm.net/index.php?thread=2&item=164&pg=1
Fri 11:30
Jan 2nd, '09
Happy New Year!
For those who've lost track, 2008 is over, it's now 2009...
2009!
The JJJ hottest 100, "the world's biggest annual music poll", is on again and you can have your say and vote for your favourite songs of 2008!
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/
A vote for Mercy Arms is a vote for mercy!
arms.
Tue 1:30
Dec 9th, '08
Friends,
To celebrate Christmas, the New & the Past Year in our home town of Sydney, we have arranged a special $5 entry for family & friends to our Gaelic Club show this Thursday the 11th of December. It's a mive bill - Circle Pit, The Process (melb), Orphans (melb) Cut Copy DJ's & Arms DJ's. It will be an incredible night, and it's only $5 for those who email their names asap to toddmercy@mercy.com
Names on the list are essential.
Myspace friends, join us & rejoice.
Sincerely,
Mercy Arms.
Mon 4:36
Oct 20th, '08
o Mother, o Father, here we are, playing the Scala...
So, we played our very first show outside of Australia last week, 'twas with Ladyhawke, and we could not have had the pleasure of playing with a nicer girl and band... Thankyou Pip, Gentlemen, Sarah, Jenny & Adam, and all that've helped us get here!
But our Northern Expedition has only just begun, with four more shows in London before our second tour with the supremly sexual beings Cut Copy, taking in such exotic locations as Oslo, Aarhus, Gothenburg & the most exotic sounding of all, Koko. We'll then be playing some more UK dates aswell as US shows, details up shortly, before playing Homebake in December...
More importantly, however, the first edition of a series of informative blogs we're working on, entitled 'K-Bab 4 the Nomad - A beginers guide to kebabs in East London' will be completed shortly. Please check site regulary for updates.
Till then, then...
Sun 11:47
Oct 19th, '08
We have a new clip. It's been a long time coming. Maybe that's why it's practically two clips in one...
What do you think?
Mon 1:33
Sep 15th, '08
A big thanks to everyone in Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth & last but not least Brisbane! We couldn't have hoped for a warmer reception. The support & encouragement from all of you has made us want to get straight back into the rehearsal room & get working on new songs!
Praise must also go to the brilliant Melbourne band that toured around the country with us; The Process. Not just a great bunch of lads, but a top band; check out their singles 'The City' & 'The Void' out now. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/processprocess
In two weeks were off to the UK & Scandinavia for a month! We'll be doing a bunch of our own shows but also a run of supports for Cut Copy & Ladyhawke! If anyone knows any UK based keys/piano players send us a message as we're on the look out...
Anyways, that's all for now, so spread the word & enjoy the record til we see you all again in December!
Mercy ARMS
Tue 7:26
Aug 12th, '08
So, You've got a chance to listen to the record, which is streaming as we type/read from our myspace.
Soon, on August 16th to be precise, You'll have the chance to grab a copy of your own to take home to your apartment, townhouse, castle, chalet, bungalow, cottage, ranch, chateau, cabin, mansion, granny flat, shack, igloo or treehouse...
Please DO bother to make the purchase when you can, as not only is the cd's quality inevitably better, the booklet an artistic triumph, the plastic casing firm & durable; but we will also be able to keep going as a band & get our music out to more & more people. Feel free to share individual tracks on blogs etc & amongst your friends, but burning the entire album prevents us from being able to make another one in the future!
ALBUM IS AVAILABLE AUGUST 16TH FROM ALL GOOD RECORD STORES.
Sun 11:05
Jul 27th, '08
Unfortunately, Albert Hammond Jr. has cancelled his Australian tour due to illness.
The promoter, Frontier Touring, announced today -
"Albert is suffering a severe throat infection that has resulted in him losing his voice. He has been advised against performing by his doctor."
All patrons holding tickets to any of the shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can seek a refund from the original point of sale.
Sorry.
We'll see you on our album tour...
Fri 4:15
Jul 25th, '08
The first single off our record is "Half Right".
Naturally, it's also the first single on our record.
You can buy it.
You can download it, too.
Please, request it on JJJ, FBi, 2SER, RRR, PBS or your other radio station of choice.
If your station of choice has a slogan similar to "Good times, Great clic hits", then we're hoping you'll hear it in approx. 20 years time...
We're launching "Half Right" at the Espy, St Kilda, Saturday 26th July.
Wed 3:09
Jul 23rd, '08
Down Here, So Long
Half Right
Footsteps
To Me Now
Kilby
Speed
Shine a Light Down
Caroline
Firing Line
On & On
Wed 2:00
Jun 25th, '08
This is "Half Right", the 1st single off our forthcoming album. If you like it, please, request it on JJJ or your local radio station! It will be available soon...
Wed 7:35
Apr 30th, '08
Good Evening Myspace, uh, 'ers.
We, Mercy Arms, are playing a run of shows all through May, creatively titled "Mercy Arms in May", and would very very much love you to join us.
To show you how much we really want you to come, each week we are giving away a different limited edition single, provocative artwork and all, to the first 200 stamped wrists. Each are unavailable anywhere else and each is brand ing new! Collect them all!
The first single is "Always", recorded in Melbourne by none other than legendary producer Tony Cohen, who you may recognise from Birthday Party, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and The Go-Betweens inner sleeves. It's up on ourspace for all to enjoy, but come down to the shows and get a real life copy. In the flesh!
We will also be playing a lot of our new songs from the upcoming record and have some brilliant supports, such as wild man Louis Tillet, Soma for Kinda, Peter Head, Mission Control and more...
The Sydney shows at 77 are of particular nostalgic relevance for us as our first ever show, and many blurred nights, took place in this lovely dive on a wednesday night many moons ago. Hopefully they've still got those watered down $2 shots...
So please, join us, Mercy Arms.
We did.
MA.
Wed 8:07
Apr 16th, '08
Hey!
We're doing a four show residency throughout May in Melbourne and Sydney. Each week we're giving away a limited edition UNRELEASED single to everyone who comes along.
The songs we're giving away will vary from week to week, so make sure you come to all four shows!
We are also organising shows for Brisbane and elsewhere, and supports for the sydney and melbourne shows will be anounced over the next week or so.
See you in May,
Mercy Arms
Wed 2:16
Dec 5th, '07
We are still playing this weekend (friday) in sydney, but unfortunately the rest of the shows with Cutt off your hands have been called off.
The Scare have also been added to the line up in sydney.
Sorry to those in Melbourne and Bris
mercy arms
Thu 1:29
Nov 29th, '07
Which one do you think's better? Ha
radiohead play The headmasters ritual by the Smiths
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtmS2ePSSdU
The Spacers play Kept low... BY US!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1mROC4KorU
Thu 8:02
Aug 2nd, '07
Our debut ep is coming out September 1st. However, if you want to get a hold of a presale copy head on down to the shows and they'll be there. If you don't want a presale copy come down anyway! But you do want one
mercyarms
Mon 4:47
Jul 23rd, '07
To precede the release of the Ep, iTunes have made Shot-Right Down available for download before the Ep comes online... Enjoy!
Tue 8:34
Jun 19th, '07
Firstly thanks to Andrew for doing this, all visuals are mostly his concepts but we like it so we threw it up anyway.
Secondly apologies for that irritating flashing slogan that reads "created by unregistered version". Thats due to me downloading freeware to convert the file to avi... sorry. Reminds me of closing credits...
Enjoy!
