"Dark Is Rising," Mercury Rev

One of my favorite albums of 1999-2000 was the ethereal "Deserter's Songs," by Mercury Rev. I was stoked for their followup album, which was due in stores on the second tuesday of September, 2001. In those days, I was an aficionado of CDs and my Discman and getting things the day they came out from a midtown Manhattan retailer.

The second Tuesday in September was the 11th. I didn't pick up the album that day, as things were really chaotic. I didn't go to work the next day, either. The following Thursday, though, life resumed. And following work, I decided to walk around Manhattan a bit to get my bearings. I picked up the new Mercury Rev album, and unwrapped it immediately, putting it in my discman.

4 minutes later, I was a shaking, sobbing mess on the streets of Manhattan. So hopeful for a bigger purpose, for a better reason. Haunting song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A102xE-Wnfk

Dan Dunford