Yerself Is Steam cover

Yerself Is Steam

Mercury Rev · 1991

56 min · 85 tracks · alternative rock

A kaleidoscopic blend of lush instrumentation and dreamy melodies envelops the listener in surreal sonic landscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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    Chasing a Bee Start here — This track opens the album with swirling instrumentation and ethereal vocals, setting the tone for the rest of the record's atmospheric journey.
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    Sweet Oddysee of a Cancer Cell t' th' Center of Yer Heart — The intricate arrangements and dynamic shifts throughout this lengthy piece showcase the band's ability to blend complexity with melodic beauty, embodying their signature style.
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    Coney Island Cyclone — This short yet impactful track encapsulates the playful yet haunting essence of the album, juxtaposing whimsical lyrics with a lush sonic backdrop.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album's lush soundscapes and experimental structures create a unique listening experience, though it may not hold up as well over time.

What we noticed

  • The album features a wide range of instrumentation, including strings and horns, creating a rich sonic tapestry that supports the ethereal vocals.
  • Tracks often blend into one another with minimal pauses, enhancing the dreamlike quality and immersive experience.
  • Several tracks utilize unconventional song structures, eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of more fluid arrangements.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • wave-like pacing and flow
  • dreamy, surreal soundscapes

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This debut album established Mercury Rev's presence in the alternative rock scene.
Themes
surreal sonic landscapes· Coney Island whimsy· dreamlike instrumentation
Career context
Yerself Is Steam is Mercury Rev's debut album, released in 1991, establishing them within the burgeoning alternative rock scene of the early '90s. At this point, the band was still developing their unique sound, which would later evolve in subsequent albums like Deserter's Songs.
New to Mercury Rev? Find your way in →

Tracklist

  • 1 Chasing a Bee Start here 7:09
  • 2 Syringe Mouth 4:04
  • 3 Coney Island Cyclone 2:37
  • 4 Blue and Black 6:00
  • 5 Sweet Oddysee of a Cancer Cell t' th' Center of Yer Heart 7:48
  • 6 Frittering 8:47
  • 7 Continuous Trucks and Thunder Under a Mother's Smile 0:43
  • 8 Very Sleepy Rivers 7:15
  • 9 Very Sleepy Rivers (continued) 0:04
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  • 98 [silence] 0:04
  • 99 Car Wash Hair 6:45

What to play next

Boces
Listen next

Boces

1993

Continues the lush soundscapes while introducing more structured song forms.
Full Mercury Rev discography Where to start with Mercury Rev Artists like Mercury Rev
alternative rock

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata