go ahead and drink the mercury...

Mercury Radio Theater
"The Blue-Eyed Model"
(Lujo/Friction)

Usually instrumental bands have to have a certain spark to stand out from lyric-heavy rock and rollers. I don't think The Cure could be a successful band without the Robert Smith's gut-wrenching stanzas, not because they're not competant musicians, but over time lyrics have essentially become a separate band member. From time to time, instrumental bands such as Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed You Black Emperor will break out, but it seldom happens.

Mercury Radio Theater is not like most instrumental rock bands. For one thing, they're stripped down to three members who play simple surf rock. And while that doesn't look so great on paper, it's actually quite enjoyable.

Like Seattle's Joules, Mercury Radio Theater plays music that's suited for a spy movie. It's thematic, yet few things spoken. On "The Blue-Eyed Model," the album's concept is centered around a man named Gregor who is attempting to build the perfect human being. The liner notes, which doubles as a comic book, tells the story, and there's also a narrator bringing the story together within the album's interludes. It's like reading an opera of sorts.

"The Blue-Eyed Model" is a great album and not bogged down by Palahniuk-esque meanderings about broken hearts and violent tendencies. It stands on its own feet without the aid of cheap lyrics and that's the sign of a real rock and roll band.