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"Soapbox Jive"
Brother Zero Records
By tapping hip-hop, blues, Latin jazz, reggae and rock, this 3-year-old Denver outfit exudes cool. Its new 18-track release borrows from the Squirrel Nut Zippers' jump-jiving fun, Tom Waits' smoky croon, Paul Simon's smart use of world beats and the jazzy foundation of Herbie Hancock or Steely Dan. This is an ambitious, easy-to-digest CD tailor-made for eclectic-music lovers. - Elana Jefferson
From ska to rock to hip-hop to funk and back again, Soapbox Jive slaps genre classification in the face with licked fingers. At one end of the spectrum is "Jump Blues," where Jason Duffy's sultry lower register and Michael Smith's splashing cymbals oppose funk and bebop guitars in a frenzy of nostalgia. On the other end lies the Afro-pop tinted "Higher Ground," based around African soukous guitar licks, Caribbean soca, and Cuban songo patterns. The rest of Jive continues to move with incredible fluidity from socio-political explorations to dance-floor jumpers like "Love Bombs," where funk-infused bass lines twirl with tight, punctuated horn and Digable Planets-style vocals. Soapbox Jive (to be released on Friday, November 19, at Herman's Hideaway) is a definite classic. - Morgan Wells
Winner of all bands in Colorado for Best Funk/Soul/Groove category.
- The Westword (2005)
“The energy and absolute joy that this band exudes on stage is dangerously infectious. This debut CD adds some depth and delicate touches to the already strong songwriting. Some have mentioned Dave Matthews, Sublime, and the Chili Peppers as mainstream sound-alikes, but that doesn’t include the mixture of “Denver Sound” inside this band. If your want to get your ears around what may epitomize the youth, energy, and talent of our burgeoning scene, this CD is the 12-track nutshell.”
(Judy the Voice, www.denverlocalmusicscene.com, 12/19/02)
- Judy the Voice
They have pushed the creative envelope, and for bands who will follow in their wake, it will be said that they sound like The Mercury Project.”
"A World Exists" is easily one of the best Colorado produced releases.”
(Sunny Smith, The Denver Daily News, 1/22/03)
- Sunny Smith
“A World Exists is an impressive first album for a band so young and so raw to the music industry’s snarling imbroglios. Songs range from silly (but not childish) to sublime to political to happy fuzzy. Think of acoustic rock sounding new again. The opening track, “Time” is so strong; I’m surprised that it isn’t all over mainstream radio.”
“Besides good songwriting and talent, The Mercury Project, on and off the record, exudes good Karma. It’s strong and genuine. And it’s contagious.”
(Judith Brady, Go-Go Magazine, 9/4/02)
- Judith Brady
“The Mercury Project raises the temperature and the roof at the Post-News Battle of the Bands. When all was said and done, the bands congratulated The Project – whose soulful, funky, hip, classic, and innovative sound was enough to conquer the battle.”
“When The Mercury Project took the stage, even the shyest of wallflowers found themselves
groovin’ on their feet. The band was positively intense and intensely positive – exuding a vibe so powerful, one was literally moved.”
(Samantha Emerson, UCD Advocate, 12/11/02)
- Samantha Emmerson
Voted in the top ten best local albums of the year. - The Denver Post
“Rocked my world! Kicked my ass! This is band is destined for greatness! This group plays the fine out of everything they do. They should be called on a scale of 1-10 = 12.” - Robert Metzgar
Discography
LP: "Soapbox Jive" 2004 (Brother Zero Records)
Jump Blues
Higher Ground
Love Bombs
Seduction
City Lights Interlude
Refuge
Fenced In
We Likes
The More You Know...
Even If
Mongo
Window
Stand
Dancin'
Chopin's Naked Promenade
Where's My Vodka?
thUnderdogg
Bitter End
LP: "A World Exists" 2002 (Brother Zero Records)
Time
Pura Vida
Ol' Mac Brown
Hey You
Basement Psychiatry
So Low
Restless
Monkey
America
Suburban Life
Relapse
Before Tomorrow
EP: "The Mercury Project" 2000 (Unreleased)
Empty Bottle
Pura Vida
My Way
Restless
Time
Airplay: Clearchannel Colorado Region includes:
103.5 FM The Fox - Lewis and Floorwax
97.3 FM KBCO (Studio C)
93.3 FM KTCL
99.5 FM KQMT The Mountain
Radio 1190 AM
College Radio Stations - Some National/Regional
Photos
Bio
Blending the styles of hip-hop, jazz, blues, latin, reggae, folk, and straight ahead rock, The Mercury Project succeeds in creating a sound entirely their own. The group achieves an eclectic mix full of rich vocal harmonies, lyrical intelligence, and surprising versatility in both style and instrumentation.
In December of 2004, The Mercury Project won Lewis & Floorwax's "Last Band Standing." And was heard by over 300,000 listeners on a clear channel radio station (103.5 the Fox) for 2 consecutive weeks.
In November of 2004 The Mercury Project released their second album, Soapbox Jive, to a sold out show of well over 600 people at one of Denver’s premier music venues, Herman’s Hideaway. Soapbox Jive is an 18-track genre masher that explores various styles with the musicianship and flare that fans and critics have come to expect from The Mercury Project. This album “borrows from the Squirrel Nut Zippers' jump-jiving fun, Tom Waits' smoky croon, Paul Simon's smart use of world beats and the jazzy foundation of Herbie Hancock or Steely Dan. This is an ambitious, easy-to-digest CD tailor-made for eclectic-music lovers.” (The Denver Post, 11/28/04)
“Soapbox Jive is a definite classic.” (The Westword, 11/21/04)
In the fall of 2002, The Mercury Project entered into the Post-News Battle of the Bands. Over 150 bands from all over the state of Colorado competed in this grueling test of promotion and performance. On November 27th, at the pinnacle of statewide talent, The Mercury Project emerged victorious, taking with them a slue of new fans. Since 2001, The Mercury Project has quickly become one of Colorado’s top bands. They paid their dues at local’s launches and open mic nights and have since secured headlining spots at some of Colorado's great venues; The Gothic Theatre and Herman’s Hideaway. They have also headlined at Denver’s prestigious “People’s Fair,” as well as opened for national acts such as The Ohio Players, Steel Pulse, and Joan Osborne at Denver’s most esteemed event, “AT&T LoDo Music Festival.
Delivering a powerful performance every time they take the stage, The Project hypnotizes the audience with their progressive music and magnetic energy. “The energy and absolute joy that this band exudes on stage is dangerously infectious.” (Judy the Voice, www.denverlocalmusicscene.com)
Shocking fans and critics alike in 2000 with their self-produced debut in album “A World Exists,” The Mercury Project stays true to their melodic variety by creating a musical experience that ranges from the sublime to the abrasive. Their innate sense of melody and lyrical hooks ensnare the listener from the onset of the album. “The opening track, “Time,” is so strong I’m surprised that it isn’t all over mainstream radio.” (Judith Brady, Go-Go Magazine)
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