The Backyard (EP)
| The Backyard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Recorded | Presence Studios | |||
| Genre | College rock, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 26:09 | |||
| Label | Rough Trade Records | |||
| Miracle Legion chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Backyard is the second release by the American alternative rock band Miracle Legion, released in 1984 on Rough Trade Records.
Release[edit]
Released on both 12" vinyl and cassette,[1] the six song EP The Backyard was recorded at Presence Studios and released under Rough Trade Records in 1984.[a] The songs were composed by Mark Mulcahy and Ray Neal.[2]
The eponymous title track "The Backyard" became a staple on college radio charts following its release,[2] and there was a music video for it which received regular rotation on MTV.[3] The lyrics to "The Backyard" focus on Mulcahy's youth.[4]
A tribute album to Mulcahy, Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, was released in 2009 by Shout! Factory and features a cover of "The Backyard" by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr.[5]
Reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[6] |
Drawing comparison to R.E.M.,[6] the record received much acclaim.[7] Music critic Robert Christgau writing positively on Mulcahy's lyrics says that they are of "dazzled childhood and yearning adolescence," and likens the vocals to Loudon Wainwright III.[6] The album has been called a "landmark" by Trouser Press, and calls the title track "sheer brilliance."[8]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Backyard" | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Butterflies" | 4:45 |
| 3. | "Closer To The Wall" | 4:06 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Just Say Hello" | 4:56 |
| 5. | "The Heart Is Attached" | 4:14 |
| 6. | "Steven Are You There?" | 4:07 |
Personnel[edit]
- Joel Potocsky - bass guitar
- Mark Mulcahy - vocals
- Jeff Wiederschall - drums
- Ray Neal - guitar
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Information provided by The Backyards liner notes.
Citations[edit]
- ^ a b Cleary Allmusic.
- ^ a b Janovitz Allmusic.
- ^ Billboard 1986, p. 53.
- ^ Melis 2011.
- ^ Brandon 2009.
- ^ a b c Christgau 1990, p. 277.
- ^ Maximum Rock 'n' Roll 1987.
- ^ Gethers, Stenger & Reno.
Sources[edit]
- "Videos added this week", Billboard, vol. 98, no. 40, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 4 October 1986, ISSN 0006-2510
- Christgau, Robert (1990), Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s, Pantheon Books, ISBN 9780679730156
- "Summer releases", Maximum Rock 'n' Roll, no. 52, 1987, ISSN 0743-3530, OCLC 10553172
Online sources[edit]
- Cleary, David, "The Backyard", Allmusic, Rovi Corp., retrieved 9 December 2012
- Janovitz, Bill, "The Backyard", Allmusic, Rovi Corp., retrieved 13 December 2012
- Gethers, Altricia; Stenger, Wif; Reno, Brad, "Miracle Legion", Trouser Press, retrieved 19 December 2012
- Brandon (2009), "Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Dinosaur Contribute To Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy", Stereogum, retrieved 19 December 2012
- Melis, Matt (20 January 2011), "Album Review: Miracle Legion–Surprise Surprise Surprise (Reissue)", Consequence of Sound, retrieved 20 December 2012
External links[edit]
- The Backyard at Discogs (list of releases)
- The Backyard at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
