The Light In You—Mercury Rev’s 10th full-length and first in seven years—picks up where 2008’s Snowflake Midnight left off, with stalwart founders Jonathan Donahue and Grasshopper drawing inspiration from nature and the Rubik’s Cube of love in equal measure. There is a strong autumnal vibe about the affair—a modern Days Of Future Passed, complete with sweeping orchestral touches and wistful remembrances by the fistful. When the band’s “psychedelic rock and blue-eyed soul” finds its groove, it’s still a breathless wonder to behold. Mercury Rev will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read out MAGNET Classics feature on the band’s Yerself Is Steam.
Anthony Molina: This might be a controversial choice. Lolita Lebrón was a radical Puerto Rican nationalist who was in the front line in the battle over political independence from the United States during the 1940s and ‘50s. At the time (and even now) the island has been pretty evenly divided between those who want independent national status and to remain a commonwealth of the U.S. In 1954 she and a small band stormed the House of Representatives in Washington shot and wounded five members of Congress. I don’t in any way condone this attack but I do believe that her passion and leadership skills, especially as a woman in the 1950s, was unique to say the least. As an adult I found out she was my 3rd cousin and has always been a symbol of feminine strength in my mind. Upon being arrested, Lebrón yelled “I did not come to kill anyone, I came to die for Puerto Rico!”. In 1979 she was granted clemency by President Jimmy Carter. There will be a movie about her some day.
Video after the jump.
