Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?

Harvey Danger

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 31, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 29, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana London
• ASIN: B000006AUU
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,116 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Carlotta Valdez

2. Flagpole Sitta

3. Woolly Muffler

4. Private Helicopter - Harvey Danger,

5. Problems and Bigger Ones

6. Jack the Lion

7. Old Hat

8. Terminal Annex

9. Wrecking Ball

10. Radio Silence

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's a disturbing trend in the Northwest: bands are getting way over-hyped before their first full-length record (which is often mediocre and disappointing) even hits the streets. Seattle's Harvey Danger, however, deserved the buzz that their debut CD generated. Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? was quite simply one of the best local records released in 1997. It has the pop accessibility of vocalist Sean Nelson's high-register croon (not unlike Jeremy Enigk), and the energetic and dynamic punch of a band--guitarist Jeff Lin, bassist Aaron Huffman, and drummer Evan Sult (The Rocket's assistant art director)--that has developed its chops together for more than four years. Harvey Danger have drawn all the worthwhile elements from '90s indie rock and created a sound that is at once their own, yet completely familiar. Lin's guitar is full and confident, ranging from full-on power chords to buzzing melodies, while Huffman frequently takes the leads with his fat, distorted bass humming away. Sult ably links the two with a minimum of flash and pretense. Nelson's clear-as-a-bell vocals and sardonic, clever, and frequently emotional lyrics are both the album's strongest and weakest aspects. Occasionally his verbosity overcomes the music and his almost condescending sniping becomes a little tiresome. However, these are minor complaints in the big picture, because songs like "Carlotta Valdez," "Flagpole Sitta," and "Problems and Bigger Ones" are true gems, and for a first effort, this is as close to flawless as a band can get. --Adem Tepedelen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Indie-rock, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

You'll most likely enjoy this CD. Check out the free clips first though. If you liked Flagpole Sitta, there may be a few other songs on the abulm you like, but it's better to listen to check out the other songs first. As for this CD being God Awful Garbage, I disagree, but I also realize that Harvey Danger has a distinct, unique sound, and uniqueness is a bad thing these days, right?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrics, Melody, Beat... Image has nothing to do with music., January 17, 2000

By	Brantley Harris "DeadWisdom" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Harvey Danger is a glorious band. This debut album, which amazingly enough is mostly a collection of demo recordings, strikes a cord in me no matter what song I hear. The first time you hear it, you might not appreciate it much, but listen to it again. The lyrics are amazing, and the melodies are beautiful. Anyone who says otherwise, doesn't get it... I can only assume them ignorant.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 17, 2008

By	Mark Larson (Draper, UT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always loved the song "Flagpole Sitta" and had heard great things about this CD, so I finally bought it. I have to say that I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I didn't really like any of the songs beyond "Flagpole Sitta". Some of them drone on and on.

I'm new to Harvey Danger other than the couple of singles that have been on the radio over the years ("Flagpole" and the remake of English Beat's "Sooner of Later", which I like better than the origianl), so I had no other context to consider Harvey Danger's music. Needless to say, I didn't find anything that made me want to delve into it more.