Project Mersh

Infobox Album | Name = Project: Mersh
Type = EP
Artist = The Minutemen


Released = 1985
Recorded = February 1985
Genre = Punk
Length = 22:14
Label = SST
Producer = Joe Carducci
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ing9kect7q7b link] | Last album = "Double Nickels on the Dime"
(1984)
This album = "Project: Mersh"
(1985)
Next album = "3-Way Tie (For Last)"
(1985)

"Project: Mersh" is the penultimate release (final extended play, or EP release) from influential punk/alternative trio The Minutemen before D. Boon's death later that year in an auto accident.

The cover art is a painting by D. Boon depicting a meeting of three exhausted record label executives in which one of them says "I got it! We'll have them write hit songs!" Project: Mersh was a sarcastic and ironic attempt at a commercial (or "mersh") recording rather than their "econo" method. Though, as bassist Mike Watt pointed out in a 1985 Bard College interview, "It's only mersh because we said it was mersh, it only sold about half as much as our art record "Double Nickels on the Dime"." All six songs surpass the two-minute mark ("More Spiel" is nearly six minutes long) and incorporate verses, choruses, and hooks, and fade outs in contrast to nearly all the band's previous recordings. Crane who provided backing vocals and played the trumpet on "Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat" returned to lend his voice and instrumentals to the album. The album even utilizes a synthesizer which was played by Ethan James who produced their previous album Double Nickels on the Dime. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:tb4uak6k5m3v~T2] .The album also features a cover of Steppenwolf's "Hey Lawdy Mama."

Track listing

ide one

# The Cheerleaders – 3:52 (Boon)
# King of the Hill – 3:24 (Boon)
# Hey Lawdy Mama – 3:37 (Byrom, Edmonton, Kay)

ide two

# Take Our Test – 2:44 (Watt)
# Tour-Spiel – 2:45 (Watt)
# More Spiel – 5:52 (Watt)

Musical Personnel

*D. Boon - guitar, lead vocals
*Mike Watt - bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, speech
*George Hurley - drums, sound effects, wood block
*Crane - trumpet, backing vocals
*Ethan James - synthesizer, backing vocals

External links

* [http://sidemouse.com/minutemen.htm Interview from Suburban Voice No. 17]
* [http://sidemouse.com/bcoley.htm Minute by Minutemen]