Yerself Is Steam

Yerself Is Steam
Studio album by
Mercury Rev
ReleasedMay 14, 1991
Recorded1990–1991
Genre
Length49:19 (UK)
57:09 (US)
Label
ProducerMercury Rev
Mercury Rev chronology
Yerself Is Steam
(1991) 		Boces
(1993)

Yerself Is Steam is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Mercury Rev, released on May 14, 1991. The title is a mondegreen of the phrase "your self-esteem", and is taken from a recurring lyric in opening track "Chasing a Bee". "Car Wash Hair" was released as a single to follow the album. "Very Sleepy Rivers" is supposedly[weasel words] about a serial killer, with the river acting as a metaphor for the killer's relative calm and sudden tendency to snap.

A music video for "Chasing a Bee" was shot at an abandoned infectious disease hospital that once housed Mary Mallon on North Brother Island in New York City, and was directed by Jim Spring and Jens Jurgensen.

Dean Wareham of Galaxie 500 made a guest appearance on "Car Wash Hair" and assisted with recording, allegedly after bassist and engineer Dave Fridmann spent the band's advance on a holiday package.

  1. ^ Terich, Jeff (July 2, 2015). "10 Essential Neo-Psychedelia Albums". Treble. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Shipley, Al (September 23, 2021). "30 Overlooked 1991 Albums Turning 30 This Year". Spin. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Phares, Heather. "Mercury Rev Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference rsag was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference pitchfork was invoked but never defined (see the help page).