Mezcal Head

In 1993, Swervedriver re-emerged with the core of Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, along with newly recruited drummer Jez Hindmarsh (a.k.a. "Jez"), and released Mezcal Head. The album gave them their most successful UK single at number 60, "Duel",{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29167/screwdriver/|title=SCREWDRIVER [sic] - SINGLES|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=9 January 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20210109220417/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29167/screwdriver/|archivedate=9 January 2021|url-status=live}} which NME named its "single of the week" and for which a music video was released. Franklin and Hartridge both perform bass on the album, as they were left without a bassist when Adi Vines departed before recording began.

"Never Lose That Feeling", from the 1992 EP of the same name, and the extended instrumental "Never Learn" were added as a single bonus track to the US edition of the CD. Swervedriver toured US arenas with The Smashing Pumpkins and Shudder to Think in October and November 1993.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mezcal-head-mw0000102562|title=Mezcal Head – Swervedriver|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=8 October 2017|last=Rabid|first=Jack}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/swervedriver-23620|title=Swervedriver: Raise / Mezcal Head|work=The A.V. Club|date=10 February 2009|accessdate=8 October 2017|last=Modell|first=Josh}}

| rev3 = Blurt

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://blurtonline.com/review/swervedriver-raise-mezcal-head-reissues/|title=Swervedriver – Raise + Mezcal Head [reissues]|magazine=Blurt|date=30 March 2009|accessdate=28 June 2020|last=Judge|first=Stephen}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B{{cite magazine|title=Swervedriver: Mezcal Head|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=29 October 1993|page=74}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Swervedriver: Mezcal Head|magazine=Mojo|page=119|quote=[T]his Oxford quartet mixed post-Sonic Youth tuff gnarl with metal-Morricone menace, pachydermal Crazy Horse grooves and acres of billowing low-end.}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=Swervedriver: Mezcal Head|magazine=NME|date=25 September 1993|page=36}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.0/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12846-raise-mezcal-head/|title=Swervedriver: Raise / Mezcal Head|work=Pitchfork|date=2 April 2009|accessdate=8 October 2017|last=Tangari|first=Joe}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = 9/10{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/69569-swervedriver-raise/|title=Swervedriver: Raise / Mezcal Head|work=PopMatters|date=5 February 2009|accessdate=8 October 2017|last=Bergstrom|first=John}}

| rev9 = Q

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Swervedriver: Mezcal Head|magazine=Q|issue=86|date=November 1993|page=137}}

| rev10 = Spectrum Culture

| rev10score = 4.5/5{{cite web|url=http://spectrumculture.com/2009/01/26/swervedriver-raise-mezcal-head/|title=Swervedriver: Raise / Mezcal Head|work=Spectrum Culture|date=26 January 2009|accessdate=8 October 2017|last=Spadea|first=Jory}}

}}

Alternative Press ranked Mezcal Head at numbers 39 and 90 on its "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s" and "Top 99 of '85–'95" lists respectively.{{cite magazine|title=Top 99 of '85–'95|magazine=Alternative Press|issue=84|date=July 1995|page=104}}{{cite magazine|title=The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90's|magazine=Alternative Press|issue=125|date=December 1998}} It was also ranked at number 265 on Spin{{'}}s "The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985–2014)" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/05/the-300-best-albums-of-the-past-30-years-1985-2014/|title=The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985–2014) — 265. Swervedriver, Mezcal Head (A&M, 1993)|work=Spin|date=11 May 2015|accessdate=6 August 2015|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew}} Pitchfork ranked the album at number 10 on its list of "The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time" in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9966-the-50-best-shoegaze-albums-of-all-time/?page=5|title=The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time|work=Pitchfork|date=24 October 2016|accessdate=13 December 2016|page=5}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Swervedriver, except where noted

| title1 = For Seeking Heat

| length1 = 3:48

| title2 = Duel

| length2 = 6:19

| title3 = Blowin' Cool

| length3 = 3:55

| title4 = MM Abduction

| length4 = 2:51

| title5 = Last Train to Satansville

| length5 = 6:45

| title6 = Harry & Maggie (Dragging It Under)

| length6 = 5:27

| title7 = A Change Is Gonna Come

| length7 = 4:01

| title8 = Girl on a Motorbike

| length8 = 4:09

| title9 = Duress

| length9 = 8:03

| note9 = Swervedriver, Marc Waterman

| title10 = You Find It Everywhere

| length10 = 4:10

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = US edition bonus track

| title11 = Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn

| length11 = 11:51

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title11 = Planes Over the Skyline

| length11 = 4:41

| title12 = Year of the Girl

| length12 = 5:24

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2008 reissue bonus tracks

| title11 = Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn

| note11 = mislabeled as "Never Lose That Feeling"

| length11 = 11:51

| title12 = Planes Over the Skyline

| length12 = 5:24

| title13 = Hitcher

| length13 = 3:27

| title14 = Cars Converge on Paris

| length14 = 6:31

}}

The UK CD has "Mickey" and "Dragging It Under" printed on the CD as tracks 4 and 6. The US CD has "Harry and Maggie (Dragging It Under)" printed on the CD as track 6. The US promo is identical to the official release except that it has the word "PROMOTIONAL" printed on the CD. The Japanese edition comes with a biography and lyrics.[http://hem.spray.se/mezcalhead/purephaze/swervedriver/swd-discography.htm Swervedriver Discography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215003348/http://hem.spray.se/mezcalhead/purephaze/swervedriver/swd-discography.htm |date=2007-12-15 }}

The tracks "Duel" and "Last Train to Satansville" were featured in the Sega Saturn, Sony PlayStation and 3DO versions of the game Road Rash.

"Duel" was featured in the 1994 video game Road Rash and in the 2008 video game Burnout Paradise. "Mezcal" is censored from the song's album listing in the game due to connotations with alcoholic beverages.

Credits for Mezcal Head adapted from liner notes.{{cite AV media|title=Mezcal Head|type=liner notes|others=Swervedriver|publisher=Creation Records|year=1993|id=CRECD 143}}

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Swervedriver

• Adam Franklin – vocals, guitar
• Jimmy Hartridge – guitar
• Steve George – bass
• Jez Hindmarsh – drums, percussion

Additional musician

• Stewart Dace – saxophone {{small|(on "Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn")}}

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Production

• Swervedriver – production
• Alan Moulder – production, mixing, engineering
• Nick Addison – engineering
• Jez Hindmarsh – engineering
• Ronan Keating – engineering assistant
• Howie Weinberg – mastering

Design

• Andy Vella – cover art

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcrTYkPF17BWE0nploWceYAZkqR6k833h Mezcal Head] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Swervedriver}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1993 albums

Category:Albums produced by Alan Moulder

Category:Swervedriver albums