The Thin Mercury Sound by Caviar: A Forgotten Gem That Deserves Another Spin
Alright, let’s talk about The Thin Mercury Sound by Caviar. Released back in 2004 on Aezra Records, this album is one of those under-the-radar projects that doesn’t get enough love. It’s a mix of Pop/Rock, Alternative Rock, and some Indie vibes thrown in for good measure. If you’re into bands like Jimmy Eat World or early Maroon 5 (you know, before they went full pop), this might just hit the spot.
First off, gotta give props to the lineup here. Blake Smith handles vocals and guitar duties, Mike Willison kills it on bass and keyboards, Jason Batchko smashes the drums, and together they create this tight-knit sound that feels equal parts polished and raw. The album hops between moody introspection and straight-up bangers—sometimes within the same track—which keeps things interesting.
Now, onto the songs. There are a few tracks that stuck with me after spinning this record. One is “Light Up the Sky.” Man, this tune has hooks for days. The chorus feels like it was built for driving around at night with the windows down, letting the wind mess up your hair while you scream-sing along. Blake’s voice has this raspy edge to it, but there’s also something kinda sweet lurking underneath. And don’t even get me started on the guitar riff—it’s simple yet totally addictive. This one’s definitely going into my "vibey road trip playlist."
Another standout? “You’ve Got A Black Black Heart.” No, it’s not a cover of Daniel Powter’s hit (thank god). Instead, it’s got this brooding, almost cinematic vibe to it. The lyrics walk the line between bitter and reflective, like someone trying to make sense of a breakup without sounding too whiny. Plus, the bassline from Mike Willison is so damn smooth it almost steals the show. I found myself rewinding this track more than once because it just felt… layered, ya know?
One thing worth mentioning is how many versions of certain songs appear on the album. Like, why are there three different listings for “Light Up the Sky”? Is this some kind of commentary on redundancy? Or did someone accidentally hit copy-paste too many times when putting the tracklist together? Either way, it’s quirky little details like these that remind you this isn’t some corporate cash grab—it’s an indie project through and through.
Looking back, The Thin Mercury Sound came out during a weird transitional period for rock music. Bands were experimenting with blending genres, and streaming hadn’t fully taken over yet, so albums still had room to breathe. Listening to this now feels like discovering a time capsule from a moment when people weren’t obsessing over playlists or TikTok trends.
So yeah, if you stumble across this album, give it a shot. It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s what makes it memorable. Oh, and fun fact: apparently, Caviar broke up shortly after releasing this. Which sucks, ‘cause based on this album, they could’ve done big things. Guess sometimes life doesn’t have a happy ending—but hey, at least we’ve got the music.
