Backstory
Paul Dillon & Jason Merritt did not meet on a co-headlining Sparklehorse/Mercury Rev tour of the Eastern US back in 1999, though by all accounts they should have.
Jeff Mercel was there, playing drums with Mercury Rev – Paul was there as guitar tech for Mark Linkous, and Jason was there on the same bus as Jeff & his upstate compatriots in his capacity as ride-along-poet-inresidence. I think the tour lasted about two weeks.
The Songs
The first item of official Miracle Whips business was a field trip to Goodwill to purchase a large & unwieldy 1970’s era cast iron electric typewriter, and soon thereafter the songs flowed like cheap beer. The results were as surprising and unlikely as a conflict-free diamon as neither Jason nor Paul had previously collaborated in the pursuit of song to such an extent – and quite frankly, did nor approve of it either. They both still think it’s a bad idea worth pursuing.
The Record
Jeff was flown out to Portland, Oregon from his home in Saugerties, NY, where he & the other two decamped to Colin Hegna’s famed Revolver Studios to records every song live, together, in the room, close-mic’d & in close quarters. ‘The Basement Tapes’ but recorded with the intention of release, or something like that. The old way of doing things, sometimes, is the best way.