Retreat from Memphis

Retreat from Memphis is an album by English band the Mekons, released in 1994.^[2][3] It followed a few years of label troubles that saw the band considering a breakup.^[4][5] The band supported the album by touring with Man or Astroman?^[5]

Retreat from Memphis
Studio album by the Mekons
Released	1994
Label	Quarterstick[1]
Producer	Ducky
The Mekons chronology
Millionaire EP (1993) Retreat from Memphis (1994) Pussy, King of the Pirates (1996)

Production

The album was recorded in Chicago.^[6] Some of its songs engaged with military motifs; many were recorded after the band had played them on a 1993 tour.^[7][8] The Mekons brought in a new drummer for the recording sessions.^[9] Susie Honeyman, the band's violinist, was on maternity leave during much of the production of Retreat from Memphis.^[10]

"Our Bad Dream", about the Mekons' time with Warner Bros. Records, incorporated elements of rap music.^[11][12] "Ice Rink in Berlin" was sung by Sally Timms.^[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
Chicago Tribune	[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[12]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	4/10[17]
The Tampa Tribune	[13]

The Washington Post wrote that "the exuberant eclecticism of the late-'80s Mekons has settled into an almost classic-rock sound, and the band's attempts to vary the sound on its new Retreat From Memphis are not inspiring."^[7] Entertainment Weekly thought that the album "finds them, as usual, gleefully musing in their wry, existential style on matters ranging from amorous entanglements to global upheaval."^[18] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "the Mekons fall back to rocking out with a neurotic, decidedly '80s post-punk edge."^[11]

Spin deemed Retreat from Memphis a "stronger, more classic-sounding [comeback]."^[19] The Austin American-Statesman labeled it "another album of borderline brilliance from these overeducated sociopolitical gadflies, one in which the zest of the music belies the deadpan dread of the lyrics."^[20] The Chicago Tribune considered the album "one of the band's most spirited offerings of communal, life-affirming-here we go again-rock 'n' roll."^[10]

AllMusic called the album "direct, straightforward, and angry in a way the Mekons had not been for quite a while."^[14] The Rough Guide to Rock considered it "probably the weakest in the Mekons' catalogue."^[21]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Eve Future"
2.	"Lucky Devil"
3.	"Do I Know You?"
4.	"Insignificance"
5.	"His Bad Dream"
6.	"Our Bad Dream"
7.	"The Flame That Killed John Wayne"
8.	"Ice Rink in Berlin"
9.	"Spinning Round in Flames"
10.	"Machine"
11.	"Hostile Mascot"
12.	"Chemical Wedding"
13.	"Spirals of Paranoia"
14.	"Missing You All"
15.	"Submerged"
16.	"Soldier"
17.	"Never Work"

References

1. Marcus, Greil (May 1994). "Top ten — Retreat from Memphis by the Mekons". Artforum. Vol. 32, no. 9. p. 15.
2. "The Mekons Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. "Mekons". Paste. February 12, 2004.
4. Thompson, Stephen (April 29, 1994). "New CD Releases Ready to Hit the Stores". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18.
5. Wood, Sam (1 July 1994). "Mekons Acknowledge Their Place on the Fringe". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 19.
6. Terrell, Steve (4 Nov 1994). "The Mekons deserve the Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award...". Pasatiempo. The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 1.
7. "Mekons Plumbing Different Delta". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
8. Wright, Rickey (November 12, 1993). "New Direction? Mekons Are 'Always Punk'". Preview. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 11.
9. "Mekons". Trouser Press. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
10. Caro, Mark (9 June 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
11. Toombs, Mikel (August 11, 1994). "Retreat from Memphis". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
12. (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 535–536.
13. O'Neill, Mike (June 24, 1994). "Mekons, Retreat from Memphis". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
14. "Retreat from Memphis". AllMusic.
15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 690.
16. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 744.
17. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 248–249.
18. "Retreat from Memphis". Entertainment Weekly.
19. Gladstone, Eric (Jun 1994). "Music". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 3. p. 58.
20. McLeese, Don (16 Aug 1994). "Mekons Retreat from Memphis". Austin American-Statesman. p. E5.
21. Buckley, Peter (March 5, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides.