The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen

After two singles for Fast Product, Leeds art-punk collective The Mekons signed with Virgin Records in 1979. The band would have to borrow gear from their mates Gang Of Four to record their major label debut. In classic Mekons style, the album's back cover featured a photo of Gang Of Four instead of themselves. As Simon Reynolds writes, "The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen got a mixed reception at the time. Listening to it now, though, the first LP sounds more of a piece with the band's early punk singles. What's striking is the commonality of sound across the three key Leeds groups of that moment (Gang Of Four, Delta 5 and The Mekons). There are textural affinities in terms of scrawny abrasiveness and a general departure from rock 'n' roll norms of singing and emoting." With boundless energy, The Mekons net a dozen barbed takes on pop culture, art and politics. "What Are We Going To Do Tonight" stands out as a razor-sharp critique of leisure, while "Beetroot" drowns apathy in angular riffs and catchy, unmelodic chants.

Clad in one of the most striking record covers of its era, The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen is now available from the 1990 CD rip to MP3 @ 320kbps

The Mekons; The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen

1.      Like Spoons No More

2.      Join Us In The Countryside

3.      Rosanne

4.      Trevira Trousers

5.      After 6

6.      What Are We Going To Do Tonight

7.      What

8.      Watch The Film

9.      Beetroot

10.   I Saw You Dance

11.   Lonely And Wet

12.   Dan Dare

13.   Teeth

14.   Guardian

15.   Kill

16.   Stay Cool

17.   Work All Week

18.   Unknown Wrecks