We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the new album “Mercy” from the long standing project of brothers Erik and Stephen Paulson – Remo Drive Following a six-year run of pristine emo-influenced rock ‘n’ roll records comes Mercy, the band’s fourth album, out today via Epitaph. It’s the band’s most lyric-focused offering to date, a record about reinvention, trusting yourself, and wearing your heart on your sleeve even when it’s painful or vulnerable. And …. It is giving us all the feels .

You can listen to Mercy Here

The origins of Mercy are based on moving apart, with Erik relocating to the sleepy upstate city of Albany, New York as Stephen stayed back in the duo’s native Minnesota. In this new environment, Erik wrote constantly, playing alone in his room and allowing himself to use his music to think existentially about life. He contemplated the complexities of being in a relationship, of making art and having it be received by a wide audience, and the complexities of finding your footing in a new place (inspiring single “New In Town”). 
 

In addition to the physical distance added between them, the new album introduces a major sonic departure from records of Remo past. Less indebted to the emo and pop punk that foregrounded the duo’s career, instead Mercy is invested in thorny, baroque indie pop by way of Father John Misty and Fleet Foxes. The band thrived under the guidance of legendary Seattle-based producer, Phil Ek (The Shins, Band Of Horses) who helped bring their new ideas to life in the span of ten days. “It was refreshing to work with Phil,” says Erik, “It made music feel like how it did when we were younger. He was like fuck it, let’s go, let’s have fun.”  

Returning to their respective home studio setups to finish up the album, remote recording sessions were also something new to the brothers who had gotten used to the comfort and convenience of making music in one room. The band cheekily refers to the experience as toggling between their most legit recording environment and their most scrappy, “It’s like going from Michelin Star to the Dollar Store,” jokes Erik. The record also features touring members Dane Folie who plays keys on “Hold You,” and Sam Becht who plays drums throughout. Tim Houston is also on the record, playing pedal steel

In many ways Mercy is a testament to getting in touch with your mental health, deprogramming what you thought you knew about yourself and using music to unlock inner honesty. It lends to some of Remo Drive’s strongest lyrical work yet – proof that they have found their stride making the art they really want to make.   

We found ourselves really connecting to “Mercy” from Remo Drive . The authentic feel and sound makes “Mercy” one of those records we will never get tired listening to.

Remo Drive are hitting the road for a US Spring headlining tour with support from Los Angeles rock band Wilt. It kicks off on March 8th and will traverse major cities such as Los Angeles, Nashville, NYC, Chicago and more before ending with a hometown show in Minneapolis on April 14th.  

Remo Drive Tour Dates

March 8 – Des Moines, IA – xBk 

March 10 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street 

March 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge 

March 20 – San Diego, CA – Sodabar 

March 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room 

March 22 – Fresno, CA – Strummers 

March 23 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill 

March 24 – Sacramento, CA – Harlows 

March 26 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios 

Mar-27 – Seattle, WA – Vera Project 

March 29 – Boise, ID – The Shredder 

March 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court 

March 31 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive 

April 1 – Kansas City, MO – Encore 

April 2 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House 

April 4 – Nashville, TN – The End 

April 5 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory 

April 6 – Carrboro, NC – Cats Cradle Backroom 

April 7 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery 

April 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry 

April 9 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Made 

April 10 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom 

April 12 – Columbus, OH The Basement 

April 13 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean 

April 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line