The Backyard (EP)

The Backyard is the second release by the American alternative rock band Miracle Legion, released in 1984 on Rough Trade Records.

The Backyard
EP by
Miracle Legion
Released1984
RecordedPresence Studios
GenreCollege rock, alternative rock
Length26:09
LabelRough Trade Records
Miracle Legion chronology
A Simple Thing
(1983)		 The Backyard
(1984)		 Surprise Surprise Surprise
(1987)

Release

Released on both 12" vinyl and cassette,[1] the six song EP The Backyard was recorded at Presence Studios and released under Rough Trade Records in 1984.[lower-alpha 1] The songs were composed by Mark Mulcahy and Ray Neal.[2]

The eponymous title track "The Backyard" became a staple on college radio charts following its release,[2] and there was a music video for it which received regular rotation on MTV.[3] The lyrics to "The Backyard" focus on Mulcahy's youth.[4]

A tribute album to Mulcahy, Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, was released in 2009 by Shout! Factory and features a cover of "The Backyard" by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr.[5]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[6]

Drawing comparison to R.E.M.,[6] the record received much acclaim.[7] Music critic Robert Christgau writing positively on Mulcahy's lyrics says that they are of "dazzled childhood and yearning adolescence," and likens the vocals to Loudon Wainwright III.[6] The album has been called a "landmark" by Trouser Press, and calls the title track "sheer brilliance."[8]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleLength
1."The Backyard"4:01
2."Butterflies"4:45
3."Closer To The Wall"4:06
Side two
No.TitleLength
4."Just Say Hello"4:56
5."The Heart Is Attached"4:14
6."Steven Are You There?"4:07

Personnel
  • Joel Potocsky - bass guitar
  • Mark Mulcahy - vocals
  • Jeff Wiederschall - drums
  • Ray Neal - guitar

References

Notes
  1. Information provided by The Backyards liner notes.

Citations
  1. Cleary Allmusic.
  2. Janovitz Allmusic.
  3. Billboard 1986, p. 53.
  4. Melis 2011.
  5. Brandon 2009.
  6. Christgau 1990, p. 277.
  7. Maximum Rock 'n' Roll 1987.
  8. Gethers, Stenger & Reno.

Sources
  • "Videos added this week", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., vol. 98, no. 40, 4 October 1986, ISSN 0006-2510
  • Christgau, Robert (1990), Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s, Pantheon Books, ISBN 9780679730156
  • "Summer releases", Maximum Rock 'n' Roll, no. 52, 1987, ISSN 0743-3530, OCLC 10553172

Online sources
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