Mercury Rev are an American band from Buffalo, New York. The band's leader, David Baker, formed the band in the 1980s with his friends, including one-time Flaming Lips member Jonathan Donahue and Producer Dave Fridmann who was their bass player, but quit touring with the band circa 1992 to pursue a career as an independent engineer producer. Dave is still a band member in the studio as well as being their producer.

With their debut, Yerself Is Steam, the band gained an underground following, particularly in the UK. 1993's Boces was critically acclaimed for its alternative sound, but was the last to feature Baker, who departed shortly afterwards. The band's next album, See You on the Other Side, begins a shift away from the Baker-inspired extremes of sonic experimentalism towards the elaborately-orchestrated classic rock blueprint of their later work.

The reinvention continued on their 1998 album Deserter's Songs, a mix of dream pop, noise, and psychedelia. This album was very popular but it divides the band's fans: some say that this is the band's best album, others disagree. The next album All Is Dream (2001) followed suit in terms of musical style, and featured Jack Nitzsche on the production team (best known for helping Phil Spector engineer the Wall Of Sound production method). All Is Dream is also the first Rev album with drummer/co-songwriter Jeff Mercel, who replaced Jimmy Chambers after he left due to personal reasons.

In 2005 Mercury Rev released The Secret Migration, a mix of esoteric love songs.