Out In Stores.

The Motherland Calls.
By Fred Leland

December 15, 2001

An ex once tried to explain to me about why Barbra Streisand was so fabulous. That she was a child phenom and that her voice was timeless. I remember thinking to myself, "Okay, but she's no Natalie Merchant."

Born in Jamestown, New York on October 26th 1963, Natalie Merchant is the second youngest in a family of four children (two girls, two boys.) A child of divorce, she and her siblings were not allowed to watch television, instead they were encouraged to find other forms of entertainment. At the age of 17 Natalie Merchant joined a local college band called 10,000 Maniacs, and began a career that has helped give Alternative music its activist spirit. Whether campaigning against domestic violence, homelessness, or for a free Tibet and animal rights, Natalie Merchant is never preachy. Her activism does factor into her music, but her lyrics are more inclined to make you ponder them and at least feel empathy.

1995 saw the release of Natalie Merchant's first solo album Tiger Lily, which spawned the singles "Jealousy," "Wonder," and "Carnival." Listening to Tiger Lily, you appreciate what Natalie Merchant brought to 10,000 Maniacs as the lead singer and lyricist. She has the ability to sing comfortably from any perspective and do it with great effect: as the mourning widower in "Beloved Wife," agonizing over the loss of his wife of 35 years, or as the social commentator in "Carnival" who walks the streets and sees the gap between those who have and have not. Despite some of its themes, Tiger Lily is a comforting album if you're in the mood for it.

In 1998 Natalie Merchant released Ophelia, which was dedicated to the Gay "Beatnick" poet Allen Ginsberg. Ophelia spawned the moving singles "Kind and Generous," and "Break Your Heart." Some have called the album depressing, but I think of it more in terms of being quiet. "Quiet" meaning Natalie sings lightly and is backed by a piano or organ, with just a few other instruments in support. Ophelia does exemplify one of the things I love about Natalie Merchant: she knows how to sing a duet or with a backup singer. Her voice doesn't swallow up her backup singer(s), or the person she's doing a duet with; plus she isn't afraid to drop out of the song and let the backup singer(s) take a solo. Keep in mind that Natalie Merchant writes her own music (except covers of course,) so I find it admirable how comfortable she is with sharing the spotlight. She has shared the spotlight with friends like Tracy Chapman & Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and legends like Emmylou Harris.

Natalie Merchant's music is timeless because it speaks to what it means to be human. It doesn't matter if you're a 13-year-old girl trying to deal with puberty, or the 42-year-old executive who just got his head handed to him by the boss, Gay or Straight, you're not the only one to ever feel. She's inspirational without the drama.

T. Bone Burnett gets the credit for producing Motherland, Natalie Merchant's third solo album. Motherland shares more musically with Tiger Lily and her work with 10,000 Maniacs, than it does with Ophelia. I think Natalie Merchant has really hit her stride as a solo artist -it's experimental, it's funky, sexy, a little bit of everything from Country to Blues to Cajun and Irish folk songs. With an album like this you also get a great orchestra of musical accompaniment: piano, brass instruments, violas, guitars, violins, even a banjo and accordion on some tracks. You'll notice that Blues is the prominent influence overlaying many of the tracks, but it's so good you can just picture B.B. King and Eric Clapton strumming their guitars behind her. On tracks like the Reggae-Arabic flavored "This House is on Fire," and the deep down South bluesy "Build a Levee," Natalie Merchant's already powerful voice takes on this terrific throaty quality that is reminiscent of Toni Childs. This is a great album no matter if you're looking for a pick me up, or just want to listen to something with more substance. So far Motherland has spawned the single "Just Can't Last," which is enjoying good rotation on VH-1. But expect "Build a Levee" to be the next single released, because she performed it during her last appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman, and it was very well received. "Build a Levee" is about a woman remembering her mother's advice to avoid temptation and build inner strength.

Motherland wasn't written in response to September 11th, but its sense of nostalgia and spiritual themes are fitting for a time when we are examining so much about our lives. For anyone that isn't sure where to start getting into her music or is already a fan, Natalie Merchant's Motherland is a must have.

Check out Scott Simon's (Weekend Edition) interview with Natalie Merchant: Click Here.

Motherland warrants an

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