Indigo Girls Album: “Swamp Ophelia”

Description :

Indigo Girls: Emily Saliers (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, bouzouki, dobro); Amy Ray (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar). Additional personnel: John Painter (guitar, flugelhorn, accordion); Lisa Germano (violin, mandolin); Kristin Wilkinson (violin, viola); Sheila Doyle, David Davidson (violin); Jane Scarpantoni, Anthony Lamarchina (cello); Bill Newton (harmonica); Joel Sonnier (accordion); Connie Grauer (melodica, synthesizer); James Hall (trumpet); Chuck Leavell (piano, vibra chimes); Danny Thompson (acoustic bass); Sara Lee, Jan Dykes (bass); Tony Levin (stick bass); Jerry Marotta, Kim Zick (drums, percussion); Michael Lorant (drums, background vocals); Jane Siberry, The Roches, Sam "Shake" Anderson, Larry Ray, Sr. (background vocals). Recorded at Woodland Sound Studio, Nashville, Tennessee. SWAMP OPHELIA was nominated for Best Contemporary Folk Album in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Emerging from the Georgian musical hothouse which germinated bands like R.E.M., the Indigo Girls walk the line between pop aspirations and folk sensibilities. And on their latest offering, SWAMP OPHELIA, they continue to plumb the enigmatic depths of relationships and the feminine persona with rare spiritual resolve, and practiced lyric grace. Song stylists Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are The Indigo Girls, and you couldn't get much farther away from the prevailing riot grrrl stance than in beautiful songs like "Power Of Two" and "Touch Me Fall," stories in which the protagonists are strengthened and buttressed by the love of another. With their acoustic guitars and distinctive vocal harmonies, the Indigo Girls are throwbacks to a bygone era of music, when folk troubadours like Dylan and Joni Mitchell transformed all the prevailing notions of what constituted pop songforms with their ultra-personal imagery and bold melodic styles. It is that intimate quality, animated by a '90s point of view, that distinguishes Amy and Emily's music from the rest of the pack.

This was my first Indigo Girls CD, and the minute I heard it I knew I had discovered something precsious. -The Wood Song- sweet, haunting and one of the best songs Emily Saliers has put forth since earlier days. The first Indigo Girls song I ever heard and ever fell in love with, I never tire of it. Never. -Least Complicated- blunt and relaxed, this song is one that puts everything you struggle with into perspective: the hardest to learn was the least complicated. No kidding, guys. -Fugitive- sad and strong. -Power of Two- always is there for a smile. -Touch Me Fall- unique and a bit uncharacteristic of the Girls, this style is one you won't hear again until Come on now, Social. -Fare Thee Well-heartbreaking and lonesome. -Reunion- a wonderful song, typical Amy Ray style. A song perfect to kareoke to with a hairbrush in your bedroom alone at night. This is the best Indigo Girls CD next to the breathtaking Rites of Passage,which is amazing.

i bought this cd when it first came out, not really knowing who the indigo girls were. I listened to it a couple times and put it aside, not because it was bad, but i didnt think it wasnt anything great. Last spring, while i was going through all my old cds, i found swamp ophelia again and put it in my cd player.

this cd must be listened to many times, before you will truly fall in love with it. i rediscovered this cd and im so happy because even though i have listened to it on repeat for days, every time i play it, i notice more andmore things. the best part is when you think you know every song on there, but when you listen closely to the songs, you discover their greatness.

the cd is veryyyy goooddd...but not for everyone i think. take your time and you will enjoy it for years to come. it never grows old and constantly amazes you. its good to listen to in the background during the day or while you're falling asleep.

I've only had this CD for a few days, but already Swamp Ophelia is one of my favorite CDs. It's got a terrific collection of beautiful songs - Touch Me Fall is possibly the most beautiful song I've ever heard. All the songs on this CD are great, and different - from the sweet and beautiful and poignant to the passionate and emotional - and sometimes all of the above in the same song.

This CD is worth it - it's wonderful! You can listen again and again and hear new things each time (as with all of the Indigo Girls's music! ;).

Buy it, listen to it, love it.

I own every Indigo Girls album there is and this is by far my favorite. When I got my first CD player in high school this was the first CD I got for it and it is unbelieveable. The music is just beautiful and the lyrics absolutely inspired. My particular favorite:

But what it takes to cross the great divide

Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside

But we will get to have some answers

When we reach the other side

The prize is always worth the rocky ride.

The Wood Song was one of our graduation songs and the lyrics are just magical. I could listen to this CD every day and never get tired of it over 10 years later.