Disco de 10,000 Maniacs: “Our Time in Eden”

Descripción (en inglés) :

10,000 Maniacs: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Rob Buck (guitar, sitar, banjo, mandocello); Dennis Drew (accordion, piano, organ, keyboards); Steve Gustafson (bass); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion). <p>Additional personnel: Mary Ramsey (violin, viola); Bruce Dukov, Ralph Morrison (violin); Pamela Goldsmith (viola); Larry Corbett (cello); Kim Laskowski, Atsuko Sato (bassoon); Charles Fleischer (harmonica); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (tenor saxophone); Fred Wesley (trombone); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). <p>Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York. <p>On their fifth album, 10,000 Maniacs adopt a lush, full sound that more thoughtfully integrates Natalie Merchant's vocals with the rest of the band. The balance also allows her the option to rise above the mix to far greater effect. Throughout the album, keyboardist Dennis Drew shines, especially on "Gold Rush Brides" and on the title track, where his playing adds tremendous depth to Merchant's tales of loss and loneliness. <p>On both "Few & Far Between" and "Candy Everybody Wants," James Brown's horn section brings a previously absent Motown flavor to the Maniacs' folk-rock sound. The rhythm section provides an extremely sturdy backbone for Robert Buck's subtle guitar playing and understated violins on "Stockton Gala Days," EDEN's standout track. "Jezebel" concludes with a powerful, soaring string section after a long introduction that pairs Drew's keyboards with Merchant's vocals. "The sound you're hearing, the sound you're fearing is the hate that parades up and down our streets," announces Merchant over the distorted guitars of "Tolerance"'s chorus, offsetting the much sweeter-sounding verses. The album ends on the chilling notes of "I'm Not the Man," a wrongfully accused man's first-person narrative set to plaintive viola.

If Eden is to be symbolic of beauty and peace, then this CD is aptly titled. Next to "In My Tribe," this is 10,000 Maniacs at their very best. Maturity in lyrics and music are clearly evident here. From the beauty and ache of the piano driven "Noah's Dove," to the intensity of "Tolerance," there is room for thought in all these songs. Certainly "These are Days" suggests that life is worth living, while "Jezebel" questions but at what cost. Natalie Merchant's voice is an instrument that is capable of conveying the intensity of the lyrics present in all these tracks. This is one of those recordings that seems to get better and grow richer with each passing year. 10, 000 Maniacs were a thinking person's band; they perpetually questioned the state of the world and gave us insights about ourselves. This album belongs in any collection of seminal 90's music. It is a true testament to what music beyond the mainstream could be. I recommend it to anyone who is willing to accept the challenge of truly inspiring, creative music.

10,000 Maniacs were poineers of alternative music along with REM & Pixies and this album Our time in Eden proves it, such a unique and creative sound. Natalie Merchants voice is melodic and soothing to the ear. Noahs Dove, Few and Far Between, and These are Days stand out tracks. But every song is good. This band was original and alternative before it was hip one of my fave bands and albums of early 90's and still today. This album is an essential to those who like true indie college alt. rock. Noahs Dove I play over & over again. These are days 1 of catchiest songs of all time. This is one of those albums you can never really get sick of. It stands the test of time today. PIck up this truly original album.

Yes, to the very few of you have realized, I borrowed the title for this review from the title of a (completely fabulous by the way) album by Over The Rhine. That said Films For Radio describes perfectly, the music contained on Our Time in Eden.

Each song, both musically and lyrically is extremely emotive, Our Time In Eden is probably the Maniacs album where the disparity between the light pop-folk melodies and Natalie Merchant's dark, moody lyrics was at it's least, in part due to a slight lightening up of Merchant's subject matter, allowing for a more streamlined sound here than on previous efforts.

The album hasn't aged a day in the 13 years since it's relaese, Natalie's vocals are confident and clear and the music perhaps more experimental than previous works by the band is just beautiful

The standouts here are the lovely single These Are Days, Stockton Gala Days, Noah's Dove and Tolerence.

Sit back, close your eyes and let these songs, the melodies and the words from images in your mind.

I remember an old joke I heard on Growing Pains (I think) once about the 10,000 Maniacs. It had Mike Seaver upset at his dad because he couldn't go to the 10,000 Maniacs concert. He says something to the effect of "Does this mean I can't go to the 10,000 Maniacs concert tonight?" And his dad replies, "Let me put it this way...now there will only be 9,999 maniacs at the concert tonight." This joke happened before I was introduced to the angelic voice of Natalie Merchant and thought 10,000 Maniacs was a heavy metal band. Boy was I wrong!! The 10,000 Maniacs are anything but a heavy metal band. My first introduction to this wonderful, yet now without Merchant, band was with These Are Days. I LOVE this song. I know some people think the maniacs "sold out" with the release of this radio-friendly ditty, but I disagree. It is an excellent CD that is well worth the money. Other great songs on this CD are: Candy Everybody Wants, Circle Dream and I'm Not the Man.

I've had "Our Time In Eden" in my collection since it was released and it still holds up. An outstanding work!!!!!!

Ranks with Nirvana's "Nevermind", R.E.M.'s "Automatic For The People", Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dreams", and Pearl Jam's "Ten" as one of the best CDs of the early 90s!! This is absolutely in my Top 10 must haves!


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