release date: Sep. 29, 1992
format: vinyl / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,16]
producer: Paul Fox
label: Elektra Records - nationality: USA
Tracklist: 1. "Noah's Dove" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "These Are Days" (5 / 5) - 3. "Eden" (live) - 4. "Few and Far Between" (live) - 5. "Stockton Gala Days" (4 / 5) (live on Letterman) (MTV unplugged) - 6. "Gold Rush Brides" - 7. "Jezebel" (4 / 5) - 8. "How You've Grown" (4 / 5) - 9. "Candy Everybody Wants" (4,5 / 5) - 10. "Tolerance" - 11. "Circle Dream" - 12. "If You Intend" (4 / 5) - 13. "I'm Not the Man"
5th studio album by 10,000 Maniacs following Blind Man's Zoo (May 1989), again released on Elektra, is the final album with new material to feature Nathalie Merchant on lead vocals. Before this they released their first compilation album Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983, compiling their earliest recordings: the ep Human Conflict number Five from 1982, and the self-released debut album Secrets of the I Ching (1983). Paul Fox is new producer on this one, and I simply consider this the best-produced album with 10,000 Maniacs. The album is my only vinyl release with the band. I already had In My Tribe (1987) on cassette, which until then was my favourite with the band, and these two are imo the band's master works, being much alike, without being repetitive, but both albums have that special tone, which has to do with Nathalie's narrating melancholic, yet strong voice, and the band's trademark of blending folk, jangle pop and pop / rock into a great mixture with banjo, mandolin, violin, and percussion. On this, brass sections is an additional element, which helps shaping this as their best-sounding album with great melodic catchy songs.
In 1993, Nathalie Merchant parted with the band and initiated a long-lasting solo career. Elektra chose to follow Merchant's solo career and instead dropped the band, who extended the line-up with two members: a return to founding member John Lombardo and new lead vocalist Mary Ramsey (both from the folk-duo John & Mary) and the sextet initially went by the name of John & Mary, Rob, Steve, Dennis, & Jerry before settling with the old band name.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
1992 Favourite releases: 1. Morrissey Your Arsenal - 2. 10.000 Maniacs Our Time in Eden - 3. Adrian Borland Brittle Heaven
