release date: Nov. 12, 2001
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
producer: Natalie Merchant, T-Bone Burnett
label: Elektra Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "This House Is on Fire" (4 / 5) - 2. "Motherland" - 4. "Put the Law on You" - 5. "Build a Levee" - 8. "The Worst Thing" (live) - 9. "Tell Yourself" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 10. "Just Can't Last" - 11. "Not in This Life"
3rd studio album by Natalie Merchant, co-produced by T-Bone Burnett, her last release on Elektra Records may not reflect big changes in her repertoire as it's primarily a singer / songwriter and folk release with focus on everyday-life existence. In a note Merchant dedicates the 12 track album to the victims of the recent 9/11 tragedy, but the album was made and recorded before the incident.
At first, I found this much in her usual style, and thought of it somewhere in between Tigerlily and Ophelia, but in a matter of months I came to see it as a major work - the songs just kept emerging from the album. Now, it may not contain the great uptempo compositions by her former band 10,000 Maniacs and their great In My Tribe or Our Time in Eden - only "Tell Yourself" sounds much like a typical 10,000 Maniacs composition - but I like this one just as much. Perhaps with the aid of Burnett in the production seat they have found room for elements of americana and roots rock, which makes it sound just right. Merchant's voice is almost always great, but here there's a strong inner sincerity brought to the listener, and the emotions are stressed by a strong soulful approach - there's a tone of blues and soul one hasn't heard on her albums before, which adds an extra layer of dynamics to the songs.
Imho, this the best solo album by Merchant and as such highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo and Uncut 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]
2001 Favourite releases: 1. Björk Vespertine - 2. Nathalie Merchant Motherland - 3. Rammstein Mutter
