10,000 Maniacs - In My Tribe

In My Tribe was 10,000 Maniacs' second (and best) album and the record that made the band collegiate favorites and singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant a star. Producer Peter Asher's rich balance of acoustic and electric instruments gave muscle to the group's folk-rock. "Hey Jack Kerouac" found Merchant musing on the literary beats of the 1950s, but the song's musical hook was the rich bed of rhythm guitars laid atop the solid drums. "Don't Talk" offered a similarly propulsive rock sound, with lyrics that advised troubled lovers to keep it to themselves. R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe offered hipster credibility by guesting on "A Campfire Song," while a cover of Cat Stevens's "Peace Train" offered listeners a familiar port of entry. However, when Muslim convert Stevens announced his support of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini's call for the execution of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, the band rereleased the album without "Peace Train." --John Milward Amazon.com essential recording

great sound for a band

i saw this band on sabrina the teenage witch..i never heard of them before but i really like the sound of their music so i will definately be buying their cd sometime in the near future... October 30, 2007

perfection!!

This cd is so melodic and perfect that I recommend it to EVERYONE regardless of their musical taste. Verdi Cries is my favorite piece off this cd - it is so beautiful of a song. Don't Talk is very nice as is Gun Shy. Like The Weather is a great radio hit and so is Peace Train which was unfortunately taken off subsequent releases. I can listen to this over and over because every song is unique and superb. Honestly, this is one of the best cds ever released by any band - it is perfection. Natalie Merchant is at her VERY BEST. September 17, 2007

This introduced me to 10,000 Maniacs, and rather late

I bought this on a whim eons ago at the almighty Tower Records without ever hearing of them or their music, and put it on and immediately was blown away. Rare for me to find an album that does that to me. I was a fan for the rest of Natalie Merchant's run with the band and continue to follow her career. August 29, 2007

Pop sublime

This albums is really one of the best from the eighties. All of the songs on here are good and have a unique quality about them. It not only showcases Natalie's sweet voice, but the rest of the band is commendable as well. I would definitely recommend this CD for anyone. However, this one sounds especially good on vinyl, if you can find it. June 12, 2006

Beautiful, contemplative and timeless...

"...if I'm the only witness-to your madness, offer me some words to balance-out what I see and what I hear..." ("What's the Matter Here")
On a crisp winter day in San Diego (circa 1988)I discovered what would soon become the proverbial soundtrack of my life.
"In My Tribe" represents the pinnacle of Natalie Merchant's singing and songwriting career. From the insistent tale of an abused young neighbor in the afforementioned "What's the Matter Here" to the yearning of a missed opportunity in "The Painted Desert", this album caught Miss Merchant at her most lively and earnest, before she inexplicably decided to sing everything post-Maniacs in a low monotone.
Personally, I don't miss "Peace Train". I think the album flows much better without it. The absolute stark beauty of "Verdi Cries" to this day makes me weak in the knees and remains my favorite song to ever to close out an album.
If you buy this CD, don't just hear it, but listen. You will be better for the experience. March 18, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...