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From the Vault...
09/17/2023
#1900 |
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info
Natalie Merchant
"Ophelia"
© Elektra Records
Year of Release: 1998
Rating:
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track listing
Ophelia
Life Is Sweet
Kind And Generous
Frozen Charlotte
My Skin
Break Your Heart
King Of May
Thick As Thieves
Effigy
The Living
When They Ring
The Golden Bells
Ophelia (Reprise)
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Natalie Merchant related sites:
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Natalie Merchant
"Ophelia"
Natalie Merchant was the lead singer of the group 10,000 Maniacs. She pursued a solo career in 1993, and it became a
succesful one. 10,000 Maniacs are still together, with current lead singer, Leigh Nash. (She was the lead singer of the
group Sixpence None The Richer. Before her, was Mary Ramsey (1993-1001), and after her, was Oskar Saville (2002-2007).
Ramsey returned in 2007, until 2023. Nash then replaced Saville in 2023.) 10,000 Maniacs' most popular songs were
performed with Natalie Merchant. She has recorded a total of 9 solo albums, where her first two (Tigerlily and
Ophelia were the most popular. Opheila gets the nod this week, as one of album's songs/singles became a #1
hit on Billboard's Adult Alternative singles chart - "Kind And Generous".
"Ophelia" (title track) is quite moody, as it leads off the album. "Life Is Sweet" is soft-rock.
"Kind And Generous" was the big hit from the album, and yes, I did remember hearing this tune on the radio. (Radio
was the popular source to listen to "new" music back then, at the time!) "Frozen Charlotte" is another soft-rock
tune. Likewise, "My SKin" is another (nice) soft-rock tune. "Break Your Heart" is more of a Pop-styled
track, yet it matches the other tracks from the album. The horn in this song gives it a slight Jazz touch. (Chris Botti
provided the trumpet on this track.) Soft-Rock is brought back on the nice and pleasant "King Of May."
"Thick As Thieves" is another soft-rock track, where "Effigy" is very moody, just as the album's opening
title track. "The Living" is also another great soft-rock and beautiful tune. "When They Ring The Golden
Bells" is another beautiful track, as it has a somewhat folkish style. Her voice is beautiful, just as her voice is
that on every track. "Ophelia (Reprise)" is at the end of "When They Ring The Golden Bells" (as a hidden
track), and it's an instrumental, and moody as the album's opening (title) track. The instrumentation is just beautiful,
as it could pass as Classical music.
Natalie Merchant's Ophelia is a great album to relax to, or to have on while you're working. The softer tunes
are the highlights, likewise her #1 Adult Alternative hit "Kind And Generous." That song and two others were the
hits ("Break Your Heart" and "LIfe Is Sweet.") Merchant's voice is also great on each track. Likewise,
the musicians who all participated were also exceptional. It's easy to hear how this album was one of her best.
Ophelia reached it's peak at #8 on Billboard's Hot 200 albums chart. It should have reached higher.
(Read one of the reviewed 10,000 Maniacs albums
here. Ophelia is a great,
pleasant, relaxing album to listen to. Beautiful songs are heard through the album. Merchant not only was great with
10,000 Maniacs, she is also excellent on her own. Her other popular album was her first solo album, Tigerlily.
That album will be reviewed at a later date.
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