Customer Reviews

Indigo Girls

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are new to the Indigo Girls this would be the place to start. If you have any of their other albums you are missing out if you don't own this one. I started listening to this in college and am constantly rediscovering it. It plays road-trip well. It has sincerity in spades. It's a damn fine listen.

There are many standouts here with few skippers. "Love's Recovery," gets a little bogged down in weepiness, but the others are sing along folk coffee house with a twist of butch, folky medley of melodious melody. Perhaps the finest moment in the album is when Michael Stipe from R.E.M. breaks in oh so subtly in "Kid Fears." The interplay between the three voice is one of the finest things that have been laid down on vinyl or whatever CD's are made of.

Don't miss out on this wonderful listen. You'll be wearing Levi's with the pocket chain wallet attachment and singing to your hears content. Peace out brethren and sistren.

As someone raised on bands like The Who, The Beatles and KISS, my exposure to the music of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers was extremely limited to what I heard on FM radio. A few years ago, I took a risk on the Indigo Girls' mainstream debut. What a reward!

Half of "INDIGO GIRLS" is generously loaded with songs familiar to casual fans such as "Kid Fears," "Tried To Be True," "Love's Recovery," "Land of Canaan" and the anthemic "Closer To Fine." But, the deeper cuts are just as impressive. One facet of the Indigo Girls' charm is the contrast between Ray and Saliers' voices. This is magically captured in "Secure Yourself" and "Prince of Darkness." In "Blood and Fire," Ray reminds us that you don't need a loud electric guitar to produce tone and intensity.

Bottom line: "INDIGO GIRLS" is a treasure chest and each song is a jewel.

In this era where attaining fame is more important than creating art, the Indigo Girls keep it real. They seldom appear on television. They've never appeared on the cover of "Rolling Stone". In short, they refuse to bow to a shallow music establishment. It's the music that matters. I hope they never change. Check out the album!

When I was 13 this was my favorite cd. Now, many years later, it moves me in ways I only thought I understood then. Since I've learned about death, heartache and all the crap that happens to us little people on this bizarre journey, I realize that this is perhaps on of the greatest albums by anyone ever. With lyrics that are unimaginably cutting and harmonies that are hard to imagine being created by just two voices -- Perfection.

This album is a testamet to what one can do with 6 strings, a few chords, a big imagination- and a capo. Along with REM, who was also on the album, IG reminded music listeners that it was okay to go unplugged and it sounded more than alright. Until then, acoustic tunes were a 70's thing and nobody was listening.
Every song on this is good- my favorites are "Kid Fears", "The History of US", "Secure Yourself", "Blood and Fire" and of course, "Closer to Fine" and there is no better road trip disc.

I was first introduced to the Indigo Girls at a time in my life when all was not well with the world, and they struck a resonant chord in me. The Indigo Girls' early work spoke to me in a way I have only experienced with one other group, Simon and Garfunkel. While I find their newest work (since Swamp Ophelia) enjoyable, I can't say that it evokes as much feeling in me. If soulful folk rock is your thing, then their self-titled debut and their second album Strange Fire are for you.

"How I wish I were a trinity, so if I lost a part of me, I'd still have two of the same to live." - Love's Recovery

Other reviews of this album suggest the Indigo Girls are over the top, overly earnest and self-conscious. They suggest the Indigo Girls' lyrics don't stand up to scrutiny. I respectfully disagree. Yes, the Indigo Girls fight for positions that may always remain minority positions. Yes, they work for things that are unlikely to ever come to fruition (peace, openness, reform, etc.) But I'm glad the Indigo Girls are at least one band "singing for our side."

Another reviewer suggested "Love's Recovery" gets bogged down in weepiness. I don't fault the song for its emotionality or sadness. I wish it didn't start out with such an affected singing style by Amy. I'd enjoy hearing her sing it today, to see if she sings it with a different tone that sounds less like she's been singing too many hymns recently. The lyric "During the time of which I speak it was hard to turn the other cheek" is a little too churchy for me, but I don't fault the high degree of earnest emotion and intent in the song.

The Indigo Girls sing about possible futures, believing present cultural standards oppress certain groups and behaviors they don't feel should be suppressed. Like Ursula K. Le Guin, who writes stories about possible future worlds that are more considerate of certain sensibilities, the Indigo Girls sing about possible futures. If a person wants to listen to music that is in step with today's world, they may find the Indigo Girls over the top, overly earnest and self-conscious. But I find the Indigo Girls' lyrics hold up to rough scrutiny and criticism. And 50 years from now, I think their lyrics will reveal more universal themes than most current song lyrics.

This album is a great part of the Indigo Girls' journey that continues to change and grow. Here are some words I wrote in response to "Love's Recovery", titled: "Hopes for a Future Generation"

May those closest to you not ask you to hide your love away. May the soft spoken words made in confidence not have to be locked away.
May you be allowed to place your loyalty on more than one number on the roulette wheel. May you be able to share your history of us.
Until that future generation comes, may we do our part to bring tomorrow to today, and recognize in public what has been secreted away.

"To let this love survive would be the greatest gift that we could give." - Love's Recovery

Its all true. This is THE Indigo Girls album to have, with no real competition. This is a collection of strong songs from start to finish, and the album has a collective gestalt as well. It coheres. You can almost live inside this collection of songs in a way that is quite unusual. It defines an interior space.

The album also has a stronger relationshiop to the time and place of its creation than most. This may be enhanced by Michael Stipe's splendid guest singing on Kid Fears, as well as the presence of REM as a backing band on several tracks. But for many reasons, they somehow captured the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, for a significant segment of the college-age population in the US in 1989-90. (Best school-related lyric ever, from 'Closer to Fine': "I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind, got my paper and I was free.") It is kind of surprising, given the massive popularity of this album on campuses, that it isn't remembered better now. But it is understandable. Indigo Girls were never in fashion among the arbiters of taste, and this is not the kind of album critics and scenesters would normally admit to liking, then or now. Also, on subsequent albums they seemed pretty quickly to lose the magic that pervades this one.

That magic, the beauty of the harmonies and the songs themselves never fail to seduce me with this album. They'll work for you too, and for more than just a few plays. The songs on Indigo Girls may be of their time, but they are built to last. This album is a classic.

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I discovered this album 11 years ago, and have bought every one of the IG albums since. Of the hundreds of other cd's I own from practically every genre, this is the one that I come back to time and time again. Emily & Amy have a gift with their lyrics and music that's unrivaled, and this album seems to capture it best. They capture the essence of the human experience in a way that no one else can. I don't know anyone who doesn't love this album, no matter what their typical taste is in music.

This is a rerelease of the album that broke the band. Without the extra music, this album is a must. They penned their classic "Closer to Fine" and alot of other beautiful songs about heartche, joy and love on this stunning breakthrough. Also included are concert favorites Kid Fears and Prince of Darkness. You will not lose out by buying this one. From start to finish, it is a true example of pop folk sensibilities.

The Indigo Girls first album may still be their best. The duo of Amy Ray and Emily Sailers blend their voices and acoustic guitars to form a dynamic combination not unlike predecessors like Simon and Garfunkle. Their biggest hit "Closer To Fine" starts the album out and even though they have pretty much received limited or no radio airplay ever since, they have developed a strong following that contuse to sell albums and concert tickets to this day. The presence of the members of R.E.M. on several tracks helped the girls gain credibility back in the day, and indeed the R.E.M guys add a musical urgency to the proceedings that really enhances the girls writing. One of the Indigo Girls all time best songs "Kid Fears" appears here with additional lead vocals from Michael Stipe. Great stuff and still a concert staple to this day. Really there is not a bad song on the disc, they are all solid folk / harmony / rock. The album remains one of the top debut albums from anyone in the 80's.