Motherland

Natalie Merchant | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B00005R1Q5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (154 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,096 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Just as Natalie Merchant donned a mythical persona for her last proper solo release, 1998's Ophelia, the buttery-voiced performer enjoys another stint as a quick-change artist on Motherland. From the trilling Middle Eastern flavor of opener "This House Is on Fire" to the evocative Latin classical guitar tones on "The Worst Thing," Merchant seems to enjoy pressing her steadfast, throaty vocals into new terrain as much as she does trying on dresses and high heels. While most of Motherland resides in the downtempo, ballad-heavy world that Ophelia did, most of the singer's diehard fans will appreciate her thoughtful phrasing and pastel soundscapes. There may not be fireworks, but the ex-10,000 Maniacs frontwoman knows her way around a sad song: "Golden Boy" excels as a wispy November poem, while she wiggles into torch-singer mode on "Put the Law on You." But the record's true standout is "Tell Yourself," an almost sprightly tune with sunny acoustics that resemble the Maniacs' "Don't Talk." Merchant may not be inherently comfortable in her own skin, but, like a salamander, she's excellent at transforming her surroundings without sacrificing her creative soul. --Kristy Martin

Product Description

Japanese edition of 2001 album with one added bonus track 'Carnival' (live). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you expect and then some more, November 18, 2001

By 

Aaron Blight (Westminster, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motherland (Audio CD)

The third solo album by Natalie Merchant, Motherland, is what a typical Natalie Merchant fan might hope to discover: a fine balance between Natalie's proven musical styles and enough experimentation to whet your whistle and make you wonder what else she has up her sleeve.

Motherland has reminded me why I'm such a fan of Natalie Merchant. On this album, Natalie's singular voice is at its best, sounding pristine and smooth on every song. Her songwriting is equally inviting: she has crafted twelve songs with moving, meaningful lyrics that are presented through compelling musical compositions. This is not bubble gum pop; it's an album with meat that will leave the serious listener satisfied.

As for the individual songs on Motherland, all have something to offer and are worth the listen. Each song contributes to the cumulative musical strength of this album. My personal favorites, however, are the melancholy title track; the soulful, haunting "Saint Judas"; the softly satirical "Golden Boy"; the beautifully simple "Henry Darger"; the reassuring and rhythmic "Just Can't Last"; the melodic and graceful "Not In This Life"; and the unique, African-influenced "This House Is On Fire".

In my opinion, Motherland reaffirms Natalie Merchant's place among the finest musicians today. The album is excellent, and I highly recommend it to you!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Motherland" is Natalie Merchant's Best Album So Far, November 16, 2001

By 

Randall Caspersen "randyugh" (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Motherland (Audio CD)

Too often, Natalie Merchant is criticized for being too moody, too depressed and too pretentious. To many of us, she is too wonderful. Beyond that otherworldy voice, her music offers many gifts and MOTHERLAND advances that tradition as much as any fan or even casual music listener could hope.

"This House Is On Fire" and "The Worst Thing" suggest that Merchant has began to dip into the well of Arabic rhythms and Spanish-flavored classical guitar, respectively. "Saint Judas" and "Build A Levee" make good on her debut album's promise that she can sing the blues (see TIGERLILY's track: "San Andreas Fault") with conviction and passion. The album ending "I'm Not Gonna Beg" is both languid country and subversively gospel. Even her very-OPHELIAesque tracks "Henry Darger", "Golden Boy" and the timely, gorgeous title track are bolder than that album's beautiful, haunted chamber music. Perhaps producer T Bone Burnett is responsible for breathing a little space and adventure into Natalie's soundscape (both of the earlier solo studio albums were self-produced) and MOTHERLAND glows with his attention.

Too often, Merchant's radio hits have felt a bit compromised. OPHELIA's "Kind & Generous" was catchy and nice but lyrically slight. TIGERLILY's "Jealousy" always seemed like just a lark in the Merchant canon (she never performs it anymore) and even that album's biggest hit, "Carnival", works much better live where Merchant's whirling dervish antics distract from the band's often irritating percussion.

It is with great relief that two of MOTHERLAND's most commercial tracks are two of its best. "Just Can't Last", already an Adult Top 40 favorite, provides the melodic uplift of "Wonder" while plainly updating the helping hand sentiments of her 10,000 Maniacs' song, "Trouble Me". And "Tell Yourself", a semi-sequel to Merchant's own sweeping "Life is Sweet", is Natalie at her most political while being her most personal. When she sings, "Tell yourself that you're not pretty, look at you, you're beautiful", it is a pop music revelation simply because it identifies beauty in the listener instead of the singer.

MOTHERLAND, like all of Merchant's work, tends to grow richer, more endearing with each listen. Merchant herself thinks it's her best album so far and, while it may very well be, I would dread ever having to make that choice.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars She's Nat a Maniac...This Girl's Got Moxie, June 3, 2002

By 

M. Swinney "Marc My Words" (Flower Mound, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Motherland (Audio CD)

"Kick off your boots, come and sit a spell. Listen to me worry, come and listen well." Ms. Merchant greets me with an Indian Middle Eastern tinged ska groove and a little bit of mystique to boot. I feel like I've grown up with Natalie Merchant. You know she was the one in high school drama club that had that off-the-wall sense of humor and the talent that no one in High School quite understands. She started early with the Maniacs in High School in fact, an artsy girl shy and singing from under a table in the recording studio. She's come a long way and developed, matured, expanding, a little of the edge is off, but it sounds so rich, as it does for the majority of songs here in Motherland.

If you're looking at just starting with Natalie Merchant, go get Tigerlilly...it's powerful and beautiful through and through. "Motherland" explores a variety of styles. It doesn't measure up to "Tigerlilly" but is solid with sounds as variegated from India, the Bluegrass/gospel from the deep South, Mediterranean Waltz, jazz and blues, Scottish highlands, Spanish acoustic, and you get the picture. Even though there are a variety of styles, Merchant's powerful voice threads a constant. Where "Motherland" bogs down though is the slower songs that seem directionless and just playing on instead of speaking to you. It doesn't delve to the level of Ophelia's netherlands, but there are a few that drag. This is not such a detractor that "Motherland" should be avoided. "Henry Dagger" for me though is a miss, sounding like a slow stab at Sinead O'Conner-land. It's slow and just isn't where Natalie's voice should be. But she strikes deep and rings true with "This House is on Fire," "Saint Judas," and "Build a Levee." She does Southern Bluegrass Gospel minor mystique with panache.

"All you better best come and lean in boys...soon come the day this tinderbox is gonna blow in your face." That's right Natalie, sing it true from Motherland. Coo, baby, coo...cool, cool, cool.