Rites of Passage

Indigo Girls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 1992)
• Original Release Date: May 12, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002872
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MiniDisc
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,238 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Three Hits

2. Galileo

3. Ghost

4. Joking

5. Jonas and Ezekial

6. Love Will Come to You

7. Romeo and Juliet

8. Virginia Woolf

9. Chicken Man

10. Airplane

11. Nashville

12. Let It Be Me

13. Cedar Tree

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of their work...by far., December 27, 1999

By 

AJ (AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rites of Passage (Audio CD)

When I was introduced to "Romeo and Juliet" in 97, I was struck. I couldn't believe that I had never heard of the Indigo Girls. I "borrowed" a friend's copy of it and I listened to it over and over and over. You can skip over "Three Hits" unless you really want to hear it. It is good, but not like some of the other songs. Intead, start your Indigo Girls experience with "Galileo". You couldn't possibly be in a bad mood after listening to it. Then, let your eyes water as you think about the person who's touch on your life will never fade when you listen to "Ghost". Sheer emotional brilliance. "Love Will Come to You" is beautiful. Harmonies that can just rip your heart out. The rest of the cd is great, too. Make sure that you prepare for "Airplane", though. It kinda creeps up on you with this freaky-aria-thing. Just get past it...you will be okay. Anyway, buy the cd. You won't regret it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Like a pinprick to my heart", January 9, 2000

By 

Jackie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rites of Passage (Audio CD)

I first learned about Indigo Girls from my brother, who had this cd and their self titled album and had made a tape with both cds on it. I used to listen to the tape in high school, driving to school and singing along to "Closer to Fine," "Land of Canaan" only at first listening to the songs from the self titled album. Then, upon switching the tape around and listening to the other side, I discovered what made me love the Indigo Girls: songs like "Galileo," "Love Will Come to You," and even "Romeo and Juliet" which was originally written by Dire Straits. However, my favorite song, "Ghost" (from which the title line of my review comes) didn't really hit me until later, after I had listened to it many times and let it sink in. In fact, at first I didn't even like the song. What makes the Indigo Girls so talented in my opinion is not only Amy Ray's guitar ability, but also the skills they have in writing lyrics like poetry, like truth put to music, like a part of my heart thrown out there and verbalized. Rites of Passage will always be my favorite album because, except for the song Chickenman, I can listen to the whole thing through and enjoy it, marvelling at the way they seem to know me personally, but maybe it's just that they are tapping at something that everyone has in common.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word, EXQUISITE. Start your IG collection with it!!!, November 1, 1999

By 

"muunrakr" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rites of Passage (Audio CD)

There I was driving down autorow in Richmond Virginia when the DJ on the radio said "I've got a pair of tickets to see the Indigo Girls TONIGHT in concert. I'll give em away to the first person who drives up the _______ dealership parking lot to claim them." I was at the traffic light in front of the _______ dealership so I immediately drove up and claimed em ( beat out a couple of very butch looking urban college co-eds). I had only heard their radio hit 'closer to fine' but figured, it should be a good show. That was 1992, in support of the Rites of Passage album. That night, I was blown away.

I was hooked on every song they played, a good number of which came off the then-new release. I got the CD the day after the show and revelled in delicious harmonies and thought provoking lyrics. This album was a treat. The Girls haven't matched it since, but they've come close. And only Nomads, Indians and Saints, the outing just prior to Rites of Passage was better.

Standouts include the album's opener, Three Hits and the single, Galileo. Ghost rounds out the opening three songs and is, appropriately haunting, with lyrics like "... the Mississippi's might, it starts in Minnisota - at a place where you can walk across five steps down. I guess that's how you started - like a pin-prick to my heart and at this point you rush right through me and I start to drown" Tell me Emily Saliers doesn't have a view into every heart that's ever fallen in love!

One inaccurate stereotype of the Indigo Girls is that they are a Gurrrrls band. And songs like Virginia Woolf are supposed to reinforce this image. Let me set the record straight. I'm a red blooded American male who enjoys this album, and this song in particular. It opens up a lot of understanding for us guys. Thanks, Emily for giving us guys a peep into your fanciful dialogue with an icon for women around the world.

Saliers's tunes are very strong on this disk. Amy's are every bit the equal. Chickenman rips and Mark Knoppfler could learn a bit about emotion from her cover of Romeo and Juliet. And Ray's Cedar Tree is just as haunting as Salier's Ghost.

This album is generally apolitical. A challenge for a duo that is used to wearing their liberal tendencies on their sleeves. Let it Be Me is the only politically centered song on the disk and it is a gem. When I heard this song, I knew George Bush was headed for a downfall. It struck a cord in me. And, I admit with some chagrin, I voted for Clinton. Gee, thanks, IG!

A couple of songs don't work very well on this disk. Nashville is a sophmoric finger-pointing tune that blasts the country music establishment in the title city. The finger wagging doesn't become the Girls. And Airplane contains a harmonized refrain that is nearly unlistenable. Very uncharacterist for a duo that nearly never misses in the harmony department.

Bottom line: it is one of the best sets from what amounts to the best act of the 90's. If you are looking for a starting point in your Indigo Girls collection, this is probably it. Looking forward to seeing them shine in the next decade.

Questions? Email me