It’s been a while since Natalie Merchant made anything very exciting, and she’s never gotten near the early music of 10,000 Maniacs. Unfortunately hew new album sounds like hundreds of other AOR rock artists: overproduced, lots of brass oompahing away, lots of big backing vocals. Slick and deadly. Mostly gone is the open, awkward Natalie and in its place is smooth sophistication, with violins and careful arrangements undermining the whole thing. There’s just no oomph or energy or variety, even with all the listens I’ve given it. (The album came out over a month ago now.) Played loud or quiet, paying attention of half-hearing it doing something else, it’s passionless, careful and plodding. Whether it’s her guardian angel, the tower of babel (which she pronounces babble), Aphrodite or The Feast of Saint Valentine (which is the closing song) its all self-important and overblown, with nothing to say. And I don’t have much to say either. It’s a painful disappointment this one. I’m going back to listen to Human Conflict Number 5 and Secrets of the I Ching by 10,000 Maniacs as it’s been downhill ever since. Listen to those intertwining guitars, the fragile momentum.
Johnny Keep-It-Basic Brainstorm
Natalie Merchant – Tower of Babel
10,000 Manics – Grey Victory
There was light
And atomic fission
Swelling wind and
Rising ash
Tide of black rain
Cement seared shadow traces
Reminiscent of their
Last commands
Instantly one thousand
Flames arising
Ill scent of
Burning hides surrounding
A settlement
Debased entirely
Enola Gay had made a casual delivery
Please build a future darling
With our bomb
Cherish and love it
For the sake of
Earth bound kingdom come
The undersides of
Fallen metal trusses
Evil debris of
Human bodies
Each window’s glass
Shards pelted
Secure confines
Brittle collapse
Neighbors lay beside
Each other unknowing
Faces scorched
Of all familiar bearing
Too few hands
Wounds for closing
Marred by thirsting
Anguish
Fear
Lamenting
Here we stand
At the door to
Gold Atomic Age
Don’t spoil your faces with worry
Trust in earth bound kingdom come