10,000 Maniacs

Formed in Jamestown, New York in 1981, 10,000 Maniacs rose to prominence in the 1980s with a literate folk-rock/college-rock sound led by vocalist and songwriter Natalie Merchant. Key albums include The Wishing Chair (1985), In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989) and Our Time in Eden (1992).

Natalie Merchant was the band's lead singer and principal songwriter until she left in 1993 to pursue a solo career. Joe Boyd produced The Wishing Chair and Peter Asher produced Blind Man's Zoo. Guitarist Robert Buck died in 2000.

Reviews praise Natalie Merchant's distinctive, literary songwriting and the band's folk-rock/college-rock sound. Key albums discussed are The Wishing Chair, In My Tribe and Blind Man's Zoo. The reviews note strong social and political themes, evocative imagery, and memorable guitar and arrangements. Overall reception on DeBaser is strongly favorable.

For:Fans of 1980s American college rock, literate folk-pop and alternative folk-rock.