Natalie Merchant
Motherland

THE REVIEW

Natalie Merchant, former leader of the 10,000 Maniacs, an eighties band, presents us with an album for which more than sixty artists have collaborated. Natalie Merchant's third studio album is a fusion of musical currents that leaves you confused, but also impressed. This record is primarily aimed at critiquing the American system and is dedicated to the fallen of September 11. The themes are serious, and the singer treats them in a non-angry manner; in fact, Merchant appears relaxed as in the cover photo (sitting under a tree, with a basket of fruit).

The first track of the album is a great comparison between America and a house on fire, hence the title "This House Is On Fire", and it offers us an Arabic style in terms of the brass instruments and electric guitars, with the right amount of distortion, lending themselves to what is perhaps the most beautiful among the tracks on the album. Tracks that recall her past with the Maniacs are "Tell Yourself" and "Just Can't Last", with a pop rock style. Of "Tell Yourself" we can say it is a track where the singer deals with personal themes, talking about her experiences, her life, as indeed in "I'm Not Gonna Beg", "The Worst Thing", and "Not In This Life". Acoustic guitar and accordion intertwine folk rhythms in the track that gives the album its name: "Motherland". As the saying goes, the more, the merrier, we recognize a tango in the already mentioned "The Worst Thing", with a part sung in Spanish, and references to African-American music in the track "Build A Levee". We can appreciate the poignant melody of "I'm Not Gonna Beg Yourself", and the sweet tone of the voice instead in "Henry Darger". Religious references are present in "Saint Judas" and "Golden Boy" is a song that flows very well and pleasantly.

The entire album, which expresses greater maturity from the singer, has been exceptionally blended, so that none of the various musical culture references seem out of place. The themes are always current and, although it seems like an album inspired by September 11, it is only dedicated to it, as the author wants to highlight, since its recording was completed on September 8. To help reflect, it is an excellent album that, to justify its name, includes among the instruments used all the instruments that are the foundation of New World music.