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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.


All you expect and then some more   November 19, 2001
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

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!


"Motherland" is Natalie Merchant's Best Album So Far   November 17, 2001
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

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.


The voice of an angel disappears...   December 14, 2001
 12 out of 24 found this review helpful

Having been a fan of Natalie since 10,000 maniacs, I feel compelled to say that we (my husband and I) did not enjoy the Motherland track.

Granted, Ophelia and Tigerlily are a tough act to follow but Motherland lacks substance. With Tigerlily and Ophelia, you kick your shoes off, close your eyes, and relax instantly. With Motherland, you are painfully aware of the music.... Natalie deepens her voice in this CD -- so much so that you can't relax. Our first thought was "What is she doing here?" What's her point?

Sure, Nat's evolving as musician, but I always felt she never needed to compete....

I'd pass on this one.


READ BEFORE PURCHASING!   September 25, 2002
 12 out of 17 found this review helpful

If your computer is the only medium to listen to this CD, then DON'T BUY IT!! It is cloaked with an advertisement by Elektra Entertainment Group that asks if you want more information about other music and the cloak will not allow you to get past that window to listen to the music. The cloak leads to their site! The CD plays fine in my car and it's a great CD. But because I am usually at my computer I can't even listen to this most of the time. Very poor taste for a company to do something like this to customers! I personally will never buy an Elektra label again. And I have learned to check the reviews because someone else had the same problem. I wish I knew how they resolved it. I wonder if the artist had known the company was going to do this to their CD that they might have preferred to signed up with another music label!

I hope this review helps other people BEFORE they buy and get burned like I did!