| | Natalie Merchant Motherland CD Natalie Merchant Discography of CDs
 (6 Customer Reviews)
In the post-Lilith Fair solo career of former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman Natalie Merchant, MOTHERLAND stands as something of an achievement. It melds the lyrical craft she began developing all those years ago with the Maniacs, the contemporary pop sensibilities she's been crafting since the beginning of her solo work, and a variety of new influences that seem to have seeped in somewhere along the way. Things kick off distinctively with the creepy, violin-colored reggae slow-burner "This House is on Fire." From there it's off to an eclectic mix-and-match of styles, including the folk-ballad feel of the title track, the sultry blues of "Put the Law on You," and the gospel-soul tinge of "Build a Levee" (where Merchant is aided by considerable pipes of Mavis Staples. Even as MOTHERLAND traverses a variety of genres, the distinctive approach Merchant applies to the songwriting, performance, and arrangements makes this both one of her most memorable and most consistent solo albums.
Recorded at Allaire Studios, Shokan, New York; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, California; Clinton Studios, New York, New York between June 15 & September 9, 2001.
Personnel includes: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Katie Goldberg (vocals); Gabriel Gordon (acoustic & electric guitar); Greg Leisz (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin); Sandra Park, Sharon Yamada (violin); Karen Dreyfus (viola); Alan Stepansky (cello); Sandra Church (alto flute); Chris Tedesco (trumpet); Elizabeth Steen (Hammond organ); Patrick Warren (pump organ); Graham Maby (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums).
Producers: T-Bone Burnett, Natalie Merchant.
Personnel: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Mavis Staples (vocals); Greg Leisz (acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, banjo, mandolin); Erik Della Penna (electric guitar, lap steel guitar, classical guitar, banjo, oud); Gabriel Gordon (electric guitar, E-bow); Krystof Kuznik, Jung Sun Yoo, Fiona Simon, Bruno Eicher, Ann Kim, Karen Marks, Soo Hyun Kwon, Sandra Park, Lisa Kim, Laura Seaton, Robert Shaw, Sharon Yamada (violin); Karen Dreyfus, Nick Cords, Vivek Kamath (viola); Elizabeth Dyson, Sara Selver, Alan J. Stepansky (cello); Sandra Church (alto flute); Guy Klucevsek, Van Dyke Parks (accordion); David Krakauer (clarinet); Mitch Estrin (bass clarinet); David Ralicke (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone); Tony Kadleck (trumpet); Phillip Myers (French horn); Keefus (piano, keyboards); Patrick Warren (pump organ, chamberlin); Elizabeth Steen (Mellotron); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Jim Scott.
Recording information: Allaire Studios, Shokan, NY (06/15/2001-09/09/2001); Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY (06/15/2001-09/09/2001); Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA (06/15/2001-09/09/2001).
Photographer: Laura Wilson.
Arranger: Stephen Barber.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Rolling Stone (1/31/02, p.53) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Her newly husky alto lends even more gravitas to an artist who has never lacked it..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/16/01, p.172) - "...An often exquisite minor-key outing..." - Rating: B
Mojo (Publisher) (12/01, p.100) - "...A fine record..." Natalie Merchant Motherland Songs Motherland Music Review Average Rating: (3.8 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Natalie's 9/11 Album
I am the ultimate Natalie Merchant
connoisseur! But seriously, this is not
her best album, but certainly not her
worst either. She could never even have
a "worst." Her voice sounds much deeper
on this CD, in fact a friend heard me
playing it at work and thought it was
a man singing! Oh no! But I LOVE
Natalie, and I think she rules. This
is an album worth getting, for sure.
Her tributes to 9/11 are very moving.
Submitted by a reviewer (Spencer, MA, USA) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 By far Natalie's best album
"Motherland" is definitely Natalie Merchant's best album to date. The album has a mix of sounds and her song-writing has never been stronger.
Submitted by a reviewer (Cardiff, Wales)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Motherland is a powerful step forward
In order to intelligently gauge Natalie Merchant's career growth, one must compare her newer work with any of her work from the past. There is no doubt that her 10,000 Maniacs years were glorious, and she may never re-capture that (or want to). Motherland is a bold step forward in her solo career, but for the public, she takes too long between releases (an average of 3 years!). It is unfortunate that Motherland didn't immediately follow the multi-platinum Tigerlily because now, 90% of fans who bought Tigerlily won't even know about Motherland. Her music no longer attracts the masses as it did with 10,000 Maniacs. But perhaps that is her intention. Motherland is very personal, as if it were written only for you. Most women (her lone target audience now, it appears) oogle over and dissect every inch of her lyrics to point out something magical that has to be irrationally protected; most men cannot relate to alot of her lyrics. Objectively, the strongest appeal of Merchant is that voice and her alluring performances, not the lyrics. She explores many more music styles on Motherland than she did on her first two slow-moving solo releases. She branches out at an extremely vital time. Merchant has got to be the best female solo artist recording today. Best cuts: BUILD A LEVEE, TELL YOURSELF, JUST CANT LAST, THIS HOUSE IS ON FIRE.
Submitted by a reviewer (Pennsylvania)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Natalie's best album yet
I am so tired of people comparing Natalie's solo work to her work with 10,000 Maniacs. Although what she did with the Maniacs is excellent, the band never progressed musically and that is something that Natalie does with every album. "Motherland" has many musical styles, from Middle Eastern ("This House is on Fire") to blues ("Put the Law on You"). Natalie's songwriting has never been better, nor has her gorgeous voice. Don't listen to the negative reviews of this album - this is one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard!
Submitted by a reviewer (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Motherland is more upbeat than previous solo efforts
Although still not as good as her work with 10,000 Maniacs, Motherland is Natalie Merchant's first major step toward bringing back some of the extreme overall passion of her work with her former band. Hers is the greatest voice I have ever heard.
Submitted by a reviewer (Cumberland MD)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase Motherland CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Natalie Merchant Tigerlily CD (1995)
Motherland album
 $6.45  
Super-serious Natalie Merchant has loosened up since leaving 10,000 Maniacs. From the soulful march, "San Andreas Fault," that opens her solo debut, it is obvious she has found a freedom in going solo. It's evident in her less restrictive vocals and in a tighter, more expansive musical sound.
Her lyrics, no surprise, remain somber. But in finally recording a song as throbbingly funky as "Carnival," Merchant offers a glimpse of what she always had lurking inside when she flailed about onstage with the Maniacs. And "River," a tribute to the late River Phoenix, gives her a chance to belt a lyric out--a pleasant, surprising change from ...
| | Natalie Merchant Ophelia CD (1998)
Motherland CD music
$9.19
Hammond B-3 organ); Karen Perris (vocals, acoustic guitar); N'Dea Davenport, Yungchen Lhamo (vocals); Karl Berger, Gavin Bryars (conductor); Craig Ross (acoustic & electric guitars); Lokua Kanza (acoustic guitar); Graham Maby (electric guitar, bass); Daniel Lanois, Don Perris (electric guitar); Krystof Witek, Hector Falcon (violin); Conroy Kuo, Ralph Farris (viola); ...
| | VH1 Presents The Corrs Live In Dublin CD (2002)
Motherland music CDs
$6.39 
This audio document of The Corrs' Dublin ...
| | Mike Bloomfield Super Session CD (1968) Bonus Tracks; Remastered
Motherland songs
$6.75  
A surprise best-seller when it was first released, this mostly improvised pairing of singer/keyboardist/producer Al Kooper with two major guitar heroes of the day sounds fascinating all these years later precisely because of the distance of time--nobody makes records like this any more. The material runs the gamut from folk pop (covers of Donovan and Dylan), to blues ...
| | Natalie Merchant House Carpenter's Daughter CD (2003) Limited Edition
Motherland album
$14.25 
| | Best Of The Dubliners: Irish Favorites CD (1967)
Motherland CD music
$7.49
| | Aden Black Cow CD (2000)
Motherland music CDs
$10.59
| | Joao Carlos Assis Brasil Interpreta Tom Jobim CD (1970) (Import) Brazil
Motherland songs
$15.39
| | Billy Idol Essential CD (2003)
Motherland album
$8.79
| | One Six Conspiracy Words Fill Time CD (2003)
Motherland CD music
$9.55
| | Lissa Quien Dijo CD (2005) (Import) Sweden
$15.75 | | Coda African Renaissance CD (2009) (Import)
Motherland music CDs
$18.55
CODA’s music is an all-body experience - you’ll find your feet tingling with the dance-evoking groove, and your jaw-dropping at the breathtaking spectacle of colour and energy. It’s sensory explosion that will put a smile on your face and a groove in your boots. "CODA is just so hot right now... You simply cannot think about having a party without at least trying to sign them up for the evening's entertainment... CODA is the city's most in-demand band," Bianca Coleman, Cape ArgusWidely loved for their vibrant live performances, CODA is ranks as one of the hottest bands in South Africa at the moment. Their Afro-fusion sound is classy, refreshing and uplifting and is a rich blend of warm vocals, electric strings, saxophone, hypnotizing beats and a few other surprises, all brought together with a distinctly South African flavour. CODA has entertained some of the country's most eminent celebrities, business people and politicians, and their music has been known to get some of South Africa's leading figures on the dance floor. CODA performed at FW de Klerk's 70th birthday and was personally requested by Desmond Tutu to perform at his 75th birthday event.CODA's diversity has resulted in a new style of South African music that appeals to audiences from Soweto to Paarl, from Gugulethu to Bloemfontein and from Dubai to the Seychelles.The African Renaissance CD:CODA’s latest offering the skill and talent of the performers and draws on influences of several dance-orientated styles and elements of music including Electro, House and Kwaito, combined with elements of Classical and Afro-Jazz. The latest CD is a very worthy - perhaps vital - addition to any CD collection of South African music.African Renaissance is a feel-good urban-pop offering that cements CODA's signature fusion sound and takes the band to a new level. African Renaissance is an immaculately produced and presented album, colourful in both appearance and in spirit - the perfect showcase of the philosophy and character that CODA has been building since their inception.With song names like Reach Out, Stand Together, Take Care and To Be African, and as the album name implies, CODA is all about positive newness in Africa - it's about being reawakened to ...
|
|
|
7776 
buttons below to play song samples
Adobe Flash
Email a Friend
