Tribal Influences4 Out Of 5 Stars
"In My Tribe" was the breakthrough album for 10,000 Maniacs, and it's easy to hear why. After a few recordings of self-conscious, arty pop (found mainly on "Hope Chest"), they tightened there sound into a more direct folk pop and Natalie Merchant found her voice as a sturdy instrument. Their penchant for message songs remained in place, but on the artier songs that remained ("Verdi Cries"), they discovered a grace that had not been previously there.
The secret weapon after Natalie was guitarist Robert Buck, who could shimmer and solo in perfect compliment to Natalie's poetry and statements. They tread ground about child abuse ("What's The Matter Here"), illiteracy ("Cherry Tree") and the loneliness of growing old ("Campfire Song" featuring Micheal Stipe of soulmates R.E.M.). That isn't to say they could be lighthearted, as the wedding of "My Sister Rose" or the single/video of "Like The Weather."
I also saw the band on this tour (with Tracy Chapman!), and they were more dynamic a live act than the records ever indicated. Despite the dropping of "Peace Train" (my CD still has it, though) due to the controversy that then surrounded Cat Stevens, the album was a message album whose message didn't get diluted in the translation. "In My Tribe" is the best of 10,000 Maniacs' albums, and the only way you could do better is with the collection "Campfire Songs."
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