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(More customer reviews)Since her early days with 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant has been an impeccable storyteller. Songs like "Like the Weather," "Trouble Me," and "These are Days" are not only catchy pop tunes, but they also relate to the human condition: the way in which the weather affects one's mood, the importance of the older generation, and the importance of remembering the good times.
After Ms. Merchant left the Maniacs and embarked on a solo career, her songs might not be considered the catchy pop tunes of the late 80s and early 90s, but they still reflect the frail emotional condition of humankind.
On Live in Concert, Merchant's songs are intimate yet powerful. She starts with "Wonder," her most Maniacs-like song, from her 1995 solo debut, Tigerlily. She proceeds to the poetic "San Andreas Fault," a parable about going to Los Angeles to "build a dream and watch it all fall down."
In addition to two Maniacs' songs, there are three new songs, all of which are covers. The most familiar is her cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity." Though it doesn't vary much from the original, Merchant brings the loneliness and despair of the song to a more human level than Bowie's colder version.
The standout piece is "The Gulf of Araby," a song about inequality and about how cruel man can be to his fellow man. It's a song about "neighbors who are proud of their massacres" and prisoners who are "framed by a dirty judge." At just over seven minutes, it's the longest track on this sixty minute CD. The song's sense of urgency is delivered by Merchant's strong, soaring voice. The lyrics, coupled with Merchant's delivery, are goosebump provoking.
Noticeably absent, however, are songs from Merchant's 1998 release, Ophelia. Only the CD's title track is featured on her Live effort, and although a great performance, it isn't nearly enough from such a brilliant CD. "Life is Sweet," "Kind and Generous," and "Break Your Heart" would have been wonderful additions to this live set. But these omissions are forgivable - as long as they are included on a future live album that is equally as pleasing and gratifying as this one.
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