An album of luminous and enduring beauty
As with many of the other reviewers, this album, with its other half (in my mind) The Wishing Chair, has very deep personal associations for me. It takes me back to 1988 to 1992 or so, that time in my life. Still, it has a timeless richness to it. Truth be told, I don't care for many of Natalie's political ruminations - e.g. "What's the Matter Here?" - a little bit too much telling rather than showing. And producer Peter Asher smoothes out the band a bit too much. Still, the instrumental greatness of Buck, Augustiniak, and Drew shines through (what a great folk-rock band), and many of Natalie's lyrics are deeply personal and affecting. The serene "The Painted Desert" reinforces the notion that this album should be listened to on a car stereo while driving through the beautifully desolate West. "City of Angels" is indeed heavenly music, especially the mandolin halos. "Hey Jack Kerouac," "The Cherry Tree," and "Don't Talk" are 3D folk-rock toe-tappers. Best of all is Nat's best vocal performance, "Verdi Cries." Stupendous chamber arrangement, and one of the top five songs of all time of any genre lyrically. Not a Maniacs song, but who cares? It's the end-all be-all. Still gives me chills and tears. Not all of the songs are as good ("Campfire Song," "Gun Shy"), but the album flows smoothly as a whole. If you don't own this disc, stop reading reviews and buy it already.
Solid Folk Rock Album
In addition to being the band that launched Natalie Merchant's career, 10,000 Maniacs were among the best of the late 1980s college rock groups that gained popularity in the wake of R.E.M.'s success. "In My Tribe" was the Merchant and Company's best album, containing the ace single "Like the Weather," and accompanying material that is just as strong. Other highlights are the child abuse take "What's the Matter Here," the tribute "Hey Jack Kerouac," and the catchy "Don't Talk." Unfortunately, the band pulled their wonderful cover version of Cat Stevens's "Peace Train" off of subsequent pressings of this album after Stevens's coversion to radical Islam and his support of Ayatolah Khomeni's call for Muslims to kill author Salmon Rushdie for publishing "The Satanic Verses." While I support the band's thinking, it robs the album of one of its best performances.Overall, an excellent record that sounds as fresh today as when it was released in 1987.
The tribe has broken...
In My Tribe by 10km is a pretty straight-forward album. Catchy tunes with serious messages, Natalie's beautiful and gorgeous voice (it got really good later on in years), and thought-provoking and social-consciencious lyrics make this album worth listening to.
Definitely a top 5 classic of alternative-pop in the 80's.
Five Stars is not enough
At age 17, I had an old blue VW Beetle with a tape deck, an invitation to visit my older brothers at the University of Alabama, a 2 1/2-hour drive, and this album on tape - recorded from an album. I listened to it all the way down and all the way back, and the stereo at the party that weekend played these tunes.
Now, 16 years later, I still have the tape - worn, cutting out in places. My sister pushed REC by mistake in the middle of "Don't Talk" and now her gasp is stuck in the middle of it - but I still listen. My favorites have to be "Cherry Tree," "Campfire Song," "Like the Weather" (of course), and "City of Angels."
It's the perfect soundtrack to a weekend or a life.
Desert Island CD
I have over 500 CDs in my collection. If I were stranded on a desert sland with only my walkman, this album would definitely be one I would hope to have with me.
In My Tribe was 10,000 Maniacs' second (and best) album and the record that made the band collegiate favorites and singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant a star. Producer Peter Asher's rich balance of acoustic and electric instruments gave muscle to the group's folk-rock. "Hey Jack Kerouac" found Merchant musing on the literary beats of the 1950s, but the song's musical hook was the rich bed of rhythm guitars laid atop the solid drums. "Don't Talk" offered a similarly propulsive rock sound, with lyrics that advised troubled lovers to keep it to themselves. R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe offered hipster credibility by guesting on "A Campfire Song," while a cover of Cat Stevens's "Peace Train" offered listeners a familiar port of entry. However, when Muslim convert Stevens announced his support of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini's call for the execution of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, the band rereleased the album without "Peace Train." --John Milward
