Our Time in Eden

by

10,000 Maniacs

Edit

"Our Time in Eden" was such an apt name for this 10,000 Maniacs album, their last with lead singer Natalie Merchant. They parted ways in the summer of 1993, a few short months after I graduated college. This band helped me get through college, and really defined my musical choices during those years. So it was only fitting that my college days ended at the same time my favorite band broke up. Our Time in Eden is limited, and all good things must end. The end of an era in my life and in the history of college-radio music.

At least they went out strong. This album is a tremendous final work, in many ways surpassing their classic album "In My Tribe" in terms of musical & lyrical maturity and complexity. Not as light or folksy or pop-influenced as their earlier albums, this album really showcased Robert Buck's guitars and Natalie Merchant's vocals were powerful enough to (unfortunately) warrant a solo career.

The album isn't really dominated by one song (with the exception of 'These Are Days') but rather gets its strength from the overall style of the album and the equally strong pull of each song on the album.

I'll always remember the last time I saw the band, with Natalie perched on the edge of the stage, passionately singing the closing lines of "Gold Rush Brides." That memory and this album will always be some of my strongest from my last year of college. One of the best records of the early 90's alternative rock movement.

This review is going to put me in the line of fire, but so be it. First, the good news. Paul Fox's low-tech production has loosened the band up considerably after the Peter Asher-produced "Blind Man's Zoo" showed signs of stiffness. The lyrics are more abstract and less focused on social issues. The joyful "These Are Days" recalls "In My Tribe," their best album. The gentle, hypnotic "Circle Dream" explores new territory with satisfying results.

So why the low rating? Because there isn't a single song here (aside from the two I mentioned) that couldn't have benefitted from stronger music. Most of the melodies sound like afterthoughts. This becomes painfully obvious on "Jezebel;" even the jarring rhythmic shifts can't obscure the meandering quality of the song. "Tolerance," the one attempt at "rock," has none of the bite of "Headstrong" or even "My Mother The War." Bringing in the James Brown horn section on two tracks only weighs things down. When the Maniacs finally come across a decent riff on "If You Intend," all they can do is repeat it to death. If you're a fan, you still might want to check out "Our Time In Eden," but expect to spend more time reading the lyric sheet than listening to the album.