I can describe the latest release from Rock sensation Natalie Merchant for you with just one word... Outstanding!
I wish it weren"t the case but, it"s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can"t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Ophelia. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
Natalie Merchant is one of those musicians that has the ability to just win you over with her talent. The kind of artist it"s really a treat to be able to listen to.
Overall Ophelia is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.
While this entire album is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 - Life Is Sweet, track 6 - Break Your Heart, and track 11 - When They Ring The Golden Bells
My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Ophelia. Good stuff!
Ophelia Release Notes:
Natalie Merchant originally released Ophelia on May 19, 1998 on the Elektra Entertainment label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Ophelia 2. Life Is Sweet 3. Kind & Generous 4. Frozen Charlotte 5. My Skin 6. Break Your Heart 7. King Of May 8. Thick As Thieves 9. Effigy 10. Living, The 11. When They Ring The Golden Bells / Ophelia (Reprise)
Personnel includes: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ); Karl Berger, Gavin Bryars (conductor); Karen Perris (vocals, acoustic guitar); N"Dea Davenport, Yungchen Lhamo (vocals); Lokua Kanza (acoustic guitar); Graham Maby (electric guitar, bass); Daniel Lanois, Don Perris (electric guitar); Krystof Witek, Hector Falcon (violin); Wendy Gillespie (treble viol); Conroy Kuo, Ralph Farris (viola); Julia Hodgson, Richard Campbell (tenor viol); Susanna Pell (bass viol); Michelle Kinney, Garo Yellin (cello); William Hunt (great bass); Chris Botti (trumpet); Tom Varner (French Horn); George Laks (piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ); Jay Brunga (acoustic bass); Peter Yanowitz (drums).
Engineers: Todd Vos, John Holbrook, Rupert Coulso.
Recorded at Talking Dwarf Studios, Little Valley, New York; Air Studios, London, England.