Natalie Merchant's Retrospective 1995-2005 is a look back at the past 10 years of her solo career. It is a good introduction for the uninitiated, and it is a convenient one disc set for long-time fans. The significant pop hits are covered with enough representation from lesser known tracks to encourage the casual listener to dig a little deeper.
From Mainstream Pop To Intimate Artist
When Natalie Merchant left her band 10,000 Maniacs in 1993, she headed into Tigerlily, her first album, playing it safe. The result was a set of catchy, engaging pop music that was different enough from her previous band to establish a unique recording personality. The commercial result was hits such as "Wonder" and "Carnival" and a #13 debut on the album chart. The followup album Ophelia climbed even higher on the album chart (#8), but it alienated some fans with its introspective and intimate sound. Natalie Merchant had become more concerned with pursuing her muse than radio airplay. This trend of development as an idiosyncratic artist seemingly unconcerned with record sales has continued to the present.
Top Tracks
Well Balanced Collection
Retrospective 1995-2005 is a nicely balanced exploration of Natalie Merchant's development as an artist. Tigerlily and Ophelia are each represented by 4 songs while the 2 more recent albums are adequately, but less expansively explored. 3 songs from Motherland and 2 from The House Carpenter's Daughter are included here. The track selection is not overly generous, but it gives the naive listener plenty of music from Merchant to determine whether or not to explore more deeply. Of significant value are Natalie Merchant's own comments about each song in the enclosed booklet. She shares stories on the making of the songs as well as commentary on public reactions to her material.
A Valuable Artist
Natalie Merchant is a valuable artist to know. Her band 10,000 Maniacs was one of the top alternative bands in the country when she left to further explore her own artistic inclinations. Merchant's solo music feels like the work of a strong, confident artist even though it is frequently quiet and individual songs sometimes are only distinguished from each other by gentle shifts in mood. The music must be heard multiple times to fully yield its richness. This collection will reward close listening.
