Motherland (2001) Never the sunniest songwriter, Merchant develops a bout of the blues on this often exquisite minor-key outing. T Bone Burnett's scruffy Americana production (banjo, accordion,… Natalie Merchant
Music Review

Motherland (2001)

Natalie Merchant
Reviewed by Mark Bautz | Nov 16, 2001
EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Nov 13, 2001; Lead Performance: Natalie Merchant

Never the sunniest songwriter, Merchant develops a bout of the blues on this often exquisite minor-key outing. T Bone Burnett's scruffy Americana production (banjo, accordion, violin, and pump organ) complements her neo-gothic tales of lost love, betrayal, and other crimes of the heart. These tunes don't have the big melodic hooks of ''Wonder'' or ''Jealousy,'' but that doesn't lessen their beauty -- it just makes us listen harder to find it.

Originally posted Nov 16, 2001 Published in issue #625-626 Nov 16, 2001 Order article reprints