Forgive me if this post is out of sorts, I’m not a morning person (that’s an understatement), but I’m trying to write this before I leave the house in a little bit. So, just be patient.
Ophelia is Natalie Merchant’s second solo album after leaving 10,000 Maniacs. It was released in 1998, but is still sounds fresh and unlike a lot of music going on in the late ’90’s. Rolling Stone said she has a”corduroy voice” and I don’t know what the hell that means, but she’s one of my favorites. Merchant’s lyrics are always thoughtful, sometimes haunting, and the melodies range from dark to angelic on this album. If I was a reviewer, I’d say this album is a study in dark and light. The top performer on the album is “Kind and Generous” which peaked at 12 on the Billboard Charts. It’s a gorgeous song and Natalie belts it out, just lovely. The other two songs released from Ophelia, “Break Your Heart” and “Life is Sweet” both went to 38 on Billboard. “Break Your Heart” is a soothing song, she sings “I know that it will hurt/I know that it will break your heart/The way things are/And the way they’ve been” and then gives advice the way I’d give to one of my daughters as they mature, “Don’t spread the discontent/Don’t spread the lies/Don’t make the same mistakes with your own life/And don’t disrespect yourself/Don’t lose your pride/And don’t think everybody’s going to choose your side.” Nice.
“Life is Sweet” also gives advice to a son or daughter, with “For they told you life is hard/Misery from the start/It’s dull/It’s slow/It’s painful/But, I’ll tell you life is sweet/Inspite of the misery/There’s so much more to be grateful.” In this song, she references the father as a war machine and the mother, the bitter bride and tells the child that there’s more to life.
Ophelia is a hopeful album, sometimes dark, sometimes a little mysterious. The last song, “When they Ring Them Golden Bells” is a hymn and it’s just beautiful. I like my music just like this, a kind of mirror to life — a little dark, a little fun, sweet, sad, and hopeful. Love this album and count it as one of my favorites. So, go get Ophelia off Amazon for $10.99 or download from iTunes, maybe it will be one of your favorites, too.
Oh, I forgot, in case you don’t know who Ophelia is she’s a character in Hamlet by my boy, William Shakespeare. Ophelia went mad after her father was killed and who fell out of a tree and drowned. Yikes. She’s one of the great tragic characters in literature, and my guess is Natalie Merchant pays tribute to her with this album.
kerryfaler.blog 
It is undisputed that this is one of the best albums ever made. And, what’s really cool, is that it was made pre-itunes, and is meant to be listened to as a whole album. Great “I’m not going to throw my children out the window today — I promise” music.
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