Natalie Merchant - Ophelia

MacLeod
MacLeod Posts: 14,358
edited November 2005 in Music & Movies
I bought this several years ago and never really listened to it cause I didnt like the tunes really. But I was browsing my collection for some good, reference quality music to tune my system and have been sitting here at my computer listening to it thru my crappy Logitech system and man this thing is a reference and a half!

Its a crystal clear recording and not only are the vocals female which are hard to reproduce but also Natalie's unusual voice which will be even better.

You have tons of instruments from piano to violins and cellos.

Definitely a good workout for your rig and a good tool to tune with.
polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
Post edited by MacLeod on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited November 2005
    I listen to it at least once a week. Listened to it Saturday night.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    edited November 2005
    Eh, I never really cared for her since she left 10K Maniacs. Her 1st solo album Tigerlilly was her best solo work IMO. I didn't really care for Ophelia. It was a well done album and she defintly has talent. The issue I have is that she got too preachy after Tigerlilly and while political and other agenda serving propaganda is present in all pop music, some artists take it too far. I think Natalie Merchant is one of those artists who just doesn't know when to quit it with the BS and just make good music.

    I realize that all of her music isn't laced with propaganda but a good portion of it is. She was great with 10K Maniacs and she should have stayed there IMO. They made spectacular music and a good chunk of Natalie merchant's success was due to 10K maniacs. I can say that with confidence because each consecutive lead singer for 10K Maniacs has been met with critical acclaim and the only common denominator among all of them is 10K Maniacs.

    Anyhoo, I agree, Ophelia is a decent album. Would I own it? Probably not, that's why I borrowed it from my brother. The best part about the album IMO is the backing bands and music. Natalie is talented and does well but without teh added talent in 10K Maniacs backing her up and keeping her grounded, she gets a little too "out there" for my tastes. Otherwise, it's a solid album and worth some critical listening time. Hell, most of her albums are the same and any one is a good choice.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2005
    Agreed with Jstas, Tigerlilly is her best work in my opinion. it's a great CD.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited November 2005
    Well the thing is I couldnt care less what some hippy thinks about the political scene. I buy their music because I like it and as long as they dont get anit-American (Dixie Chicks, Green Day, System of a Down) and the like I dont care, or at least try not to.

    Plus with most of these ablums, you cant understand the lyrics anyway!
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,535
    edited November 2005
    Tigerlily's track 4 ("River"), is one of my most used reference tracks for testing speakers. The overlayering of vocals on that one is great. Average speakers smear the subtle backing vocals together towards the end of the song. Excellent speakers allow hearing a clear and distinct separation between the backing vocals and the rest of the music. There's a lot of detail and emotion put into that recording I hadn't been able to notice and appreciate up until a couple of years ago.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,717
    edited November 2005
    I've been playing Ophelia at least one a week since Dave turned me onto it during Polkfest. Just a fantastic recording and a very talented artist.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited November 2005
    ^^ She's kinda hot too in a hippy sort of way!

    I think you guys have talked me into checking out Tigerlilly. Im in need of some good reference. Ive learned that if Im going to be competing in SQ competitions, heavy metal makes a lousy reference! :D
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited November 2005
    MacLeod wrote:
    ^^ She's kinda hot too in a hippy sort of way!

    I think you guys have talked me into checking out Tigerlilly. Im in need of some good reference. Ive learned that if Im going to be competing in SQ competitions, heavy metal makes a lousy reference! :D

    You won't be sorry picking "Tigerlilly" up. Pretty much a toss up between it and "Ophelia" both sound great and kinda stay on the same tone. (Oh and Hippy chicks ARE hot) :D

    Note: I have to admit after a quick listen to "Tigerlilly" i'd lean toward "Ophelia" as her best solo work given a choice.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2005
    I've been to about 30 Grateful Dead shows, and real hippie chicks typically stink. The psuedo hippie chicks are usually using a mix of Patchouli and Calvin Klein.

    There's always a diamond in the rough, but she never wanted anything to do with me....especially when I let her know....I think there are 100 images of herself, falling like a waterfall into my soda cup which stopped being cold about 6 hours ago....and then I vomit Woody Woodpecker pictures.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited November 2005
    dorokusai wrote:
    I've been to about 30 Grateful Dead shows, and real hippie chicks typically stink. The psuedo hippie chicks are usually using a mix of Patchouli and Calvin Klein.

    There's always a diamond in the rough, but she never wanted anything to do with me....especially when I let her know....I think there are 100 images of herself, falling like a waterfall into my soda cup which stopped being cold about 6 hours ago....and then I vomit Woody Woodpecker pictures.

    I stand corrected, "psuedo-hippie chicks" ARE hot. :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter