Motherland (album)

Motherland is the third solo album by Natalie Merchant, released in 2001.

The album is musically eclectic, varying from Middle Eastern violin – reggae beat fusion "This House Is on Fire" to 10,000 Maniacs -sounding "Tell Yourself". Folky "Motherland" precedes stylistically Merchant's next album, The House Carpenter's Daughter.

Many songs on the album have social and political messages, which is typical of Merchant's lyrics. Other songs describe the atmosphere after a wrecked romantic relationship.

The album is dedicated to the victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States. However, the recording was finished two days before the event, so the songs are not influenced by it. The event has still affected people's interpretations of the lyrics.

Track listing

1. "This House Is on Fire" – 4:42
2. "Motherland" – 4:44
3. "Saint Judas" – 5:44
4. "Put the Law on You" – 5:01
5. "Build a Levee" – 4:46
6. "Golden Boy" – 4:10
7. "Henry Darger" – 4:24
8. "The Worst Thing" – 5:46
9. "Tell Yourself" – 5:14
10. "Just Can't Last" – 4:31
11. "Not in This Life" – 5:22
12. "I'm Not Gonna Beg" – 3:40

Produced by Natalie Merchant and T-Bone Burnett. All songs written by Natalie Merchant.

Personnel

• Carla Azar – drums (live)
• Stephen Barber – arranger and conductor
• Daniel de la Calle – Spanish lyrics for "The Worst Thing"
• Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
• Sandra Church – alto flute
• Nick Cords – viola
• Kate Daley – Vivian girl's voice in "Henry Darger"
• Kelly Daley – Vivian girl's voice in "Henry Darger"
• Erik Della Penna – electric guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, oud, banjo, lap steel guitar, bazouki
• Karen Dreyfus – viola
• Elizabeth Dyson – cello
• Bruno Eicher – violin
• Mike Elizando – acoustic bass
• Mitchell Estrin – bass clarinet
• Bob Glaub – bass
• Gabriel Gordon – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocal
• Katie Goldberg – vocal
• Soo Hyun Kwon – violin
• Tony Kadleck – trumpet
• Vivek Kamath – viola
• Ann S. Kim – violin
• Lisa E. Kim – violin
• Keefus – piano, Hammond organ, keyboard
• Guy Klucevsek – accordion
• David Krakauer – clarinet
• Krystof Kuznik – violin
• Greg Leisz – acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric guitar, 12 string guitar
• Graham Maby – bass
• Karen Marx – violin
• Jeremy McCoy – bass
• Natalie Merchant – vocal, piano, Rhodes piano
• Philip Myers – French horn
• Sandra Park – violin, string contractor
• Van Dyke Parks – accordion
• David Ralicke – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone
• Laura Seaton – violin
• Sarah Seiver – cello
• Robert T. Shaw – violin
• Fiona Simon – violin
• Mavis Staples – vocal
• Elizabeth Steen – Hammond organ, mellotron, Wurlitzer piano, piano
• Alan Stepansky – cello
• Jung Sun Yoo – violin
• Chris Tedesco – trumpet
• Patrick Warren – chamberlain, pump organ
• Sharon Yamada – violin

External link

• Lyrics