Top 5 Album’s of All Time: Natalie Merchant’s Tigerlily

1. Natalie Merchant – Tigerlily

Merchant’s classic is a gem that deserves more recognition.

I was taking a walk around one of the richest neighborhoods during the summer of 2006. There was a golf course in the middle of Sonterra, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in San Antonio. As I reached the other side of the green, “Wonder” came on my iPod. The images before me blurred as Natalie Merchant described the tale of a young woman that survived a fatal illness. I knew the chorus from my childhood. I probably haven’t heard the song since circa 1996. I recognized it. It reminded me of the times when I would be in the car with my aunts and singing along as I enjoyed the air conditioning during another hot summer day in south Texas.

I’ve been listening to this album regularly for  years. It is my favorite album of all time. Natalie Merchant’s soothing deep voice is a perfect marriage with her folk tunes. This was her first album after leaving her band 10,000 Maniacs. “Carnival,” the cool electro-jazzy pop tune was an instant smash single. The real crescent of the album, I believe, lies in “I May Know the Word.” Merchant’s singular love-themed work is highlighted with complete sincerity in her lyrics.

Merchant’s sincerity flows through all of the tracks in Tigerlily, through her relaxing voice in “River” to her perfectly harmonious voice in “San Andreas Fault.” I wouldn’t understand you if you called this album anything else but beautiful.

Merchant is probably the greatest product to come out of Lilith Fair because of her master folk music skills and her voice’s ability to tell a story with dictation. Every track is platinum on this album. The album is full of emotion with modest bravado.

 

 

Top 5 Favorite Albums of All Time – Series

I remember it was a glorious sunny day on July 1, 1998. There were big white clouds in the sky, and the heat was banging on my soft brown hair. I was turning eight years old, and all my aunts and uncles, mother, father, and grandmother were giving me the ultimate birthday dining experience; the Olive Garden. I feasted on a personal sized pepperoni pizza, topped with the best of toppings; diced green peppers, olives, and cilantro. After my feast, my family presented me with my very own stereo system. All I remember was that it was a 3-disc CD changer.

My aunts bought me my first two albums on CD. The summer of 1998 was going through the latin craze, and I was enthusiastic about it. I received Ricky Martin’s self-titled English debut and Lou Bega’s A Little Bit of Mambo.

This started my love for music. It was a small contribution, and it wasn’t until I was around fourteen years old until I started to listen to mainstream rap.

These are the albums that have changed my life thus far. All of these albums receive 5/5 stars.