I said when I started this that there would be no bad reviews, they are all records in my collection ergo I like them. But, there will inevitably be some like this, albums where I don’t like this one as much as others by the same band.

“Blind Man’s Zoo” is the Maniacs 4th album, the 2nd produced by Peter Asher (he of Peter & Gordon and brother to McCartney’s former squeeze Jane) and a million seller in the US.

All the components are there. The songs are good (but not great), the playing is good but to my ears it lacks something following on from “In My Tribe”. It’s not as confident, almost as though it’s being apologetic for not being “In My Tribe”. If this had been their 3rd album and “In My Tribe” the 4th it would make perfect sense but as a follow up it feels like a regression.

Standout track(s), it's difficult to choose between them, would be “Eat For Two”, the story of a teenage girl coming to the realisation she is 5 months pregnant, and “Trouble Me”, a song about Natalie Merchant’s father. Everything else is much of a muchness.

Eat For Two - https://youtu.be/le9RHVrlWlk

Trouble Me - https://youtu.be/DPcK0sU3jEw

Now we’re cooking…by 1987 when “In My Tribe” was released chief songwriter and guitarist John Lombardo had left the band so songwriting duties fell onto singer Natalie Merchant and now principal guitarist Rob Buck, and what songs they wrote. This is the album where 10,000 Maniacs really found their voice.

Buck and Merchant conjured up songs addressing child abuse, (il)literacy, alcoholism, the military-industrial complex and possibly the most joyous song yet written about your sisters wedding. Natalie Merchant’s voice absolutely soars throughout this record, all underpinned by Rob Bucks intricate and and equally rocking guitar parts.

Opening song “What’s The Matter Here” tells the story of a child that is being beaten by it’s parents just next door; “Cherry Tree” tells of one persons difficulty with reading; “Don’t Talk” introduces us to a member of the band with a drinking problem and the toll it takes on the other members; “Gun Shy” is a lament to Natalie Merchant’s brother on her disappointment at him joining the military, but she will always love him; “A Campfire Song” features a guest appearance from Miss Natalie’s then beau (?) Michael Stipe and if upon first hearing “My Sister Rose” you do not want to immediately hit the dance floor then perhaps check your pulse.

When originally released the album included a cover of Cat Stevens “Peace Train”. Following Yusuf Islam’s (aka Cat Stevens) support for the Fatwah issued upon Salmon Rushdie following the publication of “The Satanic Verses” the band asked that the song be removed from future issues of the album in order that Stevens/Islam no longer benefit financially from it. 

It’s difficult to pick a standout song on this album as from the opener to the beautiful closing “Verdi Cries” there honestly isn’t a bad song here. If forced to choose we’ll go with “What’s The Matter Here” as it opens the record so well and sets the scene for what is to follow. Oh, and if you don’t know this album we’d be delighted if this little homage to it encouraged you to give it a listen.

What’s The Matter Here - https://youtu.be/m39DWVFK-Bw

My liking for the Maniacs has been covered in posts elsewhere in this Blog. “The Wishing Chair” (1985) is their second album and first on a major label. It features re-recordings of 3 songs that appeared on their previous album “Secrets Of The I Ching” (1983). 

It wears its influences very much on its sleeves with obvious debts owed to Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny. The fact it was recorded in London and produced by Joe Boyd who had also worked with the Fairports, Denny and Nick Drake adds to the late 60’s/early 70’s folk-rock feel to the whole album.

The standout song here is “Scorpio Rising” which is anything but folky in feel. It’s a galloping Indie-rock romp driven by Rob Bucks subtly distorted guitar riff. Elsewhere Natalie Merchant’s voice is the star of this show, from the growl on “Scorpio Rising” to the pureness she reaches on songs like “Lillydale” and “Grey Victory”.

It’s a step up from their previous album and a good pointer to the heights they would reach on their follow up, “In My Tribe” (1987), but more of that later…

Scorpio Rising - https://youtu.be/5uMdyKh_krc