Natalie Merchant - The House Carpenters Daughter (2004)
I think it was Frank Zappa who said "Music is the Wallpaper of our lives", and I have long agreed with that idea. Unfortunately, there are those in the pop world who would paint over your walls in an attempt to force you to live in the garish glare of the latest platinum pop princess. To bombard you with a constant diet of mind numbing commercial ditties, never to know how beautiful the wall paper below that shallow veneer really is.
But every now and then, an artist comes along, who tries to awaken our numbed senses. Who takes to your pop splattered wall's with a paint scraper, and uncovers that wall paper, Letting you see that before the paint, there was much beauty on the wall of the music world. In this case, that artist is Natalie Merchant.
House Carpenters Daughter is more than just a collection of songs. It is a journey through time, from 17th century hymn's to 20th century union songs. It is the essence of the human spirit, shared through songs of faith, hardship, and love. It is joy of music found in it's purest form, fussed over and shared by an artist of impeccable taste and limitless talent.
Every song on this album is more than just a song. It is a lesson in history, a story of a life, and a moment in time, captured for all the ages. The wonder of this album is carried through the subtle complexity of the production.
Natalie Merchant has a rare and beautiful voice, but is also blessed with the two elements that make an album like this possible. She has the courage to persue the project, and the talent to see it through to it's conclusion. For that, she has earned my praise.
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