10,000 Maniacs

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• Genre: Adult Alternative
• 10,000 Maniacs Website

About

One of the key Adult Alternative bands of the early '90s -- and charter members of the Lilith Fair school of music -- were 10,000 Maniacs. Led by the gifted vocalist Natalie Merchant, they were Alternative Rock darlings until their single "Like the Weather" crossed them over to just about all radio formats except Gangsta Rap. In My Tribe and Blind Man's Zoo went on to become staples in college dorms, womyn's clinics and bead shops everywhere. Then, at the height of their popularity, Merchant had to ruin it all to go solo to become, as the New Yorker puts it, the Stevie Nicks of the '90s. While Merchant continues to sell like Fleetwood Mac, 10,000 Maniacs have carried on to less commercial acclaim. With Mary Ramsey taking the lead vocal spot, their new, even folkier incarnation has its own rewards.

- Nick Dedina