10,000 Maniacs

In the past few weeks (months) I've been preparing for a big move. Literally, a big move back to Chicago. It was suggested to me that in the process of preparing and packing, I go through my 200 cd changer, pull everything, and start from scratch. Since I got it back in the last 90's, I've periodically revised my selection and in all that time, only about 50% of the original cds have been replaced. Enough time has passed and cds bought that perhaps I should revisit my selections. Honestly, I don't think I ever listened to some of the cds all the way through so why not replace the stale with the fresh and new. I am currently in the middle of this project of refiling the cds sent back to the library, and I've stumbled across some gems that I forgot. Back in high school I was a bit of a 10,000 Maniacs, maniac. I loved Natalie Merchant; her beautiful full skirted flowery dresses, short stature, face hidden behind long dark hair. This was me (ok not really). She was one of the few female vocalists that I liked (Fetchin Bones: Hope Nicholls; Throwing Muses and Belly: Tanya Donelly; even Sinead to a degree) and I wished I could sing like her. I wished I could sing.

10K Maniacs Wishing Chair

So I pulled this cd out, put it on, and was immediately transported to the 80s. No one I knew listened to the same music as I did. I never had a chance to enjoy this album with anyone. A good portion of my music collection was almost secret. If anyone knew exactly what I had on my turntable (and yes I have this vinyl) I might have been left completely alone for my four years. Ah, regrets.