No, the band isn't breaking up or anything. In fact, the upstate New York-based quintet has just released its third album, Blind Man's Zoo. The record's getting the usual acclaim, and the band is certainly pleased with that.

10,000 Maniacs (below) are representatives of the giddy early '80s when musical discoveries were ripening, and little colonies of music-crazed youths revered the likes of Joy Division, Brian Eno, Alex Chilton and other then-obscure performers on the fringes of rock.

While R.E.M. was figuring it out in Athens, Ga., while the Replacements tried to act like it wasn't important in Minneapolis, the Maniacs built a following by working college radio and touring until they dropped.

"The climate was so much different then," said keyboard player Dennis Drew from Atlanta this week. "The drinking age was different so you had younger people in bars. It was so alive with lots of unsigned bands. None of that's true now. All the bands are signed. We're part of a different era. We're the last of that group that included R.E.M., Husker Du and the Replacements.

"Because of increased pressure to raise the drinking age and the concern with drunk driving, the climate changed before the music changed. That reduced the amount of places to play. We still have the same fans, but we're playing theaters and everyone can get in. Bands that are still playing bars, it's tough for them. If you play all-ages shows, you can't make any money. If you play only for people over 21, you miss the heart and soul of youth culture. It just makes it more difficult."

The Maniacs grew up in public, and have had the usual growing pains. With its increased success, people are throwing the usual complaints at the group. Singer Natalie Merchant is one of a line of dream merchants that includes R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Dallas songstress Edie Brickell. Some have said the increased focus on Merchant is problematic. Drew doesn't see it that way.

"She's been in the band the whole time," Drew said. "She's always gotten most of the attention. Nothing's changed. I can walk through the crowd before the show and after the show and not be recognized. In a sense, that's a relief. I get to play, write songs and say what I want to say in these interviews."

One of the things Drew wants to say is that the band's evolution from its self-produced debut Secrets of the I Ching was not imposed by outsiders. The group chose to work with producer Peter Asher, best known for his work with Linda Ronstadt. Asher produced the band's last album, In My Tribe.

"I think the music is darker and warmer," Drew said. "It sounds more like the band. Even though it's darker, I think it's warmer and more realistic."

Part of the warmth resulted from the band's decision to record the album on its own turf. Zoo was recorded at Dreamland, a deconsecrated Catholic church in West Hurley, N.Y. Most of the band hails from Jamestown, N.Y., a town best known as Lucille Ball's birthplace.

"The reason we got a better sound was that we all knew what we wanted to do this time, including Peter Asher. It was an old studio and an old mixing board. We knew that would help us get the sound we wanted to get. We also went with different engineer, Frank Filipetti."

The band has been on the road since May, but they've slowed their road pace to avoid burnout. Merchant fell ill toward the end of the last tour, so this time they've taken precautions to avoid that.

"We've brought a guy along to help organize our catering," Drew said. "Most of it was that she's (Merchant) kind of a macrobiotic vegetarian. It was difficult for her to get enough good food. This time, she's staying healthy and we're getting fat."

Merchant writes all the band's lyrics, and many of the songs speak out against personal and social injustice. The band's fans seem to take the exhortations to heart. The Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) has distributed literature at the Maniacs' shows, and people have responded, Drew said.

"I see people trying hard to make a difference. I think there's more concern than there was in 1976 or '77 when I was in school. It seems to me there's a greater awareness, and maybe more problems. In high school, nobody cared about anything. Vietnam was over. Watergate was over. No one trusted anybody."