by: Daniel Cotter
webmaster note: we are guessing this article came from the student newspaper at SUNY Fredonia. we only have a xeroxed copy, unfortunately, because there was a picture accompanying this review. we scanned our xeroxed copy of the picture anyway - click here to see it.
10,000 Maniacs have come to Fredonia many times, in the past, and they'll be back for many more performances. Recently, they released their first E P.
At first glance at the cover and the title, one gets the impression that the album is, at best, bizarre, and, undoubtedly, unusual. In fact, if I had seen this album in a record store, I most likely would not have bought it.
That would have been a mistake. Because, unusual though this album is, it is not pointlessly deviant, as a widespread prejudice of which I am guilty would have had me believe. The distinctiveness of Human Conflict Number Five lies in its originality.
It is great to find a band that has the security and confidence in itself to state its message simply and down-to-earth.
The first song, Tension, is very simple and plain but is kept alive by the tasteful phrasing of Natalie Merchant and the contrasting of light, sing-song organ rhythm with the slow whining of the guitar.
Planned Obsolescence is my favorite song on the album. It fades into a low, slow bass rhythm, with almost atonal ravings from the synthesized guitar, which are very sour, and seemingly unconnected. But it is the most tasteful use of a synthesized guitar I have heard. The last verse is done as what might be called a round, with excellent phrasing, and somehow a balance is reached between sloppiness and disorder on the one hand, and being very sharp and tight on the other.
On the other side, Orange has very little to say for itself musically. It does, however, have interesting words, although they are very abstract. What I make of it is a statement against wars and "techno-atrocities." The words are interesting and come from the heart, but they offer nothing but complaints, and lack any usefulness in the consideration of the subject which they speak against.
Groove Dub, the second side's second cut, is a spicy song, despite its simple, elementary rhythm, because of what is built around that rhythm. The singer blasts out the words in a controlled wildness, with a perfect sprinkling of halftones, which keep the listener on the edge of his seat in anticipation. Midway through, the guitarist takes off on a background solo, which changes the entire feel of the song and creates a "can't sit down" feeling.
The last song, Anthem For Doomed Youth, gave promise of possibly being a great song when reading the words. They reflect very well the mood of a war zone surrounded with death, fear and anger. The words are well thought out and very effective, but that's where my appreciation for the song stops. My major complaint With Anthem is that John Lombardo is not a singer, and I cannot understand why, with such a strong and soulful singer as Natalie Merchant, they would release the album with him singing it.
Human Conflict Number Five is a very good EP and although they leave some questions unanswered, I enjoy the musical style and especially the simplicity of 10,000 Maniacs, something which is often ignored by today's musicians.