10,000 Maniacs
She was probably worth about 5,000 Maniacs all by herself, but when Natalie Merchant, the group's lead singer, went solo in 1993, her band-mates persevered, replacing Merchant with vocalist Mary Ramsey. The chemistry has changed: Love Among the Ruins is gentle and pleasant but finally uninspiring. Ramsey's voice is harmonious, though it lacks the range and emotional urgency that are Merchant's trademarks. A bigger problem is the band's new material—mostly mid-tempo drones, all air and no grit. One is tempted to ask (borrowing the title of a Maniacs' tune from nine years back), "What's the Matter Here?" Nothing much, it turns out—and everything. (Geffen)
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