Love Among the Ruins

After original lead singer Natalie Merchant left 10,000 Maniacs to pursue a solo career in 1993, many felt the group was finished. The remaining members rallied, and brought original guitarist John Lombardo back into the fold along with his post-Maniacs musical partner, Mary Ramsey. On her last tour with 10,000 Maniacs, Merchant had tapped Ramsey to augment the band's sound, so this was an easy transition. Although Ramsey's singing is as lilting as Merchant's, her delivery is lighter and her viola playing adds another dimension to the Maniacs' sound. Songs like "Rainy Day" and "All That Never Happens" have a bubbly feel and an ethereal guitar sound that fits in with the group's prior material. There's also a tasteful cover of Roxy Music's "More Than This" that's the cherry on top of this triumphant comeback.