Merchant appears on this album, but at the time of its release she had been gone from the band for months, The added feeling that this release would be their true swan song adds to the mood the sadness expressed on 'Eat for Two', the melodic and sweet vocals put down for the opener 'These Are Days' and the somber romantic feeling taken from the original Patti Smith tune, 'Because The Night'. While this album did not kick them directly into the mainstream, it did help them out by making their music available to the MTV crowd and presenting it the way it was made, using Merchant's lush and versatile voice with the folk guitar styling of the late Robert Buck.Īlthough the publicity was gathering, the band was past its true prime and basically on its way out. Stars such as Nirvana, Eric Clapton, and even Bob Dylan would go on to appear on this show, but probably being the lowest publicized act outside of college radio, 10,000 Maniacs did not have a mainstream presence.

Sure their music was happening when the television company were just establishing themselves before featured animation shows would do that inviting big time artists to perform 'unplugged' live for the network concerts which would turn into television episodes. It can serve as a compilation of the group's previous work all put onto a single disc, it can introduce the live element to the quality of the group, but in 10,000 Maniacs case, the MTV added exposure helped them gain fans and put their soft jangle pop out to the kids.

Releasing a live album can help your band in many ways. 'Well its time to start let's say hi to Natalie and 10,000 Maniacs'

10000 maniacs unplugged