Steep is the water-tower painted off-blue to match the sky

Well, at least I've actually listened to this one...

The Wishing Chair (1985)

This is the earliest 10,000 Maniacs album I've previously heard, but I think it was the third I experienced - I remember it giving me hints as to where they were heading but, since I'd already heard their later stuff, it felt a bit messy and unfocussed in comparison - so it will be interesting to see what I think coming back to it.

Side A

1. Can't Ignore the Train
This is a very similar sound to that which we hear on the next album - the lyrics are very unclear though, except for the title!

2. Just As The Tide Was A Flowing
This is more like it - much better Natalie vocals on this with a nicer lilt to them and you can actually understand them.

3. Scorpio Rising
Some very REM-like guitars on this - it's OK, but nothing special

4. Lilydale
I like this one though - although Natalie tries to sing too high in places.

5. Maddox Table
Yup - this is definitely signposting their future direction nicely as well.

6. Everyone a Puzzle Lover
A nicely slower tempo track which isn't really something we've had before - and it's something they go on to do well, if not very often. I liked this one.

Side B

1. Arbor Day
Too much accordion on this for me - but otherwise it's OK.

2. Back O' The Moon
Yeah, not bad but I'm going to complain about not being able to decipher the lyrics again.

3. Tension Makes A Tangle
This is a reworked version of "Tension" from the previous album and you can really hear them finding their sound. It's got a very weird instrument on it as well - I've no idea what it is!

4. Among the Americans
This is another nicely slower tempo track.

5. Grey Victory
Another one repeated from the previous album - and it's definitely improved here

6. Cotton Alley
OK, but nothing special.

7. My Mother The War
And this is another one carried over - and they brought the weird shoegaze-y guitars back. A most peculiar way to end the album. 

Generally, I'd say this is better than I remember it but it suffers in comparison with what comes after on two main fronts for me - the lyrics are not as intelligent or comprehensible and the tone is a bit "tinny". Both of which I'm happy to accept are a band finding their way, so if I'd listened to this first then I think I would have enjoyed it and then been really happy with the improvement shown on the next album. But that never happened, so we are where we are. I'm going to start my Natalie playlist by adding "Just As The Tide Was A Flowing" and "Everyone A Puzzle Lover" because I think these give the best indication as to the sort of thing that we're going to meet very soon.

Wikipedia doesn't have a lot on the album - it's their first major-label release and whilst it didn't do as well as later releases (it never charted anywhere), it helped them on their way. Obviously that's not loads to keep you entertained, so I checked their entry out - and that pretty much comes up with nothing in this period as well. So there you go!

So overall, I think this is still one for the completists - there are some decent moments on the album and it's interesting within the historical context of the band but it's still a bit of an indecipherable mess for most of the time, even if it's quite a nice sounding indecipherable mess. So if you've never experienced any 10,000 Maniacs, then I'd hold off for one more album before you give them a listen.

Secrets Of The I Ching - muddled and muddy, inconsistent and incoherent
In My Tribe - the first proper steps on the journey