Indigo Girls
"Nomads Indians Saints"
Epic Records
Released 1990
A common flaw with bands that experience immediate success on their debut album is the inability to follow it up. Indigo Girls's second album is a perfect example of this phenomena.
Okay, "Nomads Indians Saints" is technically the folk duo's third album - the Girls had released the indie "Strange Fire" in 1986 before their breakthrough major label debut, but "Nomads" was their second disc released under major label pressure. The pair's harmonies are still sweet, but the songwriting suffers as a result.
Amy Ray ups the punk influence on tracks like "1 2 3", while her musical partner Emily Saliers delivers pleasant folk offerings like "Hammer and Nail," but nothing on the disc equals the power of "Kid Fears" or the instantly catchy "Closer to Fine." And the album's debut single, "Watershed" is sadly unmemorable.
That's not to say the disc is a complete loss. Saliers' "Southland in the Springtime" is a gorgeous ode to the duo's Atlanta roots and Ray's "World Falls" is a strong example of the duo's spirituality and growing Native American mysticism. And the lilting, "Pushing the Needle Too Far" is one of Ray's strongest compositions, building to an angry climax, amplified by former DB Peter Holsapple on accordion.
The Girls would find their footing again with 1992's "Rites of Passage" which nearly equaled their self-titled major label debut, and casual fans who loved the harmony-drenched alt-folk of "Closer to Fine" are better served seeking out that disc.
Buy "Nomads Indians Saints"
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