Natalie Merchant emerged as a beacon of poetic elegance in the early '80s thanks to her antique-sounding voice and ornately woven lyrics. As the lead singer for 10,000 Maniacs, she brought a lilting touch to hypnotic folk-rock tracks such as "Like the Weather" and a powerful spirit to carefree jangle-pop jams like "These Are Days." After going solo in 1993, Merchant embraced a quieter, more genial style of music with a watercolor-delicate instrumental palette. A solemn organ line courses through "Kind and Generous," while meditative piano bolsters "Life Is Sweet," and bluesy guitar licks slither over the somber "Carnival."