Search - Indigo Girls :: Rites of Passage

I can be sweet and good and nice....

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 03/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Next to "Indigo Girls," this remains my favorite CD from Amy and Emily. From "Three Hits" to the elegiac "Cedar Tree," the emotional weight of "Rites Of Passage" seemed greater than any of their other records. As much as I liked Dire Straits' original version of "Romeo And Juliet," Amy's raw exuberance won me over to their cover for keeps.



They also kept up their social barometer. The pro-peace "Galileo" (with harmonies from Jackson Browne and David Crosby) called for nuclear disarmament during a time when protest songs weren't a particular norm. "Jonas and Ezekiel" prays for peace in the Middle East (funny how that problem remains as timely now as it did in 1992). There is also a line in "Let It Be Me" that rings out as pure folk:



"The President has no good idea

of who the masses are.

Well I'm one of them among my friends

trying to see beyond the fences

of our own backyards."



The political and personal mesh throughout "Rites Of Passage." "Ghosts" is a beautiful love song that cries for tolerance. It probably ranks among my favorite IG songs. "Chickenman" and "Airplane" also explore their Southern Roots (I could have sworn "Chickenman" was an REM song the first time I heard it).



The re-master on "Rites" is first rate as well. It brings out the definition of the acoustic instruments. "Romeo and Juliet" now explodes from the stereo. While I also have to admit, I really don't think the live cuts add anything to the CD as a whole. I will continue to recommend "Rites Of Passage" as a pinnacle in the Indigo Girls' career."

Indigo Girls - Poetry In Motion.....

Steven Sly | Kalamazoo, MI United States | 09/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Passage" is one of the Indigo Girls most popular albums with the band's fans, and is indeed one of their strongest releases. The girls had burst out of the Athens music scene (which also spawned R.E.M.) with their previous album, and were ready to reach even bigger heights with this one. Lot's of special guests were brought in including Jerry Marotta (from Peter Gabriel's band), Kenny Aronoff (from John Mellencamp's band), Jackson Browne, and David Crosby (CSN). The subject matter of the songs covers politics, world events, and relationships. The girls make take a stand on just about every tune, but never get preachy or morose. The album starts off with two Indigo classics "Three Hits" and "Galileo" which is still a sing along staple of the band's encores in concert to this day. Other strong songs follow including a very effective cover of Dire Straits "Romeo And Juliet", a song which the Indigo Girls take a completely different take on from the original and make it their own. Other strong tunes include "Jonas And Ezekiel", "Virginia Wolf", "Chickenman" and "Airplane". Overall this is one of the Indigo Girls best albums and has stood up very well 16 years after it's release."

The best from a great duo

Alba4me | Alexandria, VA | 03/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My music taste is varied...that being said, I do love the Indigo girls sound -- have been listening to them for too many years, from back before a CD in Athens, GA...have all of their CDS, however this particular CD is my favorite so far..."