Musician (9/95, p.93) - "...Her new playmates have a far greater stylistic range than the Maniacs, while Merchant conveys more passion and personality than in the past, adding anger and wit to confessionals..."
Rovi
Super-serious Natalie Merchant has loosened up since leaving 10,000 Maniacs. From the soulful march, "San Andreas Fault", that opens her solo debut, it is obvious she has found a freedom in going solo. It's evident in her less restrictive vocals and in a tighter, more expansive musical sound.
Rovi
Tigerlily, Natalie Merchant's first solo record, does sound different than 10,000 Maniacs. Instead of relying strictly on jangly folk-rock, Merchant continues opening her music up as she did on Our Time in Eden, her last album with the Maniacs. From the understated groove of "Carnival" to the rolling "San Andreas Fault," the added emphasis on rhythmic texture works, creating an intimate but not exclusive atmosphere that holds throughout the record, even when her occasionally sophomoric, sentimental poetry threatens to sink the album in the weight of its own preciousness (as in "River," her tribute to the late actor River Phoenix). ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Rovi