Home | About Us | Contact | Shopping Cart | Checkout

Released 1989

The lead track on this 12" single, "Land of Canaan," is a typically ferocious Amy Ray folk-rock ballad. The Indigo Girls were fond enough of the song to include it on both of their first two releases, Strange Fire and Indigo Girls. Ray, with her growly voice, aggressive guitars, and bitter lyrics, is traditionally the Mr. Hyde half of the band, while Emily Salier's sweet voice, sentimental lyrics, and detailed guitar work cast her in the role of Dr. Jekyll. "Land of Canaan" is no exception. With lines like "My blood is running dry, my skin is growing thin/For every time you find yourself you lose a little bit of me from within," Ray gives an angry voice to a neglected woman. Her tirade is set to raging acoustic guitars balanced by an impressive fingerstyle solo. The first of the five live tracks on the B-side of this record, "Crazy Game," provides a strong example of Salier's highly contrasting style. The song has a light, almost easy listening feel that is somewhat moderated in this rendition by the absence of the flute used in the studio recording heard on Strange Fire. The single contains two other live versions of Indigo Girls songs, both from their second self-titled record: "Secure Yourself" and "Kid Fears." Both benefit from enthusiastic vocal performances and the crisp sound of their amplified acoustic guitars, though the latter track suffers from the absence of R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, who sang in the original album cut. But the real highlights of the record are the two otherwise unavailable covers. The folk duo breathe new life into Elton John's 1972 ode to New York City, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," and they lead the audience in a singalong to their rousing version of the Hurley/Wilkins classic "Love of the Common People," which finishes with a smoldering a cappella duet. Highly recommended for any Indigo Girls fan lucky enough to find a copy. ~ Evan Cater, All Music Guide

:: Back to Indigo Girls

:: View more Georgia rock artists.