Twice Told Tales
10,000 Maniacs · 2015
51 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock
An ethereal blend of traditional folk melodies and haunting vocals that evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Top tracks — play these first
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She Moved Through the Fair — This track beautifully encapsulates the album's theme with its haunting arrangement and emotive vocals, creating an immersive experience steeped in folklore.
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Carrickfergus — A standout rendition that showcases the band's ability to convey deep emotion through sparse instrumentation and poignant vocal delivery, making it a memorable highlight.
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Wild Mountain Thyme — This track exemplifies the lush harmonies and lyrical beauty present throughout the album, embodying both the spirit of folk tradition and the band's artistic reinterpretation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends folk traditions with the band's unique sound, resulting in a cohesive yet familiar listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of traditional folk instrumentation, including acoustic guitar and strings, throughout its fourteen tracks.
- Each track is a reinterpretation of a classic folk song, maintaining the original melodies while infusing them with the band's ethereal vocal style.
- The sequencing alternates between more upbeat tracks and slower, reflective pieces, creating a dynamic flow across the album's runtime.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- ethereal vocals enhance emotional depth
- haunting melodies for quiet evenings
- traditional storytelling through song
- immersive journey into lore
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat and fast tempos
- seek immediate musical gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Twice Told Tales' was released in 2015, 10,000 Maniacs had been on a hiatus since 2007. This album marked their return, showcasing a shift toward folk-inspired interpretations of classic songs rather than original material, demonstrating their evolution while honoring their roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- R.E.M.· The Cranberries· Counting Crows
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Lady Mary Ramsay I 1:14
- 2 The Song of Wandering Aengus 1:38
- 3 She Moved Through the Fair 5:25
- 4 Dark Eyed Sailor 4:39
- 5 Misty Moisty Morning 3:11
- 6 Bonny May 4:58
- 7 Canadee-I-O 5:12
- 8 Do You Love an Apple? 3:07
- 9 Greenwood Sidey 2:25
- 10 Carrickfergus 4:42
- 11 Death of Queen Jane 4:37
- 12 Wild Mountain Thyme 3:43
- 13 Marie's Wedding 4:10
- 14 Lady Mary Ramsey II 2:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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