Umbrella (1991)

About this title: The Innocence Mission's second album, like their debut, is soaked in the influence of 10,000 Maniacs. This time, however, it's fused with the newly popular sound of the Sundays, who exploded onto the music scene inbetween the two Innocence Mission records. It might be easy to dismiss the band as a pack of shameless imitators, except that the band clearly has a vision which is truly original and startlingly mature. Karen Paris writes beautifully simple lyrics somehow packed with depth, like unmetered, spottily rhymed Emily Dickinson poems. The lyric sheet reads amazingly well sans music ... read more

Tracks:

1. And Hiding Away [Peris/Peris]
2. Sorry and Glad Together [Peris]
3. Umbrella [Peris]
4. Every Hour Here [Peris]
5. Evensong [Peris/Peris]
6. Now in the Hush [Peris]
7. Beginning the World [Peris/Peris]
8. Flags [Peris/Peris]
9. Someday Coming [Peris/Peris]
10. Joan [Peris/Peris]
11. Revolving Man [Peris/Peris]
12. My Waltzing Days Are Over/Minta's Waltz [Peris]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.