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Playing Favorites
Rock · 2016

Playing Favorites

10,000 Maniacs

A warm, celebratory live set recorded in the band's hometown. Polished folk-rock arrangements featuring Mary Ramsey's elegant vocals and signature viola.

June 3, 2016 · Omnivore Recordings

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Playing Favorites captures a band comfortably settled into their legacy, performing for a hometown crowd that feels more like a gathering of old friends than a standard concert audience. The sound is remarkably clean for a live recording, highlighting the intricate interplay between the jangling guitars and Mary Ramsey's sophisticated viola work. It avoids the raw chaos of typical live rock albums, opting instead for a polished, chamber-folk aesthetic that feels both dignified and deeply personal.

Moments Worth Listening For
The moment Mary Ramsey's viola takes the lead melody on These Are Days, adding a folk-chamber elegance to the jangle.
John Lombardo's return to the mic for My Mother the War, bringing a gritty, foundational energy back to the setlist.
The lush, multi-part vocal harmonies on Rainy Day that fill the theater's natural reverb with a haunting warmth.
Reviews
AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Playing Favorites sound next to the rest of 10,000 Maniacs's catalogue?

Viola+2.4σ

The instrumentation foregrounds viola far more than the catalogue usually does.

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