Rites of Passage (Indigo Girls album)

Rites of Passage
Studio album by
Indigo Girls
ReleasedMay 12, 1992
October 3, 2000 (Reissue)
Recorded1992
StudioBearsville (Woodstock, New York)
Genre
Length55:38
LabelEpic[1]
ProducerPeter Collins[2]
Indigo Girls chronology
Nomads Indians Saints
(1990) 		Rites of Passage
(1992) 		Swamp Ophelia
(1994)
Singles from Rites of Passage
  1. "Galileo"
  2. "Ghost"

Rites of Passage is the fourth studio album by American folk rock duo the Indigo Girls, released on May 12, 1992, by Epic Records.[3]

Background and music

Rites of Passage was recorded in four months, twice longer than the previous record. The duo invited Siouxsie and the Banshees members to take part to the sessions, drummer Budgie, cello player Martin McCarrick and percussionist Talvin Singh,[2] along with Gang of Four bassist Sara Lee.[4] Singer and guitarist Amy Ray later commented on their choice: "we had dreams with who we wanted to play" adding, that "Budgie is one of my favourite drummers".[5] Other instruments include acoustic guitars, mandolin and world-folk elements.[4] The duo's other singer Emily Saliers stated that Ray "really wanted to have a Celtic feel to certain things and that happened".[4] Musically the album was "more colorful and punchy" (The Washington Post) compared to their previous material.[2] Critic Mike Joyce noted that the themes of the songs were "pain and suffering, fear and loathing, angst and anger, desire and dread".[2] Orlando Sentinel wrote the duo's "lyrics are highly personal with a strong literary bent".[4]

Release

The lead single, "Galileo" got significant play on radio and MTV in the US, and consequently, Rites of Passage nearly entered in the top 20 of the Billboard 200.[4] The album was reissued and remastered on CD in 2000 with two bonus tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Chicago Tribune[7]
Down Beat[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[9]
Q[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]

The Washington Post wrote that "the arrangements ... are more colorful and punchy, and every now and then the duo even manages to inject a little welcome humor into its otherwise dreary musings."[2] Trouser Press wrote that producer Peter Collins expunges "the folk patina to reveal a crystalline mainstream pop center around the snappy, subtle rhythms of bassist Sara Lee and drummer Jerry Marotta."[1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Three Hits"Amy Ray3:10
2."Galileo"Emily Saliers4:12
3."Ghost"Saliers5:16
4."Joking"Ray3:33
5."Jonas and Ezekial"Ray4:08
6."Love Will Come to You"Saliers4:37
7."Romeo and Juliet"Mark Knopfler4:46
8."Virginia Woolf"Saliers5:27
9."Chickenman"Ray5:44
10."Airplane"Saliers3:21
11."Nashville"Ray3:57
12."Let It Be Me"Saliers3:54
13."Cedar Tree"Ray3:48
2000 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Three Hits" (Live from Eddie's Attic, Atlanta)Ray3:17
15."Love Will Come to You" (Live from Eddie's Attic, Atlanta)Saliers4:51

Personnel

Indigo Girls
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 110
US Billboard 200[12] 21

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Indigo Girls". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Joyce, Mike (May 27, 1992). "Recordings: Rites of Passage Indigo Girls". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Indigo Girls | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Indigo But Not Blue". Orlando Sentinel. July 17, 1992. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Episode 337 - Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls - interview". Thehustle.podbean.com. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024. Excerpt about Budgie from 1:05:10.
  6. ^ Rites of Passage at AllMusic
  7. ^ Caro, Mark (May 14, 1992). "Indigo Girls Rites of Passage (Epic)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Indigo Girls - Rites of Passage CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  9. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (May 22, 1992). "Rites of Passage Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  10. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 404. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  11. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 27, 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Indigo Girls Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Indigo Girls – Rites of Passage". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
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