After a while, the high-powered glamor of full-fledged concert performances starts to pall. In front of tens of thousands of screaming fans, with all the lights and special effects in full play, the emphasis is more on spectacle than on music. Enter VH1 Storytellers with the antidote for jaded musical palates: take the artist and his or her band, put them in a small, intimate, club-like setting, and let them play songs and talk a little bit about the music. In this Storytellers session, Natalie Merchant takes the stage, giving fans a chance to get to know her a little better and to appreciate her music on a more personal level than would be possible in a concert performance.

For this VH1 Storytellers session, filmed in 1998, Merchant draws on the two solo albums she'd completed by then (1995's Tigerlily and 1998's Ophelia). We get "Kind and Generous" and "Break Your Heart" from Ophelia, and "Wonder" and "Carnival" from Tigerlily in the main program, plus "Life Is Sweet" from Ophelia as one of the bonus tracks. But one of the interesting things about this Storytellers program is that Merchant also revisits some of the songs she'd performed during her very successful stint on 10,000 Maniacs. We get renditions of "What's the Matter Here" and "Verdi Cries" from In My Tribe, and "These Are Days" from Our Time in Eden.

The blending of her solo work with her earlier work as part of 10,000 Maniacs makes for a nicely balanced program, one that may encourage listeners to check out that part of her music that they'd previously overlooked. For me, that meant being reminded of how Merchant's solo albums are really very good: I'd first been a fan of hers through 10,000 Maniacs, so those are the albums I tend to listen to more often. But if there's one thing that the Storytellers program amply demonstrates, it's that Merchant's rich voice and folk style are a pleasure to listen to in any context.

A key part of the VH1 Storytellers format is that the viewers get to hear the artist speak a little bit about her music. It's a nicely casual format, as Merchant offers a few thoughts about the inspiration behind various songs, many of which came from her own experiences (such as her first impressions of New York, captured in "Carnival"). Once or twice she starts to ramble a bit, but for the most part, she offers interesting tid-bits of information about the songs she's about to start performing.

The only real fault I'd find with this program is that it's too short: the main program runs only 42 minutes, with just two bonus songs included. The content is excellent, but it feels like it stops just about when I was starting to really get into it. Replay value should be fairly high, though, since there's a music-only option that allows you to listen to Merchant's live performance without having her comments interspersed.

The DVD

Video

VH1 Storytellers: Natalie Merchant appears in its original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The image quality is about what you'd expect for a program shot in a room with low lighting; it's fairly soft and grainy. This isn't a big deal, though, as the overall look of the image is attractive, with warm colors and interesting shadows.

Audio

Two audio choices are included here: the default PCM stereo, and a Dolby 5.1 surround track. Both sound very good, with the main difference seeming to be in the sound balance and, of course, the presence or absence of surround sound. The PCM stereo seems to privilege Merchant's voice over the rest of the track, while the Dolby 5.1 offers a fuller audio experience. Of the two, I liked the 5.1 track better, as it sounded richer and the use of the surround sound makes it more immersive, while still giving us Merchant's voice with complete clarity and depth.

Extras

Two "bonus tracks" are included, which were apparently filmed but not shown in the original television broadcast of the program. We get the full performance of "These Are Days," which opened the program, and also a performance of "Life Is Sweet."

The music-only option for the program is accessible through the special features menu. In this mode, the full program plays (with either soundtrack option available) but it skips over the segments in which Merchant talks. In this mode, the program runs about 30 minutes total.

Final thoughts

It's a bit on the short side, at only 42 minutes, but the content is enjoyable enough that any fans of Natalie Merchant will want to add this live performance to their collections. The VH1 Storytellers format, which puts the singer in front of a small audience in a low-key, intimate setting, works very well for Merchant, and she shines in the eight songs she performs here. Recommended.