Natalie Merchant turns 49 today, news enough to make my internal jukebox cue up “Circle Dream,” one of my favorite 10,000 Maniacs songs (she left the band in 1993). If I ever put my mind to ranking a list, “Circle Dream” should probably come out on top if only because of how often it comes to mind.

Oddly, I don’t recall responding to “Circle Dream” as much as some the other songs on 1992’s Our Time In Eden. Away at college back then, I was rarely without my Discman on campus, and the 10,000 Maniacs’ sixth studio album was definitely one of the selections in regular rotation. Besides the pop blast of singles like “These Are Days” (a #1 Billboard Modern Rock hit), “Candy Everybody Wants” (#5), and “Few And Far Between” on the Paul Fox-produced set, I remember returning to tracks like “Eden” and “Jezebel” (oh, those strings!) most often as went to and from classes.

In spite of all those plays, the understated sound of “Circle Dream” is what connected most strongly with my synapses 20 years ago, as track 11 from Our Time In Eden is what remains on heavy rotation two decades on.

10,000 Maniacs’ Our Time In Eden joins so many other fantastic albums that are 20 years old this year. Among 1992’s many highlights (with links to past related posts): R.E.M.’s Automatic For The People, Annie Lennox’s Diva, Madonna’s Erotica, En Vogue’s Funky Divas, The Cure’s Wish, Jesus And Mary Chain’s Honey’s Dead, Mary J. Blige’s What’s The 411?, Sugar’s Copper Blue, Suzanne Vega’s 99.9F°, Peter Gabriel’s Us, Sinead O’Connor’s Am I Not Your Girl, The Sundays’ Blind, Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard soundtrack. I’d even throw Sophie B. Hawkins’ Tongues And Tails in there, which is worth revisiting.

As years for music go, 1992 was one of the very best.

Purchase 10,000 Maniacs – “Circle Dream” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.