The songs written for Motherland (Natalie’s third solo album) were half personal and inward looking, half topical and outward facing. Four songs in particular, “This House is on Fire,” “Motherland,” “Saint Judas,” and “Golden Boy” were deeply critical of contemporary culture and political structures in America. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center occurred just as the album was going to press and some themes of the album were considered prescient and controversial.

‘I think Natalie Merchant’s most recent album, Motherland, is the finest piece of work she's ever made. I play this album non-stop. The title track is so like Jacques Brel it makes me cry; it’s just sensational stuff.  The album is timeless; it does not sound as if it will ever date or you will ever get fed up with it. And that is such an incredible thing to achieve.’ — Elton John

‘Beautiful, intelligent songs. Outstanding.’  — Sunday Times

‘Motherland makes rich use of her sonorous, emotional well of a voice.’ 
—Observer

The album features string arrangements by Stephen Barber and was mainly recorded at Allaire Studios, a former Upstate New York summer retreat, built by an early 20th century industrialist, where Natalie teamed-up with producer T. Bone Burnett and engineer Michael Piersante, mixed by Jim Scott.