"Passage" is one of the Indigo Girls most popular albums with the band's fans, and is indeed one of their strongest releases. The girls had burst out of the Athens music scene (which also spawned R.E.M.) with their previous album, and were ready to reach even bigger heights with this one. Lot's of special guests were brought in including Jerry Marotta (from Peter Gabriel's band), Kenny Aronoff (from John Mellencamp's band), Jackson Browne, and David Crosby (CSN). The subject matter of the songs covers politics, world events, and relationships. The girls make take a stand on just about every tune, but never get preachy or morose. The album starts off with two Indigo classics "Three Hits" and "Galileo" which is still a sing along staple of the band's encores in concert to this day. Other strong songs follow including a very effective cover of Dire Straits "Romeo And Juliet", a song which the Indigo Girls take a completely different take on from the original and make it their own. Other strong tunes include "Jonas And Ezekiel", "Virginia Wolf", "Chickenman" and "Airplane". Overall this is one of the Indigo Girls best albums and has stood up very well 16 years after it's release.

This is my favorite Indigo Girls CD. Every song on it is high art, poetry, strung to resonant heart chords. They wrote their hearts out on this one. As always with their lyrics, these songs are very personal, boldly open and intensely revealing about them--and their listeners. Years later this CD circulates my play lists regularly and by my plan, always will.

Next to "Indigo Girls," this remains my favorite CD from Amy and Emily. From "Three Hits" to the elegiac "Cedar Tree," the emotional weight of "Rites Of Passage" seemed greater than any of their other records. As much as I liked Dire Straits' original version of "Romeo And Juliet," Amy's raw exuberance won me over to their cover for keeps.

They also kept up their social barometer. The pro-peace "Galileo" (with harmonies from Jackson Browne and David Crosby) called for nuclear disarmament during a time when protest songs weren't a particular norm. "Jonas and Ezekiel" prays for peace in the Middle East (funny how that problem remains as timely now as it did in 1992). There is also a line in "Let It Be Me" that rings out as pure folk:

"The President has no good idea
of who the masses are.
Well I'm one of them among my friends
trying to see beyond the fences
of our own backyards."

The political and personal mesh throughout "Rites Of Passage." "Ghosts" is a beautiful love song that cries for tolerance. It probably ranks among my favorite IG songs. "Chickenman" and "Airplane" also explore their Southern Roots (I could have sworn "Chickenman" was an REM song the first time I heard it).

The re-master on "Rites" is first rate as well. It brings out the definition of the acoustic instruments. "Romeo and Juliet" now explodes from the stereo. While I also have to admit, I really don't think the live cuts add anything to the CD as a whole. I will continue to recommend "Rites Of Passage" as a pinnacle in the Indigo Girls' career.

Beautiful music, intelligent lyrics, what more could you ask for. I first heard this album at the tender age of 14 (I am almost 30 now) while I was working at a music store. One of my coworkers was obsessed with this album and kept playing it in the store. After awhile I realized I was singing it at home and school, and I bought myself a copy.

I love music, and own an uncountable number of CDs. But I think I can safely say THIS CD is my favorite of them all! The lyrics are intelligent and elegantly crafted, the music is moving. Galileo (with it's make you think factor) is my favorite song on the CD, with a romeo and juliet coming in 2nd for it's humor factor. Ghost can make you feel emotions stir at your very core if you have ever lost a lover. After 16 years of hearing Ghost, it can still make me cry.

This CD is great for taking in the car, especially on long drives. Do yourslef a favor and get this one.

Yup, this is the album I'd choose to listen to if I had an hour of consciousness left before dying. It's that good. And if I only had five minutes? I'd listen to "Love Will Come To You"... and happily expire.