10,000 Maniacs - Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983

Hope Chest collects the ultrarare early recordings of 10,000 Maniacs -- the Human Conflict Number 5 EP from 1982 and Secrets Of The I Ching from 1983 -- remastered and resequenced presumably for easier listening. While the songs are predictably unfocused and full of underdeveloped (though ambitious) ideas, these recordings give an interesting picture of the band's formative years. ~ Chris Woodstra, All Music Guide