Natalie Merchant's summer tour continues this week, as she brings songs of her recent Nonesuch debut album, Leave Your Sleep, plus reinterpreted favorites from throughout her career, across the United States. Following last night's show at the Wang Theatre in Boston, Merchant and her eight-piece band head to Philadelphia's Merriam Theatre tonight, followed by shows in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis later this week. Prior to her performance at the Chicago Theater on Thursday, Merchant will stop by the Borders across the street to sign copies of the new album, starting at 12:30 PM.

Leading up to this week's events, the Chicago Sun-Times takes a closer look at Merchant's new album and exclaims: "Leave Your Sleep is as gorgeous as it is ambitious."

Sun-Times staffer Dave Hoekstra spoke with Merchant for the piece, in which he explains that, complex as some of the pairings of pre-existing texts to an eclectic array of musical styles might seem, "It works." Challenging as it may have been for Merchant to bring the project to life, "There have been many rewards," he explains. "Leave Your Sleep reawakens the soul to the spirit of poetry. Merchant also has become a more nuanced vocalist."

Read the complete article at suntimes.com.

Merchant also spoke with the Chicago Tribune about the inspiration behind Leave Your Sleep and what fans can expect on tour. That article can be found at chicagotribune.com.

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WNYC's Soundcheck host John Schaefer recently cited that inspiration behind the album—Merchant young daughter—as an example of the various responses musicians have made to their becoming parents. You can read what he has to say and respond in the Soundcheck blog at wnyc.org.