Synopsis

Set inside Wisconsin's eccentric House on the Rock, the video places 10,000 Maniacs in ornate, dreamlike surroundings filled with theatrical decorations, antique attractions, and carnival imagery. Mary Ramsey performs at the center of the spectacle, singing and playing viola while the band appears amid lavish interiors. A carousel, a fortune-teller machine, and other surreal details give the performance a mysterious, fantastical atmosphere that suits the song's reflective lyrics and flowing arrangement.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed at House on the Rock, a sprawling tourist attraction in Spring Green, Wisconsin, known for its unusual architecture, enormous indoor carousel, mechanical displays, and densely packed collections.

• "More Than This" was the first major single from *Love Among the Ruins*, the first 10,000 Maniacs album to feature Mary Ramsey as lead vocalist after Natalie Merchant's departure.

• The song is a cover of Roxy Music's 1982 recording, written by Bryan Ferry.

• The cover was reportedly discovered almost by accident. During a rehearsal warm-up, John Lombardo played the song and Ramsey began singing along. The band liked the result enough to record it near the end of the album sessions.

• Ramsey had already been connected with the group for years as a touring musician and background vocalist. On the new recording, she also contributed viola, making the video an early showcase for the band's new lineup.

• The single became a significant commercial success for the reconfigured band, reaching No. 25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1997.

• The clip's strange setting has helped preserve it as one of the more distinctive late-1990s videos associated with House on the Rock.