Jim James appears on Tift Merritt album

[johnnYYac]

Tift Merritt delivers an atmospheric and intimate new album
By Kevin O'Hare, The Republican
May 30, 2010, 1:00PM

Tift Merritt
Tift Merritt, "See You on the Moon," (Fantasy/Concord). 3 ½ stars.

After scoring some major success, including a Grammy nomination for her 2004 breakthrough album "Tambourine," Tift Merritt nevertheless nearly left the music business due to a lack of inspiration.

She rekindled her flame in Paris, recorded the fine follow-up "Another Country," returned stateside to live in New York City then went south, settling into her early home turf of North Carolina to record her latest album "See You on the Moon."

While perhaps not as pop-edged as "Tambourine," the new disc spotlights plenty of the singer/songwriter's finest qualities.

Together with producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Mudhoney, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens), she's crafted an atmospheric and intimate affair that's softly soulful, rich in textures and buoyed by her emotionally powerful voice.

There's a lot of attention to detail in the writing, starting with the analog-loving, retro-flavored "Mixtape," carrying through the album's most instantly accessible cut "Engine to Turn," and moving through the folk-flavored "The Things That Everybody Does."

Those willing to dig deeper will find a treasure in "Feel of the World," which Merritt wrote about her grandmother's death, taking on the persona of a grandfather that she never knew. [highlight]Jim James from My Morning Jacket adds an especially touching harmony to the cut.[/highlight]

At times, Merritt can sound reminiscent of other artists, and there are definite Emmylou Harris vocal echoes to be heard on the title song, "See You on the Moon," which was penned in tribute to Merritt's late next door neighbor.

Nevertheless, she remains her own woman and one of the most talented songwriters on the Americana scene. That doesn't totally explain why she decided to record the old Loggins and Messina by way of the Anne Murray version of "Danny's Song," on this album, but so be it. That's just a diversion on an otherwise strong outing that offers more reasons to be grateful that she didn't pack it in after "Tambourine." As she's proved on her most recent two studio sets, Merritt still has much to offer and more bright days ahead.

Tracks to download: "Engine to Turn" "Feel of the World."

Tift Merritt plays the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Friday, June 18.

[ALady]

Cool, nice find YYac.  I liked her first record quite a bit but wasn't super keen to get the new one. That may have just changed   ;D

[johnnYYac]

This is the only playable sample of the track I could find:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NLBUUW/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk5

[SaraBananaBear]

This is the only playable sample of the track I could find:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NLBUUW/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk5

Thanks a lot! And it sounds good!  :)

[ALady]

You can stream the track (and the rest of the album) here:

http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/7

Not bad.

[SaraBananaBear]

You can stream the track (and the rest of the album) here:

http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/7

Not bad.

Beautiful! Thanks a lot for posting  :)

[BH]

I still watch her Austin City Limits episode all the time but still haven't picked up any of her albums yet.  This is a perfect chance to remedy that!

[johnnYYac]

You can stream the track (and the rest of the album) here:

http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/7

Not bad.

Thanks, ALady!  Didn't see this one.  

[johnnYYac]

Download "Feel of the World" here, courtesy of The Steam Engine:

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/hfy33pxer

[SaraBananaBear]

Download "Feel of the World" here, courtesy of The Steam Engine:

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/hfy33pxer

Whoop, whoop, thanks and yay TSE  :)