Tift Merritt - Tambourine

Pros

• "Stray Paper"
• "Still Pretending"
• "Late Night Pilgrim"

Cons

• Some will ask "what happened" to the old Tift?

Description

• 11 of the 12 songs are written by Tift Merritt.
• Released by Lost Highway Records.
• Produced by George Drakoulias.

Guide Review - Tift Merritt - Tambourine

In 2002, Lost Highway Records released Tift Merritt's debut album, "Bramble Rose," to much critical acclaim (Including mine). While commercial success didn't come with the critical praises, Tift created a loyal, albeit small, following that eagerly awaited the follow up release. "Tambourine" is that follow-up release and what a nice release it is. Like Allison Moorer and Shelby Lynne, not to mention Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow, Tift has recorded a new CD that sounds nothing like the last record.

"Stray Paper" immediately showcases the new "rock" angle that Tift has taken with "Tambourine." It's evident that producer George Drakoulias has taken to making a Country/rock record with an emphasis on the "rock" part of the genre. Like his best work with the Jayhawks, the melodies take a backseat to the strong vocals of Merritt. The songs like "Ain't Looking Closely," "Good Hearted Woman" and "Still Pretending" showcase a soulful singer a la Linda Ronstadt while "Late Night Pilgrim" and "Wait It Out" are more of the country/rock tracks that Crow has had mainstream hits with for a decade. "Plainest Thing" is the closest thing to anything off of "Bramble Rose."

With a strong set of songs Tift Merritt has crafted a wonderful sophomore album that is as good as her debut record but in a remarkably different way. Tift has shown her versatility and it's a great thing to see. Anyone liking female "alt-country" singer/songwriters should check it out.a