Album Review
Tift Merritt
Tambourine
Lost Highway Records
Tift Merritt made her debut back in 2002 with Bramble Rose which helped her start to earn a following with its mellow blend of country, folk and rock and her own very distinctive voice. It fit right in with the new alt-country trend and left fans wanting more. Now two years later they get their follow-up record. Those expecting more of the same will be in for a shock when they turn on Tift's sophomore release Tambourine. In an attempt to gain wider acceptance this record veers off into all different kinds of musical territory and Tift manages to pull all of it off with conviction.
Tambourine is absolutely all over the map sonically. The album opens with "Stray Paper" which is a straight forward romp through that signature alt-country sound that we're all becoming familiar with. The writing here is stronger than we've seen from Tift in the past and her distinctive vocal delivery helps it stand out from the crowd. This is followed up by "Wait It Out," another in-your-face country rocker. Listening to Bramble Rose you wouldn't have thought Tift had this kind of music in her.
Fans of the sound found on Bramble Rose need not worry. There are a few tracks on this record which would have fit in seamlessly there. The acoustic guitar driven "Laid A Highway" tells the story of a struggling little town and really lets Merritt's voice shine with minimal instrumental backing. "Plainest Thing" follows a similar mold and reminds us of the qualities that made Tift's first album so enjoyable.
The best tracks on this record are the ones that take us back in time. "Good Hearted Man" sounds like something you might hear when you turn on an oldies station. No one has had the guts to even think about trying this recently, much less nail the song like Merritt does here. The funky, grooving "Your Love Made A U-Turn" will have you singing along and it's another album highlight. The title track "I Am Your Tambourine" absolutely roars with Tift belting out a soulful vocal performance. You can't hold back on songs like that one and she doesn't.
Tift Merritt has delivered again with Tambourine. It's great to see an artist decide to try out a bit of everything and manage to make it all work as well as it does here. This isn't a country record, it isn't a rock record, and it isn't a soul record. Instead it's a little bit of all three and it's bound to win over fans of all three. Merritt wanted a larger audience and after listening to this record you can't help but think one way or another she's going to find it. Tambourine is one of 2004's musical highlights.
Album Review by Jeff Krasky
The WOC Rating Scale |
|
The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection. This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level. This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there. A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy. This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark. |