Tift Merritt makes her first appearance on this list, but not her last, with 2012’s Traveling Alone.
This album has a more laid-back, acoustic vibe than her previous work. One thing I love about Merritt is that every one of her records is distinct in sound and mood while remaining undeniably true to her general sensibility.
I’m interrupting today’s Random Weekend choice in order to post an update on the Tift Merritt concert situation I wrote about a couple of weeks back.
My wife and I arrived at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and were directed down a byzantine path toward the Abdo New River Room, a lounge about the size of one of those small side bars on a cruise ship. Fifty or 60 folding chairs were arranged in the middle of the room directly in front of a stage that barely rose above the floor.
The other day I was very excited when my Facebook feed served up not just the usual mix of ads and self-help soliloquies but an announcement that immediately moved me to action.
Tift Merritt, the singer-songwriter beloved by me and a handful of NPR listeners who recognize her as a sublime cross between Joni Mitchell and Lucinda Williams, is coming to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Top Songs of 2012 – #10
Tift Merritt’s fifth studio album, Traveling Alone, is a lower key affair than her previous releases. It is made up primarily of acoustic ballads with melodies that take a little while to seep in.
But in a few spots, Merritt and her band open up and settle into a blues-rock groove. Those songs quickly became favorites of mine, probably because they are more immediately accessible.
It’s been a very good year for new music releases, particularly if you’re me.
New albums from Ben Folds Five, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, The Shins, Tift Merritt, The Wallflowers, Garbage, Lyle Lovett and Bruce Springsteen, all in one year? Talk about a dream lineup.
I’ve hardly had any time to discover new artists because I’m so busy listening to new music by my favorites.
Meet Me In Montauk 