Tift Merritt
Tambourine
(Lost Highway)
First Appeared in The Music Box, October 2004, Volume 11, #10
Written by T.J. Simon
Tift Merritt’s debut Bramble Rose was an alt-country gem that featured
a thoroughly enjoyable, rock-infused sound and frequently reflected the music of
Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, and Sheryl Crow. Her latest effort Tambourine
continues along this path, at least in part, most notably via the haunting,
slide guitar drenched Stray Paper and the vocal perfection of Wait It
Out. The other half of the album, however, heads in an entirely different
direction, and as a result, the collection likely will be remembered as her
gear-shifting foray into the world of blue-eyed soul. In this manifestation, her
sound is an amalgam of Dusty Springfield, Joan Osborne, and The Commitments, and
backed by the Texicali Horns as well as a delicious group of female vocalists,
Merritt is able to pay homage to soul’s glory days while fully avoiding the
minstrel show permutations peddled by Hall & Oates. I Am Your Tambourine is anchored by a stirring blast of boogie-woogie piano, and the mega-catchy Shadow in the Way offers another shining example of Merritt’s versatility.
While there’s nothing particularly original or groundbreaking on Tambourine,
Merritt’s credible performance, as well as that of her supporting cast, makes
this disc a true pleasure. 
Of Further Interest...
Ryan Adams - Follow the Lights
Dar Williams - The Beauty of the Rain
Tambourine is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004 The Music Box