Tift Merritt has outdone herself. She just released the best
CD of her career. I am not kidding. Bramble
Rose was her ground breaking first release. Another Country equaled Bramble Rose, but it didn’t best it. With
the release of Travelling Alone, she
has set a new standard for herself. The album is truly a masterpiece in every
way.She chose Tucker Martine to produce it. His other credits include My
Morning Jacket and The Decemberists. Many of the songs are unembellished and
simple. However, they have a feel that is evocative of Emmylou Harris’ Wrecking Ball. There is a subtle dreamy
echo on many of the songs, and that sound fits the theme of the album. The
title track opens up and lays out an interesting premise. Merritt redefines the
word alone. Alone is not isolation. Alone happens in relationships and
community. It happens when you are among or with others.
“Drifted Apart” is an excellent emotional but subtle duet with
Andrew Bird. In this song there is loneliness is a faltering relationship. In
truth our significant others have the ability to make us feel completely insignificant.
“I am going to lose everything I love, only for a minute just to be alive”, she
sings on “Spring”. Later as the song begins to cut loose with some up tempo
ethereal blues riffs she says that “Beauty is defiance in the face of death”.
It is a powerful metaphor and certainly not how beauty is thought of by the
general public.
In addition to great production, she enlisted an all-star
cast of musicians including Rob Burger (Lucinda
Williams, Iron & Wine, Rufus Wainwright), John Convertino (Calexico), Eric Heywood (The
Jayhawks, Son Volt, Alejandro Escovedo). As for the songwrting, there is
only one writer. We can thank Tift Merritt. She wrote them all on her own, but
hopefully not alone.
