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 aliveâ€, she sings on “Springâ€. 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 deathâ€. 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 songwriting, there is only one writer. We can thank Tift Merritt. She wrote them all on her own, but hopefully not alone.
Audio Stream: Tift Merritt, “To Myself” [audio:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7770435/09%20To%20Myself.mp3]
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!