Search - Tift Merritt :: Bramble Rose

This "Rose" Has Thorns

Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 01/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are so many young singer-songwriters out there these days working the alt.-country circuit that its easy for them to get overlooked. Unless they have talent that shines as brightly as Tift Merritt. "Bramble Rose" is not only one of the best country rock albums released in the past couple of years, but it places Merritt in such heady company as Stevie Nicks (in her prime) as a rock and roll woman to be reckoned with.The first thing you notice is the outstanding sound of the album, courtesy of producer and guitar player Ethan Johns (who did such a fabulous job with the similar-sounding Linda Ronstadt-Emmylou Harris collaboration from a few years ago). The next thing that strikes you is what an amazingly beautiful but husky voice Merritt possesses. Combine that with the fact that she wrote all of these songs herself and you have a MAJOR emerging talent on your hands. The highlights here include "Trouble Over Me," "Virginia..." and the lengthy "I Cross Over" that closes things, but there is nary a bad track in the mix.Overall, an outstanding debut album from an artist that we'll be hearing about for a long time to come."

Slow Fuse

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/23/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tift Merritt's "Bramble Rose" is an excellent CD. I had read the hype and grabbed a copy from the cart before the store had even gotten it shelved. To be honest, this CD didn't grab me the way Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams and Iris DeMent did when I first heard their work. The hype made me expect that. Throw out the expectations and give the music a chance to work on you. It gets sweeter and sweeter. Merritt's pretty voice is expressive on what I feel is the strongest track, the opener. "Trouble Over Me" starts slow and breaks out on the chorus, "Don't treat me bad," Tift wails and then gets soft, "Paper truth in strings, hearts and broken things, love goes for quite a price." The midtempo "Virginia, No One Can Warn You" has a pretty melody, "With your heart so big, it don't know what to do." "Neighborhood" is another great midtempo track, a playful tune. With her voice reminding me of Louise Goffin, Tift sings, "Baby, you can't run round; Honey, it don't look good." "Bird of Freedom" is a slow stately tune that you can picture Emmylou Harris covering. The music builds on the chorus and the lyrical images are intriguing like "shadowboxing a thunderstorm." Pedal steel wails and one feels a heart in conflict with a sense of longing on the title track, "The rain's got me thirsty, falling wasteful & slow; I'm restless enough; I'm so scared to go." "I Know Him Too" is a song of rapture & infatuation, "Tonight, no one can tell you." "Sunday" is a track I love & hate. Tift's most passionate singing is here with great resonance in her voice; the little tremble on the notes she holds onto is brilliant. At the same time the performance is stellar, the melody hasn't particularly grabbed me. "Supposed to Make You Happy" is a sweet tune with a simple chorus and acoustic guitar. Greg Reading's nice harmony vocals make you feel like you're sittin' on a porch in the country listening to the girl & her guitar. "No one can win a heart like yours, but damned if he ain't trying," is a peppy toe tapper called "Diamond Shoes." Zeke Hutchins adds a great deal on drums. "Are You Still In Love With Me" is a country weeper that will bring Patsy Cline comparisons. The CD concludes with the hymn-like dirge "When I Cross Over." Merritt's CD is excellent, one you need to let unfold. Her songwriting is lyrically excellent. Come & see!"

An excellent debut!

Kori Frazier | Kent, OH United States | 06/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Imagine that Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and Lucinda Williams get together to jam. About halfway through the session, Caitlin Cary and Sheryl Crow arrive and join in. They are later joined by two visitors from rock and roll heaven, Patsy Cline and Dusty Springfield. The result? Tift Merritt's astonishing debut album, BRAMBLE ROSE.If you are a fan of any of the above artists, you are absolutely required to click the BUY NOW icon on this page. While a good many excellent albums have been released thus far in 2002, this may be the best debut the music world has had the pleasure of hearing. The album contains a delightful combination of folk, rock, and traditional country influences that any music fan will find pleasing, and eleven gorgeous songs enhanced by Tift's lilting and gorgeously airy voice. The range of her extraordinary talent is heard in the opening cut, "Trouble Over Me," the influences of Emmylou and Caitlin can be heard in the hauntingly lovely "Virginia, No One Can Warn You," and the bluesy ballad "Bird of Freedom" gives this amazing artist a chance to showcase her amazing voice. On the heavily country influenced "Are You Still in Love With Me" and "Diamond Shoes," you can almost hear the voice of Patsy Cline, while the uptempo number "Neighborhood" shows a more rockin' side of Tift's music. The true standout of the album, though, is the final track "When I Cross Over," a beautiful song full of sheer emotion and talent.Tift Merritt's BRAMBLE ROSE is an amazing debut album showcasing the phenomenal talent of one of music's finest rising stars. In this day and age when traditional country and folk music seems to be receiving a surge in popularity, I am hopeful that this tremendous talent will receive the attention she so well deserves. Buy this CD and prepare to be moved."