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Another Country
by Fantasy
| List Price: |
$18.98 |
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$14.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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$3.99 (21%) |
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Audio CD
Dig
Publisher: Fantasy
After two records and a Grammy nomination, Tift Merritt took hiatus with a piano in Paris and came home with her best and most personal songs to date. Merritt describes the writing as a plainspoken look at the distance we all attempt to cross: between two people, between one heart and the rest of the world. Another Country Features special guests CHARLIE SEXTON and DOUG PETTIBONE
If the first step brings critical acclaim and the second garners Grammy® consideration, what could be in line for North Carolina native Tift Merritt since a 2002 emergence that left critics scrambling for adjectives? The talented singer/songwriter has often been miscast as a country artist, and Another Country is an opportunity to leave that moniker behind. She dips slightly into the genre, such as on the country rocker "Something to Me," the lead track featuring guitarist Charlie Sexton and sweet organ trimmings from bandmate Danny Eisenberg. From there the record sways into a flurry of styles, and Merritt never misses a beat. The blue-eyed soul of "Morning is My Destination" recalls Dusty in Memphis, while "Tell Me Something True" is an R&B nugget that has the breezy Merritt sounding eerily like Diana Ross. Elements of rock, folk, and blues pervade, and producer George Drakoulias (Black Crowes, the Jayhawks) stays out of the way, allowing Merritt’s voice to embody the songs, all 11 of which flow from start to finish, uninterrupted and primed for full-on stardom. --Scott Holter
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Disappointing effort from a great talent |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I am honestly suprised to see such positive reviews of this album. Where Bramble Rose was urgent and engaging, and Tambourine can rightfully claim to be a landmark album I would place up there with Tapestry as a classic in the female singer/songwriter genre, I found Another Country to be self-absorbed and tedious. In the process of moving to Paris to "discover herself", or whatever other self-indulgent artistic reason she had for doing it, Tift managed to completely lose sight of the musical and cultural roots that drove her music. I can only hope that making Another Country helped Tift find what she was looking for on a personal level, because she completely fails to make any connection whatsoever with this particular listener - all she managed to do was bore me.
Readers would be much better off turning to something recent by Kathleen Edwards or Sarah Harmer.
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| Emotive, thoughtful, sweet recording |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Well, here I am back in the middle of the night reviewing a CD, listening on my headphones. I have listened to Tift Merritt before, but never reviewed anything by her.
This is a really well done recording, it reminds me a bit of Shelby Lynne's last CD. The CD where she sings Dusty Springfield songs. It was another artists idea that she finally got around to.
Well, let me tell you a bit of the story of "Another Country". Tift took off for Paris, France to stay in a friend's small apartment with a piano. All that she did was exist, play piano, write music, hang out with other artists and came back with some great material, that in the finished version sort of follows a theme.
I really think this is going to be a great year for music, as soon as I took off six weeks to review some guitar pedals, all of these great CDs started coming out, I can't wait to get into Carlene Carter's new music, great stuff, from what I have heard. When times get tough, usually good music starts coming out as well as other artistic mediums. I will say that will I was playing the best guitar pedals in the land, my passion for playing came back, even with my chronic pain, I'm loving it again.
Sometimes we need to do something different to get our inspiration back, for Merritt, it was go to Paris. She has made an awesome disc.
Playing with some hot studio musicians, she really puts out some great, live sounding music.
"Keep You Happy" is a ballad with acoustic guitar picking in beginning and some bell like (sounding)lead guitar. Doug Sax mastered this already great recording.
I love the guitar playing of Charlie Sexton and Doug Pettibone. Produced by George Drakoulas. Some strings in the background of this song.
"I Know What I'm Looking For Now" is an acoustic rhythmic sound with drums and full band. this recording tells the story of her Paris trip. More great guitar playing here, pedal steel with delay, just tonally grabbing. Some nice back ground vocals on this song.
"Tell Me Something True" is a rocker with some horns and great lyrics.
"My Heart Is free" rocks like a Mindy Smith song. The guitars are cooking, great melody. Another great set of lyrics.
"Tender Branch" is a tender song that like a lot of these songs have a very live vibe. Oh Boy, there goes that guitar again, "increditone", Merritt's songwriting is nothing short of inspired on this disc.
She finishes the disc singing a song in French, "Mille Tendresses".
This CD picks up where Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer left off. Just really hot inspired music. I love it. This is a must check out.
www.tiftmerritt.com
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| Understated elegance |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I really liked Tift Merrit's previous CD, "Tambourine," and bought "Another Country" as soon as I saw it on a display at a store. Her voice truly is gorgeous, and the lyrical content of her songs on this CD is very personal and accessible. That being said, I must admit that I was a little disappointed the first several times that I listened to "Another Country" because of how understated it is--it didn't just reach out and grab my attention as much as I had expected that it would. After a few repeated listens, however, I learned to more fully appreciate its understated elegance. I highly recommend this artist and CD. "Tambourine" also is very good.
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| Tift"s Best, Another Country |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The title above says it all. I discovered Tift via the "Tambourine"tour on Austin City, and have been in a fan of her music since. Without a doubt, this is her best work yet, although the previous 2 c/ds are also good. After having "Another Country" for over six months, I am far past the initial infatuation stage that sometimes comes with a good new release. This record/cd is exceptionally solid,AND, probably, my all-around favorite C/D for several years!(by anyone) A GREAT RECORD!! Thanks Tift,(and the band!)
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| Another outstanding effort by an exceptional artist |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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If Tift Merritt never records another album, I will still be happy. She has made three of the best soft country albums of all time. I will never get tired of listening to her lilting and deeply felt Southern vocals. Clearly she writes the tunes first because they flow just fine on their own but her voice, like that of an angel, adds meaning to the music that few female singers can match. After listening to her music for awhile, you feel you know here inside and out and you just know she is love-filled person just wanting to express it to the world. So much talent, so expressive and one of the all-time greats.
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Something to Me
Broken
Another Country
Hopes Too High
Morning Is My Destination
Keep You Happy
I Know What I'm Looking for Now
Tell Me Something True
My Heart Is Free
Tender Branch
Mille Tendresses
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