Tift Merritt

Wow. Merritt can dole out nonsense-free rock a la Tom Petty, sing a retro Southern soul scorcher and then put Nashville to shame with an honest country ballad without watering down any element. Rich with musical history but invested with personality, here's ample proof that they really do make 'em as good as they used to.

North Carolina alt-county singer makes Dusty proud on her fine second album,
singer-songwriter Tift Merritt has merged her North Carolina roots rock with blue-eyed
soul, Memphis style. Produced by George Drakoulias (the Black Crowes, the Jayhawks,
Tom Petty), Tambourine finds Merritt turning up her Dusty Springfield-like pipes on tracks
such as "Good Hearted Man" -- an outright homage to Springfield's "Son of a Preac... More >