This album appears to be something of a labour of love for GREG MERRITT. starting in October 2009, using two different band line-ups, and recording a separate album in the interim, 'Everything Changed' has had a difficult gestation. However it seems to have paid off as the results are very good in places.
The album would fall into the genre Rock/Blues Rock. Opener, ‘Do You See’ is a good start, being a melodic guitar rocker with keyboards a la the Doors ‘L.A. Woman’ album. Greg is on fine form with some strong vocals: - “Do you see the way I see?... There’s a sense of urgency, the way I see.”
‘Drift’ has an almost 1970s soul/funk backbeat to it, which was a pleasant surprise, with melodic rock guitar lines echoing between the speakers. An instrumental track with heavy use of the wah wah pedal, this is the perfect track for driving along to.
‘TV Tune’ is an upbeat slightly countrified strum, with some positive lyrics about the singer’s lifestyle: - “Don’t switch off my television, I will not last another day/ Will I predict the weather? Will I know what’s new today?"
Other tracks on the CD equally worth a mention are:- ‘Ain’t No Fool’ a lovely 70s style stax beat blues song where Greg takes on the role of the typical big-boasting man. At a separate tangent,‘Bike In The Brook’ is an unusual track that is almost experimental and uses an actual bike along with bell and a horn (which sounds disturbingly like a child’s squeaky toy) to create a free form ambient jam. This was edited down from over twenty minutes in length to a more manageable eight.
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Then there's ‘All This Love’ an aching love song which is set to an upbeat jaunty guitar and organ: “The cool breath of your lips. The touch of your skin/How can I live, without your love.” The character in this song is clearly mystified at his luck in finding the right person, admitting: “How did I find all this love that I feel for you?”
I liked this album and one thing that surprised me is that although eight of the ten tracks are over four and a half minutes long, it never seems to drag. Well worth a listen or two.
Greg Merritt online
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