OT Music: Tift Merritt appreciation thread

[Viper]

In the morning before work and most nights, I tend to listen to 80's music while on my recumbent, stationary bike. Tonight I listened to an hour of someone I stumbled upon while on a roadtrip during the 3S3M Challenge in Tennessee, Tift Merritt.

I heard her voice on the radio back then and made a mental note, "Buy her cd." I like the southern twang, the beat up acoustic she's had for decades and voice that as one comment on YouTube appropriately offered, "Sparkles." You've heard her voice before. Maybe twenty years ago, or thirty, it's a voice that fits into the same category of fine singers we get every once in a while. It's the same.

Her voice is pure. Her music slows things down. The titles of her songs are like the title to a great poem, unnecessary, but neat to think of the artist's inspiration.

Sometimes, if not always, the most simple message, lyric or meaning is so complex. Acoustic, the good kind, hits that home. Maybe, I ask myself, the affection for acoustic, if it's not from a childhood memory of 'The Magic Garden' with Carole and Paula?

I nailed the 3S3M that year, but I popped and imploded at mile 88. To finish, it was the toughest 12 miles of my life. I had to walk up that third hill from the bottom to the top on one leg. I will never forget it. I popped prescriptive pain pills at the time and it was way too late. I cried for a while at the finish. My friends left me alone while I layed down and I appreciated their respect. They threw a few ice packs my way and a lukewarm Bud Light. It humbled me the **** up. Never looked at my bike or a mountain the same again. Every time I hear Tift Merritt, I remember that day:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76QHmnUMcD8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU4yMm-mB2M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RAaQoiyXbc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whyb7hbileg&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL4527999B18BD4F43

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvaMqIUsXEw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J06q_KD_6vg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FafW_oo7aVw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTTQ9QH9YRI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRaySaFtw_w

Bonus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTIxag1jWPs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak0pBMx7Bd4&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuOzz49Wg0M&feature=related

Tennessee

[wtex]

She was on ACL a while back; in the Gillian Welch - Eliza Gilkyson - Miranda Lambert class, which is good company.

[texbike]

Tift has been a regular around the Austin music scene for years. She is an incredibly talented musician and puts on a great show.

Texbike