Whip - Song Song
(Priapus)
Luckily, J. Merritt and company have released another
recording, their second album this year.
Song Song is a 25 minute, 11 song CD that doesn't stray far
from the pattern he set in Timesbold, Whip's
previous CD. Much like Timesbold, it is filled with simple, raw front
porch song writing. Also, much like Timesbold, it is way too short.
However, what it lacks in length it makes up for in content.
"Organique" is a wonderful 1 minute 40 second instrumental introduction
to the album. It starts Song Song off with a low droning tone swell
underneath the acoustic guitar. After just a few moments, you can hear
what sounds like a harpsichord being strummed, and some bells being
played in a short pattern. "When I Die" is my favorite track on Song
Song, and embodies everything I love so much about Whip's music. Mixing
soft strumming and picking on an acoustic guitar, Merritt sings "Fifteen
vultures waiting free. Let them spread my body, and with what's left
bury me. When I die, bury me and I will do the same for you."
Song Song is simply just another great recording of J. Merritt playing
the acoustic guitar and singing. Unlike a lot of bands around today who
focus more on a song's accompaniment than its actual merit,
Whip knows how to write quality songs that can, and do, stand
on their own. Every once in awhile he may add another picked guitar
part, drums, or other instruments, but they are never used to cover up
poor song writing, and they never take away from what is really
important, the base of the song.
Much like his last release, Song Song has stayed in my CD player for
weeks, and it is likely to stay there a lot longer.
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