Another Strong Effort
Brian A. Wolters | Cabot, Arkansas | 11/20/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I loved Merrick's debut album and their 2nd album, "Drive Around a Lot Hard and Fast Driving Club" is just as good and maybe even a little better.The album opens up with SALESMAN and while it may remind you of "Throwing Muses", the now trademark Merrick harmonies take over and throw the song into another dimension. SUGAR TOOTH continues their "tooth" tradition. (Maybe we will get another "tooth" song on the next album.) FINGER is delightful and has a great and catchy chorus. In FLAMMABLE, the extending of the word "again" is simply brilliant and their voices are just so well suited to this kind of music.I just can't say enough about the voices of Bryony and Inara (not to mention their beautiful names.) I haven't heard a blend of harmony this good in quite a while. Add that to the amazing phrasing of their songs and you are looking at one of the best new groups out there. They are now close to the top of my list of great female singers with the likes of Harriet Wheeler, The Roches and Nanci Griffith. This album could be the one to put Merrick firmly on the map. While I thought the first album was the most underrated, this album should get noticed and make Merrick a force to be reckoned with. In the days of some truly awful music that gets radio play, is sure is nice to have Merrick around as "alternative" music."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1