Jeff Merchant: Vocals, Acoustic
& Electric Guitar, Bass, Percussion Angela Correa: Vocals Teresa Cowles: Vocals, Bass Zach Landreneau: Piano, Pianet, Organ, Rhodes Daniel McGough: Organ, Mellotron, Wurlitzer Probyn Gregory: French Horn, Trumpet David Jercovich: Electric Guitar, Banjo, Vocals Nelson Bragg: Drums Rebecca Lynn: Violin Heather Lockie: Viola Peggy Baldwin: Cello Laura Steenberge: Upright Bass Michael Mallory: Electric & Fretless Bass Michael Whitmore: Vibes, Nylon String Guitar Mark Mastopietro: Sitar, Resonator Bells Jeff Roffredo: Guitarrón Jimmy Cuellar: Vihuela Adam Marsland: Piano Kelly Moneymaker: Vocals Janelle Sadler: Vocals Renee Dawson: Vocals Julia Wolff: Vocals Evie Sands: Vocals Michael Rozon: Pedal Steel Guitar, Rhodes,
Additional Keyboards & Guitars, Percussion,
Evantide, Drum Loops
Influences
Multi-Influenced: Beatles, Beck, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, The Negro Problem, Neil Young, Philip Glass, R.E.M, Squeeze, Stew, Syd Barrett, The Lullabies, 10CC, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Aimee Mann, Carole King, Scott Walker, Harry Nilsson, Burt Bacharach, Elliott Smith, cocteau twins, Nick Cave, The Stranglers, Television, Talking Heads, Buzzcocks, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, Donovan, Nick Drake, Love, Kate Bush, The Kinks, XTC, The Raspberries, Robyn Hitchcock, Joy Division, The New Pornographers, The Zombies, Magnetic Fields, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Fiona Apple, Genesis, Todd Rundgren, Pink Floyd, Traffic, Patti Smith, Flaming Lips, Roxy Music, Sonic Youth, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell, King Crimson, Iggy Pop, Robert Fripp, Steely Dan, The Pixies, Frank Black, Grant Lee Buffalo, Ben Fold Five, They Might Be Giants, Weezer, Stephen Sondheim, John Cale, Pere Ubu, The Fall, Fleetwood Mac, Motown, Sly and the Family Stone, John Coltrane, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Miles Davis, Smokey Robinson, The Spinners, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Milton Nascimento, Moody Blues, ELO, Astor Piazzolla, Javanese Gamelan, Nino Rota, Steve Reich, John Cage, My Bloody Valentine, Stereolab, Sun Ra, Erik Satie, Debussy, Stravinsky, Tarahumara, Tom Waits, Robert Wilson, The Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie, The Field Mice, Belle & Sebastian, PreFab Sprouts, Wilco, The Decemberists, Bedroom Walls, Listing Ship, Carolyn Edwards, Sufjan Stevens, Paul Brill, Meredith Bragg, Spearmint, Kimberley Rew, Andrew Bird, Richard Barone, Arcade Fire, The Shins, The Vapors, Filter, Martin Gore, Badly Drawn Boy, The Bluetones, Polyphonic Spree, The Cure, Bright Eyes, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Smashing Pumpkins, Bjork, The Clash, The Residents, Buffalo Springfield, Oasis
Sounds Like
"slickly arranged orchestral indie-pop with jazz and folk undertones"
"If Nick Cave had been from California"
"Excellent eclectic folk pop"
"a good alternative soundtrack to the film, 'Magnolia'"
" a dizzying mix of melody, textures and conceptual design"
* Jeff Merchant doesn't write cute, sweet, happy love songs. He writes compelling, thought-provoking songs about serious subjects in a catchy, melodic way - where the melodies, themselves, take off some of the edge. A purveyor of slickly arranged orchestral indie-pop with jazz and folk undertones, Merchant's previous "window rolled down" CD has been described as one remarkably smooth listen, carrying the listener effortlessly along from auspicious start to fine finish.
And now Jeff Merchant has emerged with a unique, fully produced 15 song recording called, "City Makes No Sound". It's a melodically lush, bright and dark, richly bold, eclectic pop feast that you won't easily forget.
With nearly a CD and a half of material fitting on one disc, the songs range in style and structure but share a common alternative pop aesthetic of melodically dense arrangements, musically intricate parts, loops and effects, thought provoking lyrics and smart production.
"City Makes No Sound" tells diverse stories of city life that are amusing, sad and uplifting, sometimes lonely, with both hope and despair - trying to get to the essence of things. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered with a full spectrum of sound in mind – deep, full bass with bright harmonies and a rich, balanced center.
"complex haunting tales" - Entertainment Weekly.com: PopWatch
"entrancing, lush" - Boston Phoenix
"This is multi-instrumental indie-pop that would fit Brian Wilson. Excellent eclectic folk pop" - Smother Magazine (Editors Pick)
"...a dense, interesting album, employing diverse instruments that actually keeps you interested track after track" The BM Rant
"Merchant's a master when it comes to crafting lofty tunes with instant appeal" entnews
"This record is catchy and will stay with you long after you turn it off" - High Bias
"relaxing orchestral indie folk sound scapes" - Wiam Blogspot
"Merchant earns a place among those artists who keep musical expression, experimentalism, and artistry alive" - Music Spectrum
"...the lyrics are so brutally honest that it hurts - but at the same time the music soothes you so you can face the truth" -- Who Needs Radio Blog
"Its not everyday you hear horse hooves in your gypsy pop" - Illinois Entertainer: spins, weekly
"A solid solo singer-songwriter" - Berkeley Place Blogspot
"a talented artist who works well in his realm" - Movement Magazine
"Decemberists-styled orchestrations and vocal work that resembles Death Cabs Ben Gibbard" - Birmingham Weekly's SOUND ADVICE
"Window Rolled Down would make a good alternative soundtrack to the 1999 film, Magnolia" - AMG/All Music Guide
"...a collection of dense, orchestrated, intricate 'pop' songs...he's managed to take what were already good songs and turn them into very special ones...this is the kind of intelligent grown up music that gives musicians a good name. " - Zeitgeist Magazine
rescued from the eighties!!! alkes-fradkin co-authors of the Plimsouls' and goo goo dolls' "million miles away." With their “girls in this town” And “Missing In Action.” Sunday at Noon (Eastern) on ScrubRadio.com for ShockPop! http://scrubradio.com/
Just gave the whole CD a listen and my undivided attention. Stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful. Intriguing, deeply lovely songs that are going to want further and further listening. This album is a rare jewel and I hope it gets the attention it deserves!!
hey waz up . i am glad u are doing good. i was worry about u for a while. as for my baby. he is doing good and walking. he is now 18 months old. i will email u my cell number
Miss you Jeff. It has been forever since seeing you. Very curious how all is going for ya...the new music etc. Stay in touch when you can. Best, Nelson
Hi Jeff, Take a look at my new video of The Writing on the Wall from my 2008 acoustic album, Beyond the Blues. Quote from the wall: The wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly. Thanks, Steve
.. Hi there Jeff Merchant Music first of all we'd like to say thanks for being our myspace pal. We wanted to make sure you knew the reason incase we suddenly vanish off of your friends list. The movement we've started for indie artists has grown significantly and consumes all of our time these days. We seldom sign into our myspace account and this is making several people believe that we are ignoring them. We are not ignoring anyone, we wanted everyone to know that. What we're doing has become so busy we just don't have the time for myspace any longer, so in all honesty we are probably going to just close our myspace account.
Many people wanted to use us in the future so if you were one of those people make sure you bookmark the link below so that in the event that we do close our myspace account you won't lose contact with us. I wish you the best of luck in your music career. Thanks again for being our myspace pal.
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