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, Merchants, "window rolled down" CD is one remarkably smooth listen, carrying the listener effortlessly along from auspicious start to fine finish.
This Los Angeles-based songwriter is best known as a member of the cult fave psycho-eclectic group, the Lullabies - which also features the notable and nationally renowned Stew & Heidi Rodewald (of The Negro Problem) and Michael Whitmore (of Listing Ship). Their debut CD, "Lullabies' Lullaby", released in 2004, received national radio airplay, made a few top-10 lists and has even been heard in some European cafes.
Not only does Merchant's new CD have fellow Lullabies members playing on some of the tracks, it also features members of Brian Wilson's band and Stew's band, Shivaree, as well as Listing Ship and other distinguished Silverlake/LA based musicians. And Stew produced two of the tracks on this CD.
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"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
"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