A Tranquil Exploration of Love
After a nine-year musical drought, fans of Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt are having their prayers answered with the release of her ninth full-length studio album, Sugar. On this release, Merritt delves deep into personal struggles while also providing commentary on society as a whole.
Opening with “Finest Feelings,” the album quickly establishes a serene tone that persists throughout the record. Soft drums and piano help illuminate the desperation in Merritt’s voice as she yearns for vulnerability from a loved one. As the song progresses, Merritt explores the relationship between love and trust, explaining that in order to fully love someone, she must feel comfortable letting her guard down and being her truest self while hoping her partner can do the same.
The following track, “Everyday Singing,” steps away from the topic of love and focuses on society. Like the previous song, it is another calming piece with an instrumental that exudes springtime warmth and freedom. Through her lyrics, Merritt creates a feminist anthem of sorts as she shines a light on women’s perseverance through everyday uncertainties and their inclination to show up for others.
As the album nears its midpoint, the title track, “Sugar,” begins with a jarring introduction. Audiences are first met with Merritt’s stripped-down vocals, an intriguing but effective choice. Although piano joins as the song progresses, the moments where her voice stands alone help drive home the theme of vulnerability. Like the opener, Merritt reintroduces her struggle with emotional openness as she sings about her tendency to hide her true self except when she is around someone she wholeheartedly loves.
Merritt closes the album with “Philosopher’s Stone,” a song about searching for guidance while yearning for humanity to become whole again. This is conveyed in lines such as, “Follow in the water/For an answer going by/Any kindness I can find…” Through vivid imagery and storytelling, Merritt paints a picture of someone enduring a difficult journey in search of something as simple as kindness.
Although the album deserves praise for its subject matter, it occasionally falls short of fully exploring the themes it introduces. While Merritt examines the connection between love and trust, the record could benefit from a deeper exploration of how a lack of trust can prevent people from fully embracing love. Instead, some of these ideas remain relatively surface-level despite appearing throughout the album.
Aside from this criticism, Sugar serves as a strong reintroduction to Merritt after her extended absence from the music scene. Throughout the album, she allows herself to be vulnerable with listeners, revealing her innermost struggles with love and trust. In doing so, Merritt opens the door for both new and longtime fans to connect with her experiences and find comfort within her melancholy instrumentals and soothing vocals.
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