Chris Merritt
Hello, Little Captain

Jato Records
Street: 05.01
Chris Merritt = Ben Folds + Kevin Burdick + Keane

There is something particularly festive about the music of Chris Merritt. The songs are short narratives about parties, relationships and the woes of being a young adult male. It is obvious that Merritt is classically trained, but unlike Ben Folds, is a little less street corner and a little more Carnegie Hall. I wanted to hate this album because the use of the piano seems so cliche; but the songwriting is incredibly solid and the recording is very professional. The songs get a little emo at times, but aren’t we all a little emo? Maybe not, but Merritt seems very true to himself and very confident in his abilities as a songwriter.