merit

Decently pumping commercial rock seemingly disguised (at least on the CD cover) as indie or emo, by a Syracuse foursome named for front-woman Brenna Merritt, who also plays keyboards and banjo and delivers extroverted vocals over some sharp, compact riffs that know how to punch. Imagine, maybe, if Concrete Blonde had grown up on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. - The Village Voice

Decently pumping commercial rock seemingly disguised (at least on the CD cover) as indie or emo, by a Syracuse foursome named for front-woman Brenna Merritt, who also plays keyboards and banjo and delivers extroverted vocals over some sharp, compact riffs that know how to punch. Imagine, maybe, if Concrete Blonde had grown up on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. - The Village Voice

Punkrockchicks.com

You can tell Merit has many styles of music influenced on the "When We Fight" album. Some classic piano, rock alternative, acoustic, and funk appear on this album giving every song their own personal touch for all types of music lovers. Their single, "Man on a String," has a mean rock line and a chorus that just gets you going throughout the whole song. The song became a huge hit on local college radio and commercial radio stations as well as local shows in the Syracuse area.

The layout of the tracks almost reminds you of an album Zeppelin would release where one song will be rocking, and the next one will be an acoustic piece which still gives off the same passion as the rock song earlier.

To compare Merit to another band would be pretty hard. They aren't a band that has one sound like most mainstream bands. They have a sound for everyone and it's something to take advantage of. Overall, this album is like an ice cream sundae with a little of everything on top. - www.punkrockchicks.com

Punkrockchicks.com

You can tell Merit has many styles of music influenced on the "When We Fight" album. Some classic piano, rock alternative, acoustic, and funk appear on this album giving every song their own personal touch for all types of music lovers. Their single, "Man on a String," has a mean rock line and a chorus that just gets you going throughout the whole song. The song became a huge hit on local college radio and commercial radio stations as well as local shows in the Syracuse area.

The layout of the tracks almost reminds you of an album Zeppelin would release where one song will be rocking, and the next one will be an acoustic piece which still gives off the same passion as the rock song earlier.

To compare Merit to another band would be pretty hard. They aren't a band that has one sound like most mainstream bands. They have a sound for everyone and it's something to take advantage of. Overall, this album is like an ice cream sundae with a little of everything on top. - www.punkrockchicks.com

Neufutur Magazine

Merit – S/T / 2006 Aux Records / 10 Tracks / http://www.gomeritgo.com / http://www.auxrecords.com /

Reviewed 21 May 2006
The strong female vocals that start off “Penny jar” are not immediately reconcilable with any other artist on the market. There are hints of Plumb in Merit’s style of music, but nothing that screams “influence”. This bodes well for Merit, as the style of music that they play is a blend of rock and indie, allowing for the band to enjoy success wherever they end up.
The guitar progression of a track like “Blue Bedroom” reminds individuals of late nineties emo, but also of the punk era of acts like Goo Goo Dolls (pre-Jed) and Husker Du. When Merit moves into a slower style, the band’s sound shifts into something that seems perfect for the early days of the nineties. On tracks like “Icicles”, Merit takes on Suzanne Vega and Sinead O’Connor; even if the general sound of the act changes a lot on this self-titled LP, listeners can find enough commonalities present to know that this is Merit. “Useless” is a longer track for Merit, and while the band does try to vary things up during the track, they seem to come back to the same sort of style too many times to succeed without fault. This problem could have been corrected with a shortening of the track to around four minutes, and does not seem to be too major of an issue for Merit’s victories on this disc.
The arrangements that are dominant during “Man On A String” are perhaps the most interesting on the album, as they meander through the four minutes of the track. At some point, Merit directs these arrangements into a driving beat that is only forwarded by the insistent vocals of Brenna. The track is the strongest on this album, and this is not only due to the arrangements, but rather the interesting interplay that the guitars and drums have with each other. Merit is an interesting band, due to the fact that they occupy a place in popular music that has not been filled by hundreds of acts up to this point. Individuals would like to feel some commonalities with this band, but Merit forges bravely on in this twilight location, creating their own sound by the end of the disc. Regardless of whether people like the music, Merit should be given some credit as they do come up with something that is essentially unheard of in current music – a new sound.
Top Tracks: Icicles, Man on a String
- Neufutur Magazine

The way diminutive vocalist Brenna Merritt snarls and works her power lungs, we begin to understand what made their local community sit up and listen - this college-formed band is all about jamming their hearts out. Their electric/acoustic split sophomore effort is a bold leap from their already impressive 2004 debut, "When We Fight" - which we also highly recommend. The acoustic numbers score big, especially the hit single "Man On A String." Pure, 100% no-holds-barred rock. And they mean serious business. Our crystal ball tells us if they snag the chance to play at this year's SXSW in Austin, this band is going to be huge. Mark our words.

For fans of: Damone, Joan Jett - Indiependant Music (Singapore)

Merit Continues to Grow – The Syracuse rockers combine passion and maturity on second CD.

On the liner notes to his band’s self-titled disk “Merit,” drummer Jeff Nelson tells all “So we’re changing. That’s the best way I can say it.”

Yes, with the release of this second disk, the rockers have changed. Call it growth.

On this 10-song collection of originals, Syr-rock-cuse not only lives, it thrives with energy and bite.

Brenna Merritt’s vocals once again lead the way. She knows how to surf with the melody of guitarish Hal Appleby over the tight rhythm section of bassist Wil Mecum and Nelson.

From “Penny Jar” to “Every Now and Then” it’s rock as it should be when a band reaches 4 years old, combining musical passion with maturing life judgments.

In the tense ballad “Icicles,” Merritt sings, “You lie still as an icicle waiting for something to change. I’ll sit better with decency when I learn how to fight. Hey, it’s easier said than done. Change comes slow. So stay awhile.”

On “Man on a String,” jangle and strum live together peacefully.

The best cut may be “The End All,” with a sneaky little lounge lizard beat at the start, with Merritt’s voice taking control, reminiscent of Til Tuesday and Aimee Mann.

On the Internet: The band’s Web site is www.GoMeritGo.com.

-Mark Bialczak, The Post Standard
- The Post Standard

Local rockers' CD exudes Merit

"Syracuse rockers Merit fight the good fight on the new AUX Records disc "When We Fight."

Singer Brenna Merritt - for whom the band is named, minus an "r" and a "t" - lets loose with vocals that would make Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde proud.

Merritt has plenty of snarl for the rough songs and more than enough sass for the smooth ones.

They're versatile in the rock genre, throwing in some Metallica-like heavy churn on "Heavy Handed," and finishing the disc with an appealing soft spot, "Morning Breaks."

The result is a studio album that surpassed my expectations..."
-Mark Bialczak - Stars Weekend Magazine, Mark Bialczak

Online Bloggspot -
Sunday April 23, 2006

A reviewer/PHotographer for The
50th year project out of Canada wrote:

The last/middle act before the headliners was this four piece out of Syracuse, Merit. Girl up front, all five feet nothing and singing on her tiptoes and playing guitar for a fucking reason. A bass and lead guitar that made no mistake in establishing that they were there to support the point that was being made. And a drummer who quite simply kicked out the jams without being overwhelming. What a great band. They blew it all away and played with that certain mysterious passion that all great rock and roll bands have.

Thank you, thank you and thank you.

I would not hesitate to lay my money down to see them again.

Rock and roll as therapy: you can bet your boney white ass on this one. - David Anjo and the 50th year Project

Online Bloggspot -
Sunday April 23, 2006

A reviewer/PHotographer for The
50th year project out of Canada wrote:

The last/middle act before the headliners was this four piece out of Syracuse, Merit. Girl up front, all five feet nothing and singing on her tiptoes and playing guitar for a fucking reason. A bass and lead guitar that made no mistake in establishing that they were there to support the point that was being made. And a drummer who quite simply kicked out the jams without being overwhelming. What a great band. They blew it all away and played with that certain mysterious passion that all great rock and roll bands have.

Thank you, thank you and thank you.

I would not hesitate to lay my money down to see them again.

Rock and roll as therapy: you can bet your boney white ass on this one. - David Anjo and the 50th year Project

Merit — Merit

Merit begins their album with a clang and a bang with precise instructions to conquer the garage rock arena single-handedly. Female vocals stir the band into an alternative rock radiofriendly juggernaut though. The cool thing is that this double EP is an acoustic and electric split release. It’s that kind of diversity and creative thought that really kicks back and lets their singer stretch her proverbial vocal wings out. While not exactly a Lilith Fair type of band, you can certainly hear some similarities to Liz Phair, another independent female music spirit whom they’ve played alongside. Pick this up, it’s only a short matter of time before the mainstream really catches on.
- J-Sin http://smother.net - smother.net

Merit — Merit

Merit begins their album with a clang and a bang with precise instructions to conquer the garage rock arena single-handedly. Female vocals stir the band into an alternative rock radiofriendly juggernaut though. The cool thing is that this double EP is an acoustic and electric split release. It’s that kind of diversity and creative thought that really kicks back and lets their singer stretch her proverbial vocal wings out. While not exactly a Lilith Fair type of band, you can certainly hear some similarities to Liz Phair, another independent female music spirit whom they’ve played alongside. Pick this up, it’s only a short matter of time before the mainstream really catches on.
- J-Sin http://smother.net - smother.net