Recs with Merritt flips through the finest new vinyl releases for March 2024, including Julian Lage, Norah Jones, Waxahatchee
Records with Merritt is Marion Merritt’s vinyl store in Westport [1614 Westport Rd] with partner Ann Stewart. As a staple in our community for nearly a decade, we’ve partnered with Merritt for a monthly column, where the tastemaker shares her picks for the best wax releases to look forward to grabbing, divided by release date.
Here’s Marion Merritt’s rundown of the most exciting offerings in March 2024.
March 1, 2024
Julian Lage’s Speak To Me is his fourth release for Blue Note Records. The guitar virtuoso has expanded his sonic range with his trademark melodic lyricism with his upcoming album. In addition to Lage’s longtime trio with Jorge Roeder on bass and Dave King on drums, the album also features contributions from saxophonist Levon Henry, keyboardist Patrick Warren, and Kris Davis on piano.
Other albums of note for the week:
Jon Hassell Surgeon of the Nightsky Restores Dead Things By The Power of Sound
Pissed Jeans Half Divorced
Ghetto Brothers Power-Fuerza
Philip Glass Naqoyqatsi: Life As War
STRFKR Parallel Realms
Squarepusher Dostrotime
Butasaku Forms
Liam Gallagher & John Squire Liam Gallagher & John Squire
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Up From Below
Jackie Mclean Action (Blue Note Tone Poet Series)
Ervin Booker Tex Book Tenor (Blue Note Tone Poet Series)
Cannonball Adderley/ Bill Evans Know What I Mean? (Original Jazz Classics Series)
Stevie Ray Vaughan Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues
March 8, 2024
Norah Jones’ new release, Visions, is filled with plenty of joy as she sings about feeling free, wanting to dance, making it right, and acceptance of what life brings. The emotional vibe of Visions is the opposite of Pick Me Up Off The Floor, Jones’ last album of new original songs that was released early in the pandemic lockdown of 2020, and conveyed many of the dark emotions of that time.
Other albums of note for the week:
Jpegmafia Ghost Pop Tape
Rolling Stones Live at the Wiltern
Les Demerle Sound 67 Ft. Randy Brecker Once in a Lifetime
Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine
Aristocrats Duck
Weldon Irvine In Harmony
Hilton Felton Man for All Reasons
Howard Shore Se7En – O.S.T.
Various Artists Wamono Disco – Nippon Columbia Disco
Various Artists Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980
Various Artist Color Purple (Music from & Inspired By)
March 15, 2024
Seven-time Grammy winner, Kacey Musgraves’s fifth album, Deeper Wells is filled with rolling acoustic guitars, strings and synths, layered harmonies, and moments of Celtic melody, while never hiding or erasing Musgraves’ vocals. Musgraves said she surveyed her life and priorities, recognizing what feeds her, drains her, and even examines the childhood she’s left behind on her way to now, in the works of this record.
Other albums of note for the week:
Nina Simone Nina’s Back
Noah Kahan Cape Elizabeth
JID feat. 21 Savage and Baby Tate American Dream
The Black Crowes Happiness Bastards
Muna Saves The World
Dandy Warhols Rockmaker
Mark Knopler’s Guitar Heroes Going Home
Cake Pressure Chief
Sean Ono Lennon Asterisms
Midlife Chorus
Thundercat Apocalypse (Ten Year Anniversary Edition)
Joe Henderson Power To The People
Charles Lloyd The Sky Will Be There Tomorrow
Jakub Orlinski Beyond (17th Century Arias)
Angelo Outlaw Axis of Time
Grop Irakere Teatro Amadeo Roldan Recita
Justin Timberlake Everything I Thought It Was
Stephen Wilson Jr Son of Dad
Paula Cole Lo
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros Live At Action Town Hall
March 22, 2024
Alabama-born, Katie Crutchfield, grew up near Waxahatchee Creek and performs under the name Waxahatchee. The ever-busy Crutchfield, who is also a part of the music duo, Plains, with Jess Williamson, is now sober and residing in Kansas City, gifting us with some of her most powerful music with her new release Tiger’s Blood. She has dedicated herself to revisiting the ups and downs of her life and sharing the honesty of her journey.
Other albums of note for the week:
Andre 3000 New Blue Sun (Delayed from February)
Sierra Ferrell Trail of Flowers
Jamiroquai Late Night Tales: Jamiroquai
Ella Fitzgerald Puttin’ on the Ritz
Various Artists Greatest Love Songs
Bob Dylan Man of Constant Sorrow
Johnny Cash I Walk the Line
Rat Pack Rat Pack
Various Artists Greatest Bossa Nova
Cody Jinks Change the Game
Tycho Awake (10th Anniversary Edition)
March 29, 2024
Los Angeles-based Chicano Batman is set to release their fifth studio album Notebook Fantasy. This up and coming record, filled with 12 different tracks, continues to expand the group’s sound, which mixes influences from ’60s pop, tropicália, psych-rock, funk, and soul.
Other albums of note for the week:
Shabazz Palaces Exotic Birds of Prey
Clutch Transnational Speedway League: Anthems Anecdotes
Thee Sacred Souls Instrumentals
Tosca No Hassle
All Time Low MTV Unplugged
Sue Foley One Guitar Woman
New Found Glory Live Laugh Love
Kraftwelt Electric Dimension
The Libertines All Quiet On The Esplanade
Serpentwithfeet Grip
Lonnie Smith Afro-Desia
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers Revelations
Shadow Show Fantasy Now!
Majesty Crush Butterflies Don’t Go Away
