I love trying new things, I think that when variety is introduced to life you have a higher chance of finding joy—something something and adage about doing the same thing over and over. I think you should take every chance to try something new and never limit the perspectives you try to see. All of this is a roundabout way to say that I am wholly fascinated by the idea of The Merrier as a project. Every single song has a guest and every song in some way is completely different because a brand-new artist is adding to the canon of the discography. The idea of taking something like this and making an album out of it is absurd because how can you craft something like that with a handful of artists all making a different song in a different style and make it make sense? Well, I can’t really answer the how but I can tell you that you with the album “I Hope I’m With My Cats When The Flood Comes” The Merrier has done it.
This album has every single style that the DIY music scene has become known for. It’s a little lo-fi, it’s a little bedroom pop, it’s a little emo, it’s even got a couple rap verses spread throughout. This year has been eclectic thus far in terms of releases and The Merrier is adding to a strong release year for Lonely Ghost Records with this album that feels like walking through a modern art museum when you listen to it. Each song is a new exhibition to peruse and walk amongst, there is a distinct feel to each one, but it all connects in a way. The most important thing you need to know about this album is that listening through it has been some of the most fun I have had with a release; it is masterpiece of multitudes and doesn’t shy away from getting a little weird.
The album begins with “i lost my twitter” in which merrier teams up with Madi Kubicky to create a fun little track that begins acoustically with a little guitar and some vocals that devolves into some screams and then resolves in a beautiful little electronic section. It reminds me of the work that fellow labelmate Superdestroyer (who is a collaborator on this album) has been doing and it’s the kind of thing that will draw me in every single time. I wish I knew more about sound design and music engineering to be able to explain to you just how cool this song is. The vocals on it are great with the first part being more traditional in terms of singing, and the second part being buried underneath a sweeping electronic wall of noise (in a good way). The following song is “trash talk therapy” with oldphone, and this track carries elements of the previous electronic section which makes for a nice transition. Merrier and oldphone working together is a perfect pairing as they are both on the forefront of this style of genre-bending synth heavy electronic sound. The vocals on this one are heavily distorted with autotune and it pairs nicely with the instrumental. It has the reoccurring line “tell me that one thing” which I can’t really pin down why I love it so much but I do, maybe it’s the poor short term memory I have due to high caffeine use and a plethora of concussions.
The next track is “iso” with masakiio and Caco. This is the part in the album when it feels like the introduction is entirely over and you are immersed in the world of the album, it is also the track that has one of the slickest lo-fi rap verses you’ll hear all year. The track begins with a steady beat and then there is the introduction of an incredible little sax run that plays throughout the track, which is just such a good addition that ties the production together. This song is a certified driving around with the windows down on a summer evening classic, it is just so much fun to listen to.
Next up we have “falling out” which was written with Margo Wilson and features her as the main vocalist on the track. This song is more than likely the one I will return to the most on the album because it just hits so many areas I love. The vocals are incredible, there is some stellar drumming which is tailor made to bop around and dance to, the lyrics are pretty, and once again holy hell those vocals. This song is another showcase of how Merrier plays with genre and mixes so many styles together to create something that sounds familiar and brand new all at once. This song is then followed by “milk drinker” in which Merrier works with Gabbo to create something in a similar vein to “falling out” with more of an emo/indie rock type sound and it also features more stellar vocal work. This is one of the more riffy tracks on the album and it is sequenced so nicely into this part of the album, and it helps expand the world of The Merrier.
The next track “mulch gang” is a very rare song that is written, performed, and produced solely by Merrier. It is a very stripped back song in terms of the production work that has been happening within the album thus far and it is a beautiful reset in the middle of the album. In truth I told a half truth as Merrier does utilize a computer program to create a sample of a child speaking in the middle of the track. It’s an overall just enjoyable little track.
The next track is “the mid outdoors” which is one of only two tracks off this album to receive the single treatment, the other being “iso”. It is very clear why this song was released as a single because it is the entire album in terms of feeling, production, and style all rolled into one. This song was written with eichlers and features playing from Caleb Hynes from fellow Lonely Ghost band Hey, Ily as well as some guitar parts from Pallete Knife. This song is great and has a wonderful little refrain in the line “I can see your house from here” and it builds up super nicely to a quick little mic drop moment and then explodes into another wonderful electronic wall of sound.
There is a fun little experiment with the song “a giant visited me in the diy discord vc” as it begins with a duet between well known DIY Discord mod and No Problemo! riffer Cait, who is better known under the handle Andesite. She and Kourt add wonderful vocals to some fun lyrics that play nicely against each other, and you do get the feel that it’s just two people talking to each other. The song also has a reference to missing cats which is incredibly appropriate considering the name of this album. This is the shortest track on the album, but it has a huge heart and is one of my favorites.
The penultimate track is “i just felt fast” and is the track that Superdestroyer features on. These two just mesh so well. I have made a lot of references to summer throughout this review because this whole album just feels like a vacation into the world of Merrier, and if this is a vacation then this the part where you stop at a nice winery and pair a good sparkling wine with a lovely cut of brie, or having a perfectly cooked slice of pizza after a long day on the beach for my straight edge friends. It is an absolute triumph in the world of sound production and if it hasn’t become clear I am not well versed in this area of music, but I am so impressed by this track.
The final track “oh, ok!” absolutely sticks the landing and feels like you are coming to the end of being out of office and you’re relishing the last moments before you return to the real world. This song like many others has some work from Hey, Ily member Caleb Haynes and his work on the production side of this album should really be highlighted as his name is all over the credits and you can tell that he added a lot to this, as did all the collaborators. However, I digress, the closing song on any album is the one that I am always the most excited for and this song lived up to the hype I attributed to it.
Overall, this album is a triumph of music production and the unifying power of music in general. Anybody who can take a dozen or so collaborators and make a cohesive piece of art should be given a medal, a firm handshake, and a damn key to whatever city they choose. Merrier has some killer lyric writing ability which I haven’t touched on much throughout but when you listen you will pick up on all kind of themes and a beating heart behind the awe-inspiring musical work on display. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album and let Merrier and friends take you on a trip away from your daily life.
The album “I Hope I’m With My Cats When the Flood Comes” By The Merrier released 4/26/2024 on all streaming via Lonely Ghost Records
Merrier can be found on Twitter @themerrier505
Album Credits:
https://themerrier.bandcamp.com/album/i-hope-im-with-my-cats-when-the-flood-comes
1- i lost my twitter
written: merrier / madi kubicky (they / them)
produced: merrier / madi kubicky
2- trash talk therapy / feat oldphone (they / them / he / she)
written: merrier / Gregory Johnson (they / them / he / she)
produced: merrier / oldphone
3- iso / feat masakiio & Caco
written: merrier / masakiio (he / him) / Allan romero (he / they)
produced: merrier / masakiio / Randall Hoyle (he / him) / Allan romero (he / they)
performed: randal hoyle keys / Allan romero sax
4- falling out / feat. margo wilson (she / her)
written: merrier / natalia perkins (margo wilson) / Caleb Haynes (he / him)
produced: merrier / natalia perkins (margo wilson) / Caleb Haynes
5- milk drinker / feat gabbo (they / them)
written: merrier / gabbo / caleb haynes (he / him)
produced: merrier / gabbo / caleb haynes
6- mulch gang
merrier
7- mid outdoors / feat eichlers (he / him)
written: merrier / eichlers
produced: merrier / eichlers / caleb haynes / pallete knife
performed: caleb haynes bass / pallets knife guitars
8- a giant visited me in the diy discord vc
written: merrier
produced: merrier / andesite (she / her) & kourt (she / her)
performed: andesite and kourt both sang
9-i just felt fast / feat. superdestroyer (he / him)
written: merrier / superdestroyer
produced: merrier / superdestroyer
10- oh, ok! / feat hey,ily
written: merrier / caleb haynes (he / him)
produced: merrier / caleb haynes
The Diygest 
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