Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild is Merce Lemon’s third album, and it is by far her most impressive yet. Merce seems to do more with less in this album, relying on her songwriting that has only grown stronger as her musical career has progressed. The collaboration list is impressive, too. Collin Miller helped with bojo on a few tracks – Merce released a split with him earlier this year covering Will Oldham. Xandy Chelmis (of Wednesday) also hopped on a track for pedal steel. Landon George (of Indigo de Souza, MJ Lenderman) helped out with some fiddle and bowed cymbal needs. Producer Alex Farrar, who has also worked with these artists in addition to Snail Mail, Angel Olsen, Hello Mary, Plains, Squirrel Flower, and more, assisted with the production of this album and jumped in for rhythmic guitar where needed.
The Pittsburgh-based artist owes her endeavors in part to her hometown nestled among hills, rivers, and bridges. Growing up in a family of art and music in a city with a vigorously supportive scene, Merce has been going to shows her whole life. She’s played in the projects of her parent’s friends, and her own father was even part of her band up until a few years ago.
This album represents Merce Lemon’s rebirth as an artist. After “Moonth” was released in mid-2020, she took some time away during the lockdown to reassess her relationship with music and how to rediscover the magic in it. Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild was born from her experience working countless days in the garden (and sleeping in it at night) and the inward work that was put in to inspire the songs in the album that were initially just written for herself. “Birdseed” and “Blueberry Heaven” delve into this alfresco experience. Many of the songs expose a firm grounding of Merce’s observations during this period. There’s heavily descriptive lyrics that paint you into the song alongside her perceived internal and external experiences. “Backyard Lover” is mostly written about Merce’s childhood friend who’s death she experienced at fifteen years old. The track has a familiar twang of instruments and vocals interwoven throughout. The emotional climax of the song: “what dying felt like… a wooden spoon tossed in the fire… cause nothings good enough… you fucking liar“ is Merce’s sting shared with the listener. She explains how “That loss has forever changed me and who I am in my relationships to lovers, friends, family.” There’s a few references to spoons throughout the album, and rightfully so. It’s a whittle bit of a look into Merce’s physical grounding techniques.
“Rain” is the display of Merce’s uncertainty in reconfiguring her artistic footing: “this sounds like a song I barfed out in a drought.” She proceeds to describe her natural surroundings and the feeling of an impending urge tapping her shoulder to continue forward. The song “Crow” is both about longing and belonging. She speaks about the comforting notion that the crows will be welcome and cared for in a new city. The song is shrouded in hope and shines a light on the reward of being a supportive shepherd figure. The subtle force behind “Slipknot” juggles further musings about this path for Merce. The title track closes out the album leaving the unanswered question posed by Merce Lemon. built around, and dependent upon, the life-giving force of nature that came before Merce. It describes a projection into an unknown future, forever protected by the comforting green of the city.
Tracklist:
1. Birdseed
2. Backyard Lover
3. Window
4. Foolish and Fast
5. Rain
6. Crow
7. Slipknot
8. Blueberry Heaven
9. Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild
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