This has quickly become one of my favorite CDs... a raw, modern sound with loads of inspiration... Instrumentation is very acoustic-oriented with guitar, kazoo, banjo, lap steel, violin, fiddle, and pedal steel all taking a turn. Molded with samples and answering machines and extremely interesting and diverse recording techniques, "Buzzkill Nation" has a very unique and handcrafted sound that warrants many, many plays. Highly recommended!

Merz's 11 song debut is chock full o' intelligent, witty, subversive tunes with subtleties that take repeated listenings to absorb and appreciate. Without a doubt, Merz's strongest point is his knack for writing detailed, multi-dimensional lyrics which combine skewed humor with an Orwellian slant... The results can be simultaneously hilarious and depressing. In the sharp-barbed "Rock & Roll" he sings, "You know you're at a radio-sponsored show when no matter who the band is, the guy sitting next to you says 'Oh, he sounds like Elvis Costello.'" On "Drag & Click" things get downright grim: "You are a lamb in sheep's uniform/ born in a widow's web site/ under the ATM sign." Yowza! With such sarcasm-and angst-filled lyrics, one might expect the music to be equally angry and punkish. Thankfully, Merz places his sentiments in laid-back (too laid back at times), spacy, mostly acoustic arrangements reminiscent of "Obscured by Clouds"-era Pink Floyd and embellishes them with Simon & Garfunkelish harmonies, fax machine samples, and one very cool and unexpected sitar raga. It wasn't until days later that I was caught by Merz's screwiest joke: one of the cover's two spines reads "The Very Best of Night Ranger." Most refreshing I must say. . .

Not since Evel Kenevel and Pimentos for Gus took the stage outside Ransom Hall in Gambier Ohio has music been so poignant and engaging. Kudus to the growling one from P4G for sticking with the dream. --beaudoin '94