New York songwriter Meir Levine is driven by two powers: melody, and the sheer force of will.
Levine’s “musical education” began before he could say those words. His father was a professional singer, and while Mr. Levine played more than a hundred gigs each year, Meir paid close attention—not only to his dad but to every player on every stage. “By age seven, I had been taught the difference between a tactful guitarist, and one who’s doing too much,” he says. “I have a deep, attentive reverence for musicians.” It’s a relevant expertise, and evident throughout his debut album, Long & Lonely Highway, to be released June 6th.
Meir recruited a top shelf cohort of instrumentalists to record with him at Dreamland in upstate New York, including Will Graefe (Okkervill River, Benjamin Lazar Davis, Maya Hawke), Mike Robinson (Zach Bryan, Sarah Jarosz, Iris Dement), Chris Parker (Jade Bird, Halsey), Jordan Rose (Maggie Rogers, Theo Katzman) and Jeremy McDonald (Louis Cato, Mason Jar Music). “The benefit of having really fantastic players is that you can keep things open, bust apart any inhibitions, let the songs change in real time to become their ultimate versions.” The consequence of this competence set free is a satisfying balance of evocative looseness and lustrous polish—raw feelings expressed to beautiful effect. And those feelings are mostly coming from Meir. “If I’m the heart, my producer Andrew Freedman (Henry Jamison, Michael Mayo) is the brain.” Levine notes that he and Freedman are “fundamentally different creatures,” cherishing their ability to come at a single song from opposite directions. He calls engineer D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Bonny Light Horseman, Kevin Morby) the “senior sonic supervisor” of the operation, with a wistful admiration. “In the studio, our motto is Best Idea Wins. We endeavored to make something people will still love decades from now. You never know, but just trying, with these guys—what a freaking thrill.”
Meir has another motto in the studio: “W.W.T.P.D.”—that is —“What would Tom Petty do?” He laughs confessing this, but if you take one swift glance at Meir’s left shoulder, you’ll know he means it. The iconic image of a guitar-pierced heart is tattooed there, ribbons bearing his rock n’ roll hero’s name flaring out from either side. “Tom Petty—he’s the guiding light.” There’s a rollicking ease and cheeky air to Meir’s music that many will consider Petty-esque, but he resists coming too close to the perimeters of impersonation. “I’m a nostalgic guy, but my goal isn’t to recreate anything. It’d be foolish to try.”
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Do You Remember?,” a bright and twangy work of folk-rock that feels reminiscent of acts like Dawes and Hiss Golden Messenger. Just like those acts, Meir succeeds in songs that are thoughtful, emotionally resonant, catchy, and musically geniune in a way that doesn’t feel cheesy or mainstream. Brimming with airy guitar solos to take the song to soaring heights, rich and soulful organ, and high and lonesome pedal steel, the song is impressive in its well-oiled power that balances a high level of musicianship with Meir’s savvy lyricism.
Meir describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“There’s often a moment towards the end of any union or relationship, where the light shines through just enough to feel that everything is gonna work out and be okay. One of my favorite moments of the record is Will Graefe’s guitar solo on this one. He’s a really special player.”
LISTEN:
