“Shovel” by merci, mercy is a sensitive, clever, deeply musical reflection on anger and relationships. This masterpiece draws upon that classic, sad atmosphere we’re used to hearing from our favorite indie rock artists without forfeiting the infectious groove. Lush with synths, unique guitar sounds, and texturally satisfying percussion, the production of this track just oozes creativity. Then, on the other hand, the lyrics carve out a thought-provoking narrative. It’s the best of both worlds in a lot of senses—but to put it plainly—it’s just a well-written and well-performed song.
Synths and acoustic guitars kick things off: “You’re so f*cking nice / I want to throw something at your head.” The singer croons a devilishly ironic line and sets the stage for some wild juxtaposition. The delivery is unique, taking influence from the soft, idiosyncratic nature of modern indie music but remaining entirely distinct. As the panned acoustic guitars and straight-ahead bass chug along in the background, the melody soars from note to note fluidly.
The chorus arrives with a cloud of vibrant shaker and harmonies. It manages to be catchy and repetitive in all the right places and utilizes quite the sentimental chord progression. Lyrically, it continues to fall in a sardonic place, almost poking fun at troubling situations through metaphor. Although, the literal moments keep it centered and rather poignant.
If you’re looking for a new alternative artist to obsess over, you ought to give merci, mercy a try! “Shovel” is a wonderful example of songwriting and production genius.
Written by Alyce Lindberg
