Merry Little Thing is a memorable three-track EP from Ever More Nest, the New Orleans-based project of songwriter Kelcy Wilburn. Featuring two standout originals alongside a cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” Wilburn’s sound enamors — particularly across the two original tracks, which capture the more melancholic, reflective elements of the holiday season in artful form.
Twangy laments enamor on opening track “Back in the Doghouse on Christmas” — where the vocals depict how “my white Christmas is turning blue,” after a series of unfortunate decisions: “I got into the spirit of Christmas, filled up on eggnog and mulled wine too.” The depictions of a lonesome holiday, from a queer perspective, pairs with a melodic drive of guitars and punctuating vocals for a memorable kick-off. “Where Do Holidays Go” shows a tender folk-laden reflection, singing “some years there’s no carolers to sing,” and capturing how not every holiday season is filled with joy; it’s another heartfelt success.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” concludes the EP on a familiar, inviting note. The calming, serene rendition is faithful to Judy Garland’s original, particularly in utilizing the line “until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Merry Little Thing is a lovely EP that succeeds with a from-the-heart, seasonally approachable charm.
—
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
