Merriment is a collaboration between Athens, Ga.–based singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, who’ve also worked with indie rock artist Jack Logan. The Keneipps composed the music. Chesnutt wrote the words. Their performances are close in spirit to Chesnutt's own small-group recordings, where a few musical parts form the whole. The piano centers most of the songs; it gives the album a parlor-music feel, as if you'd walked in on them working out half-remembered tunes from bygone years. "Merriment" declares "Bless the idiot," and Chesnutt executes his best court-jester moves. "Sunny Pasture" hints at barroom blues and features a dark Greek chorus calling him away. "Preponderance" adds electric guitar, female vocals, and the nearest thing to a full-band blowout. "Mighty Monkey" paints a picture of a seedy carnival crew. "DNA" harks back to Brill Building pop. "Deeper Currents" has a Caribbean feel, thanks to a few bongo riffs and a campfire sing-along vibe. The entire album plays like a vacation for both parties, a casual collaboration between musical friends.