Release Date: JUly 2003
Website: www.michaelmillercrusade.com
Michael Miller
- When We Come To
Matthew Ralph
Often when reading reviews of singer/songwriter types, there is a
commentary about the artist's honesty. "So-and-so wears his heart on
his sleeve," might be written. But isn't that sort of the point of a
solo artist? To be down-to-earth, and connect with listeners in a way
that a band isn't able.
Whether or not it's simply adhering to the nature of the beast, Michael
Miller is going for that vibe — one of the sketches on the CD case is
of a man wearing his heart on his sleeve. There's a series of sketches
inside the liner notes as well, each playing somewhat comically off of
the themes Miller explores rather seriously in song.
From the onset, we hear his soothing voice sing the words, "for so long
I've been shivering in fear....so what I'm smothered in tears" on
"Lover I Know." Quickly though it becomes obvious that this isn't a
helpless attempt at a songwriter trying to sound important or
intelligent. The songs are airy, head in the clouds kind of stuff that
are arranged succinctly with piano, cello, drums, even accordion at
parts, and the all important croon of Miller.
More than one reviewer has thrown out the word sparse in describing
Miller's sound and others have rested on that always ambiguous
Radiohead comparison in the voice category (not to mention the
obligatory Beatles and Paul McCartney references). But I prefer the
word organic in describing his sound because sparse almost seems to
suggest that maybe something is missing, which is surely not the case.
Sure, a song like "Naked Prayer" features just light strumming of an
acoustic and his voice, but the title of the song alone suggests that
it's an appropriate choice. Words like "everyone's the same just like
me they're all ugly in the dark" just wouldn't seem appropriate anyway
else, but the careful addition of instruments gives the sound variety
and keeps the listener draped in sound, even if it is way more "sparse"
than the latest chart topper.
Need another example? Check out "This Life," a beautiful lullaby to
anyone who's fallen down and had trouble getting back up, in other
words all of us. "This life shouldn't be this hard, but it is this life
I'm just trying to live and learn sometimes I do give in to the
yearning and when I get hurt I try to forgive," is sung over a tranquil
piano and slight percussion that would lose its charm with a thicker
presentation.
To put it simply, When We Come To is a blanket, comforting and
protecting the listener as it goes, proving in the end what good albums
do — that it's worth their time and effort. And it does this with a
maturity and aesthetic unmatched by many of this Southern California
songwriter's peers who hopelessly try to market their less than stellar
wears to the honest music listeners who quickly see through the facade.
posted 09.20.03
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Matt Ralph has bags full of bad CD's. Add to his collection at matt@tangzine.com
2002 White Elephant
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