Artist: Jerry Miller
Album: New Road Under My Wheels
Bitrate: 234kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Signature Sounds
Genre: Country
Size: 64.36 megs
PlayTime: 0h 36min 33sec total
Rip Date: 2013-06-22
Store Date: 2013-00-00
Track List:
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01. Travis Express 2:12
02. IÆve Got A New Road Under My 3:57
Wheels
03. Detour 2:58
04. Round æem Up 2:23
05. Eight More Miles To Louisville 2:24
06. What A Little Moonlight Can Do 4:25
07. Steuben Street Blues 4:07
08. Moon FallinÆ 3:33
09. Brother Drop Dead 2:40
10. Poor Ellen Smith 2:05
11. Slaughter On Roosevelt 3:40
Boulevard
12. The End Of The Line 2:09
Release Notes:
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While he may not exactly be a household name, Jerry Miller is certainly a master
who has earned his chops on his beloved instrument: the guitar.
Such mastery is clearly on display on his Signature Sounds label debut, New Road
Under My Wheels. As the title would implyùalong with song titles such as
ôDetourö, ôEight More Miles to Louisvilleö, ôSlaughter on Roosevelt Boulevardö,
and many, many moreùthis is a record geared towards the open road. That is, the
open road travelled by a DeLorean headed back to the honky tonks of 1955. What
New Road Under My Wheels does, and does quite skillfully I may add, is merge
styles such as rockabilly, western swing and surf rock into one mixture. And,
boy, does this record ever appeal as a result.
It may just be that Miller isnÆt much of a singer, so he farms out all the vocal
duties on this mix of mostly covers but a few originals to ôguest vocalistsö
such as Miss Tess (also a new act on the Signature Sounds label), Eilen Jewell,
Roy Sludge and Eric Royer. The mix of different vocalists playing against
different styles of music makes for a disc that is never boring. And then
thereÆs MillerÆs fretwork: flashy, but never show-offy; virtuoso-like, but never
indulgent. WhatÆs more, given that this is mostly a covers album, some of the
material would be a bit on the corny side given the old timey genres being deep
mined. But hereÆs the thing: Miller plays everything with the sincerest
conviction, while keeping his singers delivering their words firmly with their
tongues in cheek. That makes a song about relationship strife such as ôBrother
Drop Deadö willfully funny and dearly serious, even reverential, in the same
breath. ThatÆs a tough feat to pull off.
All in all, I canÆt think of the single greatest superlative one could throw at
this record: is it breathtaking, monumental, astounding? All three? More? IÆm
speechless. I suppose it is extremely high praise (and maybe high enough) to say
you can put on this disc and immediately be transported into a good mood no
matter how low youÆre feeling. It really turns out that New Road Under My Wheels
is that rarity of a gem: itÆs an instant classic. And it is utterly flawless. I
heart this album, and think itÆs clearly the best thing put out by anyone yet
all year. This is, quite simply and undeniably, the work of somebody who is a
genius at what they do, and the album is utter perfection from beginning to ôThe
End of the Lineö, the final track. God bless Jerry Miller; I canÆt be more
effusive as to how wonderful New Road Under My Wheels is, so I think itÆs best
if I just quietened down now so I can listen to this extremely crowd-pleasing
record all over again. And again. And again. And once more, for good measure.
And then maybe once more after that ... .