ARTiST: Chris Mills
ALBUM: Living In The Aftermath
BiTRATE: 188kbps avg
QUALiTY: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.97 Final / -V2 --vbr-new / 44.100Khz
LABEL: Ernest Jenning Record Co.
GENRE: Rock
SiZE: 45.60 megs
PLAYTiME: 0h 31min 41sec total
RiP DATE: 2008-04-29
STORE DATE: 2008-04-22
Track List:
--------
01. Calling All Comrades 2:44
02. Living In The Aftermath 3:18
03. Nightmare at 20000 Feet 3:41
04. Untitled No. 1 2:59
05. Such A Beautiful Thing 4:08
06. Blackbirds 3:36
07. Atom Smashers 2:29
08. I Guess This Is Why (They 3:03
Invented Goodbye)
09. All's Well That Ends 3:46
10. Can't Believe 1:57
Release Notes:
--------
I donÆt know if you will love Chris Mills just because I do. There tends to be
lots of apprehension when presented with music that almost-kinda-sorta sounds
like Top-40 country. Once a southern accent presents itself, the majority of us
are done; weÆve moved on to something more ôintelligent.ö ôI bet heÆs gonna
start preaching about the æhealing effectsÆ of MakerÆs Mark,ö is our sceneÆs
usual response to this genre. Contrary to popular belief, not all country/folk
music reeks of idiocy. Some famous (and nameless) people are ruining it for guys
like Chris Mills. He succeeds at being witty, half-serious and provocative all
at once while, sigh, others are trying to stick boots up our asses. Well, think
of Living in the Aftermath as a little dose of hope. ItÆs a country-tinged look
at lifeÆs little quirks. And, yes, itÆs wonderful.
Chris Mills fights stagnant songwriting with a mighty will. ôCalling All
Comradesö rouses with parlor piano and triumphant horns while ôLiving in the
Aftermathö sits on a barstool with its banjo melodies and soulful organs.
ôNightmare At 20,000 Feetö jerks at our hearts with an agonizing performance by
Mills and a far-off slide guitar. He sings with conviction here: "ThereÆs
something out there on the wing / Face full of sparks and flashing teeth / I
think itÆs trying to bring us down / Am I the only one who sees whatÆs
happening?ö On Living in the Aftermath, every imaginable genre subset of
ôsouthernö music - from blues to folk to alt-country to retro rock û appears in
a convincing manner. ThereÆs a special respect here to the forbearers of such
rich musical traditions. Mills might not carry a bright torch, but his smooth
voice should have no trouble finding willing disciples.
ôAtom Smashersö actually, somehow, makes being politically aware fun. Layers of
horns, piano and acoustic foot-tapping guitar jive along as Mills spins his best
lyrics throughout. (ôGive my regards to the suicide bomber / The patriot actor
and the trust fund folksinger / Give my best to the corporate rock soldier / And
the Gitmo softball team.ö) I almost (read: still donÆt) feel like getting
involved in something, but I have a hunch Mr. Mills would be just fine if I
headed down to my local watering hole and debated oil prices with olÆ One-Tooth
Gerald at the end of the bar. See, Mills balances the heartfelt (ôCanÆt
Believeö) and the absurd (ôUntitled No.1ö) with wondrous ease. Each time Living
in the Aftermath seems a bit too bleak or a bit too ôHey! I care!ö, a new horn
crescendo hits or a fiddle shuffles me right back into ôblissful ignoranceö
mode. Mills is right, though, weÆve got a lot to work on. However, he was even
more right when he decided we could fix this screwy place with a little love,
music and sincerity. Sounds like something I can really get behind.