Tuesday, 29 October 2019

Larry Miller - The Saint and the Sinner, album review


Resonating Return

This album, four years after Miller’s stroke put a halt to its initial recording and the normalcy of his life at that time, is a return to form in more ways than one [to state the obvious].

It is the blues through and through. From ripping it up to acoustic sensitivity, Miller plays brilliantly and is again in fine voice. Opener I Gotta Turn the Corner chugs out the most chugging blues delight imaginable, and we’re off, followed by a riff bliss with Women and the Blues. I Want My Life Back is a Gary Moore-esque lament that resonates for, again, obvious reasons though it is lyrically the blues of romantic loss.

There’s a resonator rendition of Black Oak Arkansas’ Hangman which is superb, and this is followed by the lamenting mandolin beauty of Your Tears Will Hit the Floor, a paradoxical upbeat folkblues in the way it deals with loss again – what goes up must come down.

The Outlaw Named is a sweet acoustic ballad reflecting his continuing deep Christian sensibilities; this followed by Taste My Love, an electric ballad featuring Miller playing his classic full-toned and bending lead, and penultimate track Why Don’t You Believe returns to riff with the addition of accompanying Hammond. Closer Ain’t No Love Anymore is another Moore-esque slow blues with organ also soothing the plaintive tone.

It is genuinely brilliant to see and hear this return. See other Larry Miller reviews on this blog here.


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