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.


No comments:

Post a Comment