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Dub Miller is a thief. Pure
and simple. All the best song writers will tell you that they
are thieves, too. And Dub Miller only takes from the best things
the Texas Music tradition has to offer. On "American Troubadour",
Dub Miller conjures up smoky honky-tonks, just south of legal
escapades, an elderly East Texas gentleman, an aging mercenary,
and undying love all with equal clarity. Dub Miller, along with
members of his Highway 6 Band and production from legend Lloyd
Maines and crew, has put together an album full of color and
vitality. In Texas, where the music world has been beset by half-hearted
album attempts as of late, Miller has set himself apart by doing
things better than the other guys. Miller realizes that when
it comes to country music nothing is new and everything old is
new again. The difference is Dub Miller wouldn't have it any
other way.
From "American Troubadour"'s
first song the listener knows what it is they're in for. With
"These Old Boots" Mr. Miller may very well be describing
his own traditional style of music. "These old boot's are
cracked and dusty, and worn out on the ends, But they've walked
with me a thousand miles and they've become my friends."
he sings. Right up front letting the world know that he intends
on carrying on the country tradition and honky tonk burdens of
his musical heroes past and present.
As if we still were not convinced "The Dancer" does
it for us again. Only better. This is the stuff Jack Ingram
is riding all the way to the bank. Miller's song of an elderly
east Texas man still dancing his life away fueled by the adoration
of all the women whose hearts he's stolen on the dance floor.
This song is ripe and ready for hot summer dance halls. By the
time the fiddles kick in you'll have taken on this southern gentleman's
philosophy for a happy life.
On "Postcards From
Paris"(written with Clay McIntosh) Miller gives us a hint
of what he can do with a sad song, and a voice that may soon
rival the Robison brothers ( Bruce and Charlie ) for communicating
pure heartache. On "End Of Story" He let's these
gifts fly, singing, "And I can't tell where my heartache
ends and your's begins. But, now darling how will our story end."
The effect might well make any Texan weep. The desperation of
the character's regret shown more in the voice than the words.
The anguish within the song betrayed more by Dub's subtle phrasing
than by the words themselves. This summer, it is likely that
many a tear will fall across Texas in time with these songs.
With tunes like "Nine
Miles North of Mason" and "Paying The Fiddler"
(co- written with Miller's Highway 6 Band guitar player Matt
Skinner) Miller sings story songs to make many of his contemporaries
quit the business altogether.
On the former Miller sings of an oil field worker who loses
his hand in an accident but refuses to give in. This song is
a beautiful daydream for every working man who has ever felt
picked upon by fate, the company they give their lives to, their
neighbors, the law, and the modern world in general. Story's
this good are usually found on Robert Earl Keen CD's. The latter
song more closely resembles the work of Mark David Manders. "Paying
The Fiddler" is the story of an aging mercenary who left
"McArthur's side." The character trading the glory
and notoriety of an American hero for the freedom and easy money
of being a soldier of hire.
Now growing old in obscurity
and realizing the fighting is finally over for him he seems to
be questioning this decision. "Do they know of all the deeds
he's done or know of the battles won. Now he's too old to fight
and know one really cares." Dub Miller sings "Of the
scars that his battered body bears" as if he carried a few
of his own. To put together an album this good at such a young
age I believe he must. Pay close attention folks. This is only
Dub's first album. There are no doubt years of great song writing
ahead.
Contact Shannon Heaton at heaton-at-rockzilla.net
Dub Miller's web site
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