e_burrell's Full Review: Upside Downside by Scott Miller & The Commwealth
Know this now - Scott Miller & The Commonwealth can cook. Seemingly out of nowhere, "Upside Downside" has burned a big fat hole right through my brain and made a singed, lasting impression. Miller's charm, ability and charisma shine like a beacon throughout every song and the incredible tightness of his band, The Commonwealth, rivals that of Crazyhorse and well, The Band. You'll also find Patty Griffin on a number of tunes doing her best Emmy Lou to Miller's Gram - and it all works swimmingly (especially on tunes like "The Way" - one of the best of 2003).
Check out the rollicking "Pull Your Load" which Miller wrote after his freshman year of college - it's short and sweet - the kind of song that makes you wanna dance around with an idiot's grin for two minutes before looking around sheepishly to see if anyone's noticed.
So, by the way, Miller and The Commonwealth manage to mix country, blues, rock and bluegrass into one sweet slice of Americana pie - and I'm talking about the homemade stuff that just came out the oven, not that processed Mrs. Smith's junk... there's more to that last statement by the way... a deeper correlation.
In the liner notes next to "Chill, Relax, Now", Miller writes "Booker T. Jones and Neil Young share the same birthday, which is also the day we recorded this. I thought that was a good omen." Indeed it was Scott, and you've just summed up the entire album in that very cool statement. "Chill, Relax, Now" is a great one to play on that sweet summer day by the BBQ with a tall glass of iced tea in your hands.
"Amtrak Crescent" is a traveling song and probably some of the best country rock I've heard in a very long time. It repeats the simple-yet-true ideal that when "Life goes wrong / It just drags on." Also, for goodness sakes, note Tim O'Brien's stellar mandolin solos. Yes, that's right, Tim O'Brien from the now-defunct bluegrass group Hotrize - and might I mention he's also the songwriter of one of the greatest songs of the 20th Century? ("Walk The Way The Wind Blows")
Scott Miller must be a U2 fan. The chord progression and general mood of "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" matches perfectly with his "Angels Dwell". Even with the similarities, this acoustic beauty is worth a good listen.
Tim O'Brien graces us with another scorching performance on "Ciderville Saturday Night", and his dueling jam-session with Miller in an arrangement of the traditional "Nine Pound Hammer" is jaw dropping. Awesome is the word I'm looking for, and you'll find yourself pushing the 'back' button for a second dose of acoustic fury.
The transition from the bluegrass extravaganza that is "Ciderville Saturday Night" to the introspectively delicious "I've Got A Plan" is impressively subtle. The range of Miller & The Commonwealth is so inspiring it makes me want to throw down my headphones and pick up all my instruments at once and play until my fingers and lips fall off my body.
"Red Ball Express" is a nice storyteller - an acoustic throwback to the past with a graceful touch of accordian. It's followed by the Dylanesque "For Jack Tymon".
A while back Ryan Adams got drunk and posted on his website that he'd given up the business and was going to stop making music. It was all a sham, and a transparent ploy most likely motivated by his unfulfilled raging ego. Ryan, I love you guy - but let me be the first to kick you out the front door - Scott Miller & The Commonwealth are the new kings of alternative country. Long live the kings.
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