Scott Miller
Thus Always to Tyrants

Review by Steven Stone
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  When rock and roll gets too slick it loses sight of its roots and sacrifices the edge that makes it rock and roll. Perhaps that’s why so many music fans have retreated into music that’s at least 30 years old. Just because a song it has a hot electric guitar lick or two doesn't mean it's still rock and roll. Scott Miller is a young musician who understands the delicate connection between rock and rural country folk. Thus Always to Tyrants, Miller’s first solo album after the break-up of his original band, the V-Roys, transverses the diverse musical real estate found between garage grunge and neo-realist olde timey Childe ballads.

On Thus Always to Tyrants Miller is joined by his new band, The Commonwealth, who consist of Dave Grissom on guitar, Eric Fritch on keyboards, Mike Brignadello on bass, and Greg Morrow on drums. Tim O'Brien contributes fiddle on two of the more folky selections. The first, "Dear Sarah", trails off into an atmospheric rendering of the old traditional tune "Barbara Allen". The second, "Highland County Boy", is the tale of the only southern son left alive by the carnage of the Civil War. My favorite lyrical snippet from Thus Always to Tyrants is undoubtedly "This beer is colder than the shoulder you would give me if I were to tell you the truth" from the rocker "I Won't Go With You". Whoa baby. All the songs save one on Thus Always to Tyrants are originals. For a change of pace Scott shreds the 60's bubblegum classic Paul Revere and the Raider's "Miracle Man", churning it up in a modern acid bath.

If you are in the mood for some new music that kicks some serious butt and still has a sense of history, Scott Miller has just the thing for you.

Enjoyment: 90

Sound Quality: 85