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Other Scott Miller
Albums Reviewed
"Upside/Downside"
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You are currently reading the review for:
Scott Miller & the Commonwealth
"Thus Always to Tyrants" |
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Scott Miller & The Commonwealth-
"Thus Always to Tyrants"
Must Hear Track:
Track 7 “Highland County Boy”
Trashville Track:
Sadly, there really are no positively Nashville tracks.
Although some are inherently weak such as Track 10
“Daddy raised a boy”
Caiti’s Pick(s):
Track 2 “I made a mess of this town” and Track 5 “Yes I
won’t”
Dad’s Pick:
Track 4 “Won’t go with you”
Anyone who inscribes Latin on to his or her CD is
magnificent in my book. Scott Miller and the
Commonwealth’s album “Thus Always to Tyrants” is an
out-standing and successful mix of alt country,
traditional, and straight out rock to make the CD
appealing to listeners who don’t even listen to
country, Texas, Nashville or any other kind. This is a
release for fans of pure music.
This wasn’t a simple buy. We saw Scott and the
Commonwealth in Helotes, Texas at the first annual Jack
Fest. I was thoroughly impressed and made certain plans
to use this very artist to transfer some of my comrades
to the dark side of country. Dad, on the other hand,
found that Miller rocked a bit too hard and had too
much edge to be included in the reference library of
the loft. On a whim, I found myself searching for “Thus
Always to Tyrants” on E-Bay. One copy, and it was in
Toronto, Canada. After money orders, shipping problems
and reports to E-Bay, I had the CD in the deck of the
Celica.
I fell in love with it immediately. Anyone who has a
love for music, life, alcohol, or history must
appreciate this album. When we saw Miller at Floore’s,
he was extremely cocky and didn’t appeal to me much as
a person. I now see the reason for his arrogance, he
has exceptional writing talent, an amazingly clear
voice, youthful insight, and a witty quality all his
own.
The album opens with the driving anthem “Across the
Line”. If all Yankees were this fun, and this talented,
we would all get along famously. The first four tracks
of the album are solid and original. Track 2 “I made a
mess of this town” is des-tined to become every small
town native’s anthem. Coming from a small town like Van
Alstyne, I can relate (“And all the girls on the
block/well, you know how girls talk”). The slow
electric guitar of Track 3 “Loving that Girl” and the
astounding lyrics of the song made it an instant
favorite of mine. Surprisingly, Dad found Track 4 to be
his favorite of the album. We had all first heard the
song on Jack Ingram’s “Electric” album, and I’m proud
to report that Scott does the better job. “Won’t go
with her” proves to be a fun and witty sing-a-long that
everyone relates to. Being a drummer myself, I felt a
bond with Track 5 “Yes I won’t”; the song has a
sweeping and engaging beat with equally interesting
lyrics (“Because every lie’s a mine you lay, better
remember where it’s placed/and if I don’t say nothing,
at least that’s the truth on something”). Into
Track 6 and 7, the album seems to take a dramatic
shift. “Dear Sarah” and ‘Highland County Boy” are both
traditional and historical themed songs. Both melodies
give Miller an opportunity to showcase his impressive
vocals, and each is worth listening to. And like
traditional poetry, “Thus Always to Tyrants” takes
another turn with Track 8 “Absolu-tion” which is by far
the hardest track of the album. After this, the album
takes a turn for a dull commonality that the previous
tracks would not allude to. It narrowly saves the
quality with the angry paean “Goddamn the Sun” and the
piano hymn “Is there room on the cross for me”.
Scott Miller and the Commonwealth does a hellacious job
of mixing funk, country, blue grass, and rock on one
album. Count on seeing more of this talented writer and
songster in years to come.
Final Grade (Scale 1-10): 9.1
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