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Never have I discovered a CD more appropriately titled than "Live 'N' Loud", the latest release from the UK based blues/rock guitarist Larry Miller. The CD is
definitely a live recording, and I assure you that I have played it extremely loudly since receiving it a few weeks back. Miller is a brash and fiery guitarist who reminds me
somewhat of Alvin Lee, though Lee's style is much more all over the board than is Miller's, who does not stray far from power rock with a blues flavoring on this set. He is a
respectable singer, good songwriter, has an excellent rhythm section in Andy Aust on drums and Mel Waters on bass, but most of that gets overshadowed due to the fact that
Miller is such an overpowering guitarist.
The set opens with the hard rocking "Stand & Deliver", which
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sounds kind of like the Georgia Satellites meet the Who. Miller follows this with "How Can A Man Resist", which I guess I would best describe as a blend of Texas blues/rock
and plutonium. A mid tempo boogie "Daddy's Car" is next, which really showcases Miller's intensity and power. My favorite track on the set "99 Or More" follows which is just good
old power packed, high energy, fat with feedback, hide the wife and kids in the cellar until the storm passes, sledgehammer blues/rock (no wonder it's my favorite). Looking for
tender ballads and mood music? Forget it here, unless you are looking for something that will put you in the mood to drive too fast or play a lot of air guitar. But, if you are
looking for intensity, energy, and hard driving power trio blues/rock you certainly have come to the right place with this excellent recording. Actually, there are a couple of very
nice, though power packed ballads, "You're Not Hurting Me" and "Yellow Roses" included with these atomic tracks. Not pure easy listening ballads by any means, but then again, you'd
never think twice about petting a crocodile, now would you? Even Miller's "tender" side has considerable bite to it. Miller also displays some very nasty, George Thorogood type
slide guitar on "Talk To Me", which is another of my favorite tracks.
"Live 'N' Loud" is available from the fine folks at Townsend Records at www.townsend-records.co.uk or by
visiting the official Larry Miller web site at www.larry-miller.uk.com. If you are a fan of power trio type, guitar
driven blues/rock or classic rock you are certainly going to want to add this one to your collection. Not only have I done that, but I have also added the name of Larry Miller to
my list of guitar heros.
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