Same Soil is David Michael Miller's second solo album and the follow-up to last year's Poisons Sipped. The sound are the best described as "modern traditional." With it's blend of blues, gospel, and soul influences, Same Soil is really a celebration of traditional roots styles. The album opens together with the classical guitar driven riff of "All the Blues to you personally," which lays the foundation for the whole album of soulful songs with relatable themes. There is always enough familiarity to cause you to feel at home and enough twists to hold you interested however this is Same Soil's second major strength. The very first is David Michael Miller's voice. This man features a command in the human voice that few can match. Dynamically he's always right on the objective without ever sounding like he's showing. Every line seems to roll off his tongue with total and complete ease. Through the highest, most intense passages to some that are barely spoken; each melodic figure and lyric ooze soul.
David explores songs inspired by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, and Bo Diddley and others. The main riff in the hard core "Doing Me In, Doing Me Wrong" references' "Manish Boy" but needs a modern-day turn that would make Muddy proud. "Got Them Blues" is an up tempo gospel blues jam by purchasing higher than a nod to Robert Randolph. "Friend of Mine" is really a soulful blues ballad with sax and guitar work which are similar to early Tom Waits. When David's voice will come in together with the soul and savvy of Robert Cray along with a hint of Al Green, the goosebumps really start. He draws on many influences and styles, whilst still being sounds very natural try to earthy. This could could be seen as hyperbole but every track on Same Soil is often a total winner. This can be one particular rare albums that you aren't skipping around trying to find the great songs. "Just Ride" is extremely good blues rocker. "Shoes To Shine" is dynamite funk/soul number with surprising chord changes plus a great solo section using the sax and guitar trading fours.
No writeup on Same Soil can be complete point out this guitar rock band hand selected by David to take the songs your including keyboardist Jim Ehinger (Bonnie, Raitt, Albert Collins, Billy Vera as well as the Beaters), saxophonist Jason Moynihan (Buddy Guy) and drummer Carlton Campbell (with the Campbell Brothers). Everyone is giving completely but no one is "over blowing", They all play to perfectly serve the songs, David's voice as well as the rootsy production.
David Michael Miller has the potential to go anywhere and become anything within this business that they wants. He could be easily the next great blues celebrity ala Robert Cray or Bonnie Raitt. In the meantime we are able to all groove to Same Soil in the end see just what the future holds.
