Dreaming With American Mile

Dreaming With American Mile

Bruce Von Stiers

Southern Rock and Country Rock music styles were anchored by bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. There was Pure Prairie League, the Doobie Brothers and even Commander Cody. Later, some of the styling changed a little with bands like The Black Crowes. Newer bands have taken those stylings, added bits and pieces from rock bands and even country artists.

One of these newer bands is American Mile. The band hit the ground running in 2018 with a sound that was influenced by bands such as Aerosmith and The Black Crowes. Other influences include Luke Combes, Chris Stapleton and the Brothers Osborne.

This June finds American Mile releasing their sophomore album. American Dream is the title of the album. The album has nine songs and a playtime of over forty minutes.

The members of American Mile are Eugene Rice, Joe Perez, Dezmond Saunders and Colton Miller. Eugene plays guitar and does the lead vocals. Joe plays lead guitar and does vocals. Dezmond helps out with vocals and plays bass. Colton also helps with vocals and is the band's drummer. The backing vocals are noted as having “soaring three-part harmonies.”

This new album, American Dream, was produced by Bruce Witkin and Keith Nelson. Witkin was nominated for a Grammy for the soundtrack for Sweeney Todd. Nelson had a Grammy nomination as a member of Buck Cherry for their song, Crazy Bitch.

The first song, Get On And Fly, is a rollicking good time. It has a head bopping, foot tapping beat. There is some cool country rock guitar and not too subtle keys and piano backing good vocals.

Photograph of You is a moderately paced ballad. It has him on the road, by himself, after a big blowout with her. He is regretting his decision to leave. He is “all alone except that photograph of you.” There are quite a few guys who'll be able to relate to this song. I know it brought back a memory of an incident from my distant past with a long-ago girlfriend. The band has a great music video for this song.

Waiting On A Sunday is a song that could well have been done by the Black Crowes. It is a ballad about needing to believe in something better to happen than life right now. There are some really good guitar and piano bits in the song.

The title track American Dream is about making your stake in the world. And that obtaining freedom can come at a cost with lives being lost. But we all need to pursue a better life, that American Dream, even if we aren't from the U.S.A. It is an appealing anthem for both the lyrics and the music.

Wiggle For Me is a fun, toe tapping, tune. He's asking for a woman to wiggle like a worm on a hook or shaking like a tree in the Georgia breeze. Yeah, I know it's sexist song, but it does have some good music and interesting lyrics.

Tough Living has some really good drums backing a slick Southern Rock guitar sound.

Straight From The Heartland is a nice, moderately paced ballad.

Hard Working People seems to have a funk and blues influence. In parts of the song, it made me think of Don Henley's Dirty Laundry.

The album ends with Junkies Dream. It has more of a traditional country tone. But the song has a strong message about throwing your life away due to drug use.

I wasn't familiar with American Mile before listening to American Dream. But I really liked what I heard on this album. The vocals are great, and the lyrics are solid, with both promise and angst built in. And the music has some of the best Country Rock sound I've heard in quite a while.

American Dream is set to be released on June 6th . It will be available at most major retailers and on music streaming services.

To learn more about American Mile and this new album, visit https://www.americanmilemusic.com/

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