This makes it two in a row for David Michael Miller. His Poisons Sipped was one of last year’s surprise albums, introducing us to a songwriter, guitarist, and singer who is the whole package. Same Soil builds on that with its clear understanding of the blues, soul, and everything in between.

Throughout it all, Miller’s guitar playing is more than solid, supplying the mojo for most of the songs. His deep growl is fiercely soulful and he soars into upper registers, calling to mind the late Chris Whitley at his finest.

While working in what could loosely be called the blues, Miller covers a lot of ground. “All The Blues To You” is swampy funk. “Just Ride” shows off his patience in letting the groove control things. He and his band’s willingness to let the song grow, along with the incredible use of dynamics, is one of many aspects that make his music some of the best out there today.
Miller handles all the guitar parts perfectly. Whether swinging slide work or on-the-money rhythm, it all fits.

This article originally appeared in VG‘s February ’16 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.