BILL MILLER
Spirit Songs - The Best of Bill Miller (Vanguard)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Bill Miller's music is infused with the rhythms and spirituality of his Mohican heritage, but it's much more than that. Among Native artists, he makes some of the most universally accessible music available - alter-Native, as he's tagged it - joining tradition with a wide range of mainstream influences (attentive listeners won't miss the impact of Dylan and Springsteen) to forge an appealing synthesis.

This sixteen track collection draws from his entire recording career, stretching over a decade, and introduces a pair of tracks which haven't appeared on any of his six previous albums. There's plenty of his distinctive guitar style, a generous serving of his mastery of the Native flute and most of all some of the best songwriting in the business, delivered by one of the most expressive voices on the scene.

An excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with this unique folk/pop artist, and a great way for the rest of us to keep some favorite tracks close at hand, this is a release with wide appeal that should be widely heard.

Track List:

Dreams Of Wounded Knee * Praises * Faith Of A Child * Listen To Me * Ghostdance * The Sun Is Gonna Rise * Every Mountain I Climb * Reservation Road * Tumbleweed * Geronimo's Cadillac * The Art Of Survival * Wind Spirit * Never Too Far * You Are The Rain * Love Sustained * Underneath The Blue Sky

© 2004 - Shaun Dale