Album Review: Gus Miller, Self-Titled EP

Gus Miller has been sharing the stage with some big names and has forged a credible path as the singer for Light Horse Harry. Critics have tossed out the cosmic cowboy comparisons like Gram Parsons and Jerry Jeff Walker. Yet listening to this four-song self-titled collection one would think he's a relative of the late J.J. Cale mixed with a healthy dose of country icons. 

Miller shows a slightly different side of himself with each track as "Perfect Fool" is the closest he gets to the likes of Willie Nelson and Buck Owens. The toe-tapper rumbles along thanks to the fine brushing by drummer Shane Gordon and some solid electric guitar work by Roger Sollenerger. Meanwhile the other bookend of this release is the ambling "Roll Right On" that is as breezy as anything you'll hear in 2020.

The singer co-produced the EP with Paul Martinez and it made for a strong combination on each song. This is particularly true on "Party Tonight" which oozes Western swing over its three minutes without going overboard. And the crawling "Midnight Wind" sounds as if it was cut after a night out on the town. Overall it's a well-crafted, honest honky tonk stroll.

Gus Miller EP was released November 13, 2020.
Listen to it here.