Upside Downside

Amazon.com
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, native Scott Miller first gained attention as part of Knoxville roots-rockers the V-Roys, who briefly recorded for Steve Earle's E-Squared label. On Upside Downside, the follow-up to his 200l solo studio debut Thus Always to Tyrants, Miller once again acquits himself admirably as a quintessential heartland rocker and the closest thing the "Old Dominion" has to its very own Earle or John Mellencamp. Backed by his crackerjack band, the Commonwealth, Miller delivers a superb mix of blistering, often Virginia-specific rockers ("Raised by the Graves") and acoustic, country-tinged forays ("Amtrak Crescent" and "Ciderville Saturday Night," both featuring newgrass master Tim O’Brien on mandolin), tempering each with sobering self-realization, hard-fought wisdom, and self-effacing humor. A fine groove-driven instrumental called "Chill, Relax, Now" and a couple of frenetic, humorous rockers, including "It Didn't Take Too Long," add to the fun. --Bob Allen

Upside Downside,Scott Miller & the Commonwealth,Scott Miller and the Commonwealth,Sugarhill [Country],Alternative Country-Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Americana,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Roots Rock,Singer/Songwriter,United States of America

Upside Downside

Average customer rating:

GREAT RECORD!
Awesome
top-notch album
I'm Blown Away!
Variety is good.

Upside Downside
Scott Miller & the Commonwealth , and Scott Miller and the Commonwealth
Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Thus Always to Tyrants
Citation
Are You Through Yet?
All About Town
Reconstruction

ASIN: B00009KUB2
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

It Didn't Take Too Long
Raised By The Graves
The Way
Pull Your Load
Second Chance
Chill, Relax, Now
Amtrak Crescent
Angels Dwell
Ciderville Saturday Night
I've Got A Plan
Red Ball Express
For Jack Tymon

Amazon.com

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, native Scott Miller first gained attention as part of Knoxville roots-rockers the V-Roys, who briefly recorded for Steve Earle's E-Squared label. On Upside Downside, the follow-up to his 200l solo studio debut Thus Always to Tyrants, Miller once again acquits himself admirably as a quintessential heartland rocker and the closest thing the "Old Dominion" has to its very own Earle or John Mellencamp. Backed by his crackerjack band, the Commonwealth, Miller delivers a superb mix of blistering, often Virginia-specific rockers ("Raised by the Graves") and acoustic, country-tinged forays ("Amtrak Crescent" and "Ciderville Saturday Night," both featuring newgrass master Tim O'Brien on mandolin), tempering each with sobering self-realization, hard-fought wisdom, and self-effacing humor. A fine groove-driven instrumental called "Chill, Relax, Now" and a couple of frenetic, humorous rockers, including "It Didn't Take Too Long," add to the fun. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews:

GREAT RECORD!.......2007-04-12

Great album from Mr. Miller. Don't miss a chance to see him live. Also, check out his other disks. They are all fantastic. Folk, rock, blues, country and more. Scott Miller does it all with wry style and a begrudging hopefulness that everything might turn out ok in the end. One of the best lyricists working in rock'n roll today.

Awesome.......2006-02-10

Mr. Miller and crew deliver the best release of 2003. Period. Scott is a wonderful songwriter and has a way of giving the listener an image for each song that resonates on many levels.

top-notch album.......2004-09-07

scott keeps getting better and better. from his college days when even his commentary on frat boys and bowheads was inspired and musically excellent, his lyrics, phrasing and guitar playing keep improving with every effort. looking forward to the next one!

I'm Blown Away!.......2004-04-28

What an album. I've listened to Scott Miller since he was with the V-Roys, a very good short lived band you should check out if you haven't, and I was blown away by what a great album this is. At a Christmas party, we put this CD on and listened to it. And after it was finished, we hit play again. A great album that I can't say enough about.

Variety is good........2004-03-10

Miller seems to be all over the place, but if you followed his former band the V-roys this shouldn't suprise. They've touched on folk, country, rock, and bluegrass on their first two albums. I talked to Scott Miller at a show in Birmingham, AL (where he said during a show, "ain't no ham like the Birmingham" which he re-inforces on the new disk; sorry i digress) a few years back and asked him if he considered himself in the same genre as Son Volt, Whiskeytown, Jayhawks, Wilco, etc. He responded, "never heard of them." And that brings me full circle to my point. While he has the rootrocks sound, it's not the music's purpose. He blends his roots to combine a sound that brings out what he and the Commonwealth see as "good music." Don't put a label on this CD and just know that you will be hit from all directions, with various sounds. And this has what I seem to be rarely able to find, heart.

Average customer rating:

Axeman
take notice!
Nice work, Mike!
loose & tight - excellent
Outstanding performance

Upside Downside
Mike Stern
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Between the Lines
Is What It Is
Give and Take
Jigsaw
Time in Place

ASIN: B000002IJD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Upside Down
Little Shoes
Goodbye Again
Mood Swings
After You
Scuffle

Customer Reviews:

Axeman.......2007-07-23

Mike Stern has a long resume as a session axeman with some mean licks. There are some technically fantastic tracks on this album, but only one stands out for me, Mood Swings, with Jaco Pastorius on bass - enough said. However, there are no BAD tracks here.

take notice!.......2005-10-12

Stern was known for his work in the late seventies with Blood, Sweat and Tears and a brief tenure in the Miles Davis in the early eighties.

It was this album that really displayed the full scope of his talents. As pal Brecker put it, "Sten is a prolific composer." This album really displays his talents as both a composer and player as well as any.

While the running time is a bit short, but there's a lot to like here. Stern's guitar sings on the ballads, and is smoking hot on numbers like Scuffle.

I find this a more consistently powerful disc than some of his later releases...

Shawn

Nice work, Mike!.......2002-04-14

Mike Stern's debute isn't very long but still great. Scuffle is
one of Mike's best songs ever and guitarsolo is absolute tuff. Ballad's (Goodbye again and After you) aren't so wonderful but
other songs are just great, expecially Scuffle!

loose & tight - excellent.......2002-03-26

This is Stern's debut solo outing and it finds him in excellent company with fellow fusion guitarist Hiram Bullock at the producers chair. The compositions are interesting and varied. The individual performaces are very good and the album sounds like a tight band. Stern's amazing solo on the Jeff Andrews (bass) composition "Little Shoes" alone is worth the price of admission. I find Stern's overdrive tones more organic - sweeter - here than on his newer work. Highly recommended.

Outstanding performance.......1999-10-08

In my opinion this and "Between the Lines" are Mike's best works. Maybe I'm biased since Dave Weckl plays on both of them. This album is filled with beautiful music that anyone can appreciate.

I've had this on cassette for years and just had to have it on CD. Mike displays his talent with super clean and very dirty guitar playing that any Stern fan, or music fan, will enjoy.

Tracks:

Soupy Sidewalk
Summer Day Dream
First Time to New Orleans
Oakland Airport Runway
I Forgot My Wallet

Customer Reviews:

Genius.......2003-12-23

This album feels like a glimpse inside the mind and soul of someone who is part stranger, part friend, and part mirror. Imaginary Johnny combines music with sensitive vocals and thoughtful lyrics to gently illustrate moments and emotions that seem strangely familiar. Every track is sing-along-able, and there is no low spot to the album. "I Forgot My Wallet" is my personal favorite track. The repeated, impassioned declaration of "I don't ever want to need anyone that much again" is a serious emotional punch. Basically, this is genius. I am excitedly awaiting his next effort. I enjoyed this CD the first time I heard it, and it only gets better and better with further listening. It has quickly become one of my all-time favorites, and I absolutely recommend it. Buy this CD; you will not regret it.

Best $ ever spent.......2003-08-27

I am pretty careful with my money, seeing as how $ is an hour of work at my mundane job, but I have never been happier with my spending. Imaginary Johnny combines lyrics that pour out true emotion with beats that keep your head nodding. The music is different from anything I have heard before, but there is something familiar about it all. I have no doubts that anyone who likes music, will love this.

New and improved.......2003-08-27

I am constantly keeping my ears open for new, fresh, good music, and this is a gem. It is music that means something, brings out emotion, and the lyrics convey true feeling to the listener. This CD arrived at my house almost two weeks ago, and it has yet to come out of my player. I hear something new every time I listen to a song, and I love it. I hope that Imaginary Johnny is in actuality a real being, because I want more.

New Music Brings a Breath of Fresh Air.......2003-08-05

Great musicians are getting harder to find, especially the ones that can create the whole package themselves. This CD brings together the sounds of independant rock, studio beats, and Lennonesque vocals, along with innovative & creative lyrics. This album is a modern showcase of classic music. Each track creates new musical atmospheres and demonstrates what true musicianship is. I highly recommend this CD to whoever enjoys fresh new artists and their musical ideas.

New Music Brings a Breath of Fresh Air.......2003-08-05