I heard a great CD by a local musician last night — Peter Miles' "Live Life Live," recorded live last February at Ravello Trattoria in Wilmington.
Many of you know Miles — he's part of the local scene — but I confess I've never seen him play. I'm going to make a point of seeing him because I think his album is a good one. Perhaps I'll be at the Marina in Brattleboro this Sunday, Dec. 2, where Miles will play two shows — one at 3 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. — to celebrate the release of "Live Life Live."
What I like about Miles' music is that it has a fundamental honesty and sincerity about it. There are no tricks, no gadgets, no false showiness, no studio effects. It's just Miles and his songs — and that's just fine with me. His guitar-playing is accomplished, his tenor voice is pleasant to listen to and quite versatile, his original songs are sincere and well-wrought, particuarly the lyrics. In all, it's a CD which has a lot to say and says it in a very that's very pleasing and has integrity.
The CD contains 10 originals and two covers. My own favorites are Track 6 "Learning to Respect the Movement of Love" and Track 9 "The Truth is Enough." No doubt, you'll have yours. The covers offer a look at Miles' talent filtered through other peoples' songs, and that's pretty revealing. He does a fine job with "Change the World," made famous by Eric Clapton, and the Beatles tune "Mother Nature's Son."
This is a CD which has earned my respect and a place in the rotation on my CD player.