What do you get when you cross one broken-heart with a chance encounter of an old teammate? Answer: the rock-infused, Americana quartet known as the Miles Maxwell Band.
After having left his music behind for a decade, lead singer-songwriter-guitarist, Miles Baltrusaitis, went on an unexpected 9-song writing spree as the result of an ill-timed middle-aged break-up.
Wanting to put a band together in order to bring the songs to life, Miles—as fate would have it—serendipitously bumped into former college football teammate—and drummer—Matt Stankiewicz, and his keyboardist brother, Dan Stankiewicz; as well as meeting bassist, Steve Kingwell, through a mutual acquaintance. And like that… MMB was born.
Recorded in Miles’s home studio in the Chicagoland area, their debut album, Red Ghost, offers those nine tracks of love, loss, hopes and dreams, with a wisely familiar and accessible sound.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Listening to the lovely album opener, Snapdragon, I was flushed with a multitude of influences—from multiple genres of multiple time-periods—such as: Storyhill, Bob Seger, Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, Jack Johnson and more. The piano melody feels warm and aged as Miles’ timbre paints a deliciously melancholy picture…
“Standing outside near San Jose
When I knew that I was falling in love
And not the fun kind where it all goes easy
The kind where you gotta risk
All you’ve got
For a shot…”
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
Organ, acoustic guitar, bass and drum—mixed to damn-near perfection—gives us the wonderfully composed, I Can’t Be Myself. The track is immediately accessible, and has an “instant classic” radio potential.
The bright and energetic, Jenever (in Acquia), offers a quick 2:15 of finger-picked, instrumental goodness.
Be With Me is like a light and playful shot of Jack Johnson.
Ceiling Fan sounds like that Eddie Money-esque style of late-70’s pop-rock.
Easily our second favorite track, and very much worthy of carrying the album’s name, the bluesy, Red Ghost, serves as Baltrusaitis’ final confession of the project. Dreamy, ambient electric chords and organ open this ode to the blessing—and the curse—that is our memory…
“Now I know what it means
To lose a friend
That old life don’t look so bad now
I guess I learned that in the end
There’s a red ghost
That lingers in my mind
There’s a red ghost
When it’s gone, I’ll be fine…”
IN CONCLUSION…
Hand-crafted, textbook Americana. Miles Maxwell Band’s debut album, the longtime coming, Red Ghost, is an elegant (that’s right I said elegant) and melancholy ride across what one could argue is as pure and authentic of a pop-Americana sound as anyone has conjured in recent memory.
Simple and relatable lyrics of straight-forward broken-heartedness, unite for a full nine tracks with crisp, veteran performance and production—a fine effort, particularly for a front-man who’d taken a decade off. All in all, what you get here is nine emotive, radio-ready songs with a potential to strike a soft, warm-hearted chord with future fans.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Barenaked Ladies meets Jack Johnson…
BELOW: Listen to Miles Maxwell Band’s album, Red Ghost, and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Miles Maxwell Band by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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