[Music Review] Pete Miller – Hard to Find

Michael December 11, 2022 0

From his debut album Live On Record, folk singer, and guitarist Pete Miller releases his first single; Hard To Find. This fast-tempo shuffle features our baritone singer exploring the traditional rebellion melodies of yesteryear while offering a contemporary approach to the theme.

A song about finding oneself after you feel lost, this narrative is rich in imagery and metaphor while maintaining that steady pulse and syncopated swing. “You may go away, but the story will survive. You want to return, but wonder if you’ll arrive. All the greenness of life will feel so wrong. Why you doubt it, still helps you along. When you suffer, you’re out of this land.
When you came back through that door, the waves didn’t remember your feet on the shore.” As the lyrics flow from this wordsmith, the constant strum of the acoustic guitar preserves and cultivates the melody giving this song the momentum it needs to push forward and build tension.

This tension that I have alluded to is released in the final cadence of Hard to Find as Pete Miller utilizes his entire vocal range to deliver a strong finale to leave lasting memories for hours after listening. This tactic works so very well, as I have been compelled to replay this track over and over again. From a vocal approach this baritone, mid-range vocalist channeled the familiar folk sound of the sixties, yet provides just enough clarity and dynamism to make this a modern contemporary hit single.

The production on Hard To Find is very well-executed. The guitar rings crisp and clear allowing the overtones from the full chords to play out of the listening space, while not interfering with the dynamics of the vocals. Pete Miller’s voice is distortion-free, and with plenty of allotted headroom is able to be played back at high volumes, (which is recommended to really get in the vibe of this track). Hard To Find would be a perfect addition to any Adult Contemporary, Middle-Of-The-Rock, or Soft Rock commercial radio format. Its highly replayable melodies make this track soothing, yet challenging for a diverse audience. Personally, I feel Hard To Find is a surprisingly great track, it may take a couple of listens but it really does seem to get into your ears and is thoroughly entertaining. As I continue to absorb Hard To Find, I find myself very drawn to tackle the rest of the Live On Record album, as I am sure there are many additional gems to be found as well, stay tuned for more from this emerging folk artist.

Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan
Evolution Music Press