Music Review: Hannah Miller, Hannah Miller

By Tyler Hodg

Nashville folk-pop singer Hannah Miller has returned with a self-titled album and this time she is channeling a darker, edgier side. This is her third full-length album, and Miller has developed a more mature sound, not that her earlier work was exactly child’s play. The ten new songs (plus an alternate version of an already included track) featured on the album are equally as impressive as her previous efforts, if not better.

From the first song, “Help Me Out,” to the last song, “You Will Stay With Me,” the album has an incredible sense of cohesiveness. There isn’t a single track that seems out of place, which is extremely refreshing. With some pop artists, certain songs are produced differently to stand out and seem more attractive, but that isn’t the case with Hannah Miller. Nothing gets the special treatment and each song is treated with as much respect as its predecessor.

Although most of the songs on the album play it fairly safe, there are a few that break the general mold, with “Been Around” and “Soothed” being two of them. Arguably the most badass song on the record, “Been Around” stands out with the help of a groovy organ line and some powerfully distorted guitars, while “Soothed” is the complete opposite: a mellow, melancholy track with an almost haunting feel. Interestingly enough, the songs are placed one after the other which leads to a perfect contrast of styles.

One of the most charming characteristics of Hannah Miller’s music is her soothing and sultry voice. It stands above almost every other aspect of the album, second only to the songwriting. Her vocals never really break through, but sometimes certain styles of music don’t call for that. In fact, Miller’s vocals are a perfect fit for her songs and the lack of volume in her singing serves to benefit the songs and make them special.

Is Hannah Miller the most original artist out there? No. But her music is easy to listen to and honestly, it’s hard to find any negative aspects about it. Between the simple, yet striking cover art (a head shot of Miller in front of a white background), her vocal ability, and the actual songs themselves, Hannah Miller is an album that’s definitely worth checking out.

Hannah Miller was self-released on May 5.