Search - Kris Miller :: Alive and Well

Kris Miller's "Alive and Well" is not your typical Christian album. Most praise and worship records have a contemporary bent, using modern commercial styles such as R&B, grunge, acoustic rock, and hip-hop to deliver inspirational, faith-based messages. Miller, though, takes a different approach.

Perhaps realizing that her raspy vocals are more suited for it, Miller envelopes herself with bluesy riffs that give the music an undeniable electric charge and surprising streetwise grit. It's quite shocking, really. Hearing Miller's lyrics about God and spirituality against such dark-tinged music is a thrilling and spellbinding experience.

She labels herself as Adult Contemporary, but Miller has more of an edge than that. The title track has superb guitar playing, transcendent blues rock that makes you want to pick up a Fender and an amp yourself. Miller's voice oddly recalls Neil Young's but with the quirky talk-singing of Joni Mitchell.

The '60s and '70s are definitely influences here, stylistically speaking. "Magical Ways" and "Whispers" lays down some sizzling funk while "On and On" touches on psychedelia.

Despite the genre hopping, it's obvious that the blues is the focus here, and it's never sounded as exhilarating as this. Wonderful album!