Member Since: 19/09/2006
Band Website: milesnielsen.com
Band Members: Miles Nielsen- Voice/Guitars
Daniel James McMahon- Electric Guitars/Voice
Andrew Scarpaci- Electric/Upright Bass
Micky Rosenquist- Big Drums
Charles Koltak- Little Drums/Percussion
Daxx X Nielsen- Medium Drums
Hayward Williams- Guitars/Voice
Barton Bishoff- Guitars
Influences: The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, Otis Redding, Modern Day Street Noise, the Jayhawks, Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Robert Johnson
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Absolute Power Pop Review:
Miles Nielsen-Miles. The debut album from this Illinois pop-rocker (and son of Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen) is an engaging treat. Nielsen describes his sound as "Beatlesque cosmic Americana", and he's hit the nail on the head as these tunes are melodic, trippy and rootsy - often at the same time. Listen to "A Festival", the shambolic and charming opening track, and you'll be sucked in. "Gravity Girl" is another winner, sounding like what his dad's band might have been had they gone in a more countrified direction. Also of note: the bouncy "1938", "Don't You" (which reminds me of another similar rock scion, Jordan Zevon), and the sinuous rocker "Hey Hey Hey". The broad appeal of this disc should find him fans the indie and Americana crowds as well as the power poppers.
CD Baby Review:
“Beatlesque Cosmic Americana.†That is how Miles Nielsen describes his music and he is right on the money. He has a gruff and ragged voice that still manages to come across as warm and inviting. Musically, Miles uses Beatles bounce, barroom twang, and bells-n-whistles production techniques to create lush pop and folk that plays nicely against the melancholy his songs convey. It is as if Josh Rouse sang for Jellyfish in some alternate universe of goodness.
Rockford Register Star Review:
On Rockford native Miles Nielsen’s solo debut CD, “Miles,†his surly voice among melodic and poppy kaleidoscopic songs is appealing. A Beatles-esque formula with straightforward lyrics about relationships, love and life experiences can be found in this collection. “A Festival†starts off the CD with a dreamy keyboard/flute interlude that introduces Miles’ best Bob Dylan- and Tom Petty-inspired vocals. CD closer “The Crown†displays a melancholic-yet-uplifting mood.
— Kelley Simms, Rockford Register Star
Type of Label: Indie