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Raven in the Snow

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Raven in the Snow
Studio album by
Bill Miller
Released1995
LabelReprise[1]
ProducerRichard Bennett
Bill Miller chronology
The Red Road
(1993) 		Raven in the Snow
(1995) 		Native Suite: Chants, Dances, and the Sacred Earth
(1996)

Raven in the Snow is an album by the Native American musician Bill Miller, released in 1995.[2][3] The first two singles were "River of Time" and the title track.[4][5] Miller supported the album by opening shows for the BoDeans and then Tish Hinojosa.[6][7]

Production

[edit]

Produced by Richard Bennett, the album was recorded in Nashville.[8][9] "In Every Corner of the Forest" is a three-part instrumental that was inspired by a Mike Watt/Eddie Vedder show; much of the rest of the album was influenced by the Byrds and Richie Havens.[10][11][12] Miller played flute on Raven in the Snow, and was supported by an electric band on most of the songs.[13][14] Miller wrote many of the songs with members of his backing band.[15] Miller chose the album's rock sound in part due to commercial considerations.[16]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[18]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[8]
USA Today[19]

USA Today called the "rocking" Raven in the Snow "one of the most powerful and poetic releases of the year."[19] The Vancouver Sun wrote: "From Dylan-esque harp leads to crunching, spellbinding backbeats, Miller combines the best of all worlds to come up with straightforward folk-rock with a little something extra."[9] City Pages considered the album "an uncategorizable mix of smart Triple-A pop and meditative tribal rhythms, with strong echoes of Dylan's best '70s stuff."[20]

The Record labeled the album "a multi-faceted musical masterpiece," writing that the songs "are fresh and crackle with fine, crisp musicianship."[21] The Plain Dealer determined that Miller's music "isn't prefabricated and delves into important and uncomfortable themes concerning America's treatment of its native people."[22] The Mercury News listed Raven in the Snow among the best albums of 1995.[23]

AllMusic deemed "River of Time" "a harmonica-driven, midtempo rocker that compares favorably with the music of artists like Peter Himmelman."[17]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."River of Time" 
2."Brave Heart" 
3."In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 1)" 
4."Listen to Me" 
5."Red Bird, Yellow Sun" 
6."After the Storm" 
7."Raven in the Snow" 
8."Pile of Stones" 
9."In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 2)" 
10."The Final Word" 
11."Eagle Must Fly Free" 
12."This Kind of Love" 
13."In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 3)" 

References

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  1. ^ Harris, Paul A. (10 Nov 1995). "Recordings". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
  2. ^ Prince, David (18 Aug 1995). "Two Concerts Set for Red Nation Celebration". Pasatiempo. The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 50.
  3. ^ Orr, Jay (29 Sep 1995). "New stuff". Nashville Banner. p. C1.
  4. ^ Stillman, Pamela (7 Dec 1995). "The Raven in the Snow,' Bill Miller, finds success". Indian Country Today. p. C1.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (Feb 24, 1996). "Singles — Raven in the Snow, a single by Bill Miller". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 8. p. 88.
  6. ^ Alesia, Tom (23 Nov 1995). "BoDeans Still Rocking on Brink of Stardom". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 6.
  7. ^ Boehm, Mike (10 June 1996). "Singer-Writer Trying to Get the Words Out". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  8. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 516.
  9. ^ a b Monk, Katherine (2 Nov 1995). "Bill Miller Raven In The Snow". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  10. ^ Terrell, Steve (17 Nov 1995). "Terrell's Tune-Up". Pasatiempo. The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 34.
  11. ^ Richardson, Ken (Apr 1996). "Raven in the Snow". Stereo Review. Vol. 61, no. 4. p. 86.
  12. ^ Tianen, Dave (24 Nov 1995). "Roots Rocker Opening for BoDeans". Cue. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 14.
  13. ^ Redmond, Mike (1 Dec 1995). "Indian spirit imbues Bill Miller's music". The Indianapolis Star. p. E3.
  14. ^ Howell, Dave (5 Apr 1996). "Blowing in the 'Wind': Native-American Expresses Heritage with the Flute". The Morning Call. p. D12.
  15. ^ Wright-McLeod, Brian (1 Dec 1996). "Top marks for latest endeavor from Miller". Windspeaker. 14 (8): 20.
  16. ^ Logan, Neill (24 Jan 1997). "Vital voice is silent no more". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 31.
  17. ^ a b "Bill Miller Raven in the Snow". AllMusic.
  18. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 759.
  19. ^ a b Zimmerman, David (26 Sep 1995). "Miller's 'Raven' rocks with poetry". USA Today. p. 6D.
  20. ^ "Country-Fried". Music Notes. City Pages. April 10, 1996.
  21. ^ Johnson, Steven C. (November 19, 1995). "Music Reviews". Books & Music. The Record. p. 15.
  22. ^ Fulmer, Douglas (April 3, 1996). "Miller's Music Reflects Self, Culture". The Plain Dealer. p. 8E.
  23. ^ "Skimming the Cream Off the Best Pop of 1995". The Mercury News. December 27, 1995. p. 1E.
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