After a long wait with no signs of life of any kind, Vinny Miller isset to confound the world on his debut full-length for 4AD. Signed overfive years ago and with only one song released on a 4AD compilation,Miller is the label's longest signing without a record to speak of, andOn the Blockshows exactly why. Listening to the record, I got the overwhelmingsense of someone who is looking for the sound that defines him, movingin all directions at once, and wrestling with the whole process and thevoices in his head all at the same time. There are moments when, nodoubt in my mind, he's figured it out and he's created a song thatmoves and completely crushes the soul at the same time. There are alsomoments when he's lost the plot completely, and yet I think it'simportant to him that people hear those moments more than the others sothat he can grow as an artist. Either way, it is a genuinely confusingalbum with sketches of brilliance from time to time that hint at a muchgreater work that will obliterate us all. The album opens with arecording of Vinny calling into a radio program quiz show where notsaying yes or no is the key, and the DJ's reaction to speaking withhim. Then, seamlessly, the first true song begins in "Breaking Out ofYour Arms," and it's a stunner. Just Vinny and a guitar rend absoluteheartbreak from even the staunchest joy, and he even reaches a bit toprovide some histrionics that do not disappoint. His voice is a veryfragile one on most songs, due mostly, I think, to attempts to soar outof his range, but it suits the material perfectly. The pace continueson the mellow side, but then on "Pigpen," Vinny unleashes the darkside. It doesn't seem like it at first, but in the middle of the trackhe shifts immediately from pan effects and minimal percussion to allout burn. It's delicious, and even though it seems a bit schizophrenic,my whole body shook with the force in the speakers. The more bizarremoments ruin such a brilliant progression, however, with the vocalblends and grunts of "Cromagno," destroying the momentum just beforethe calm returns. And so it goes on, with highs then lows continuing towar for control with neither fully winning. The awkward starts andstops intermingled with the annoying side tracks that go nowhere blindthe wonder of it all, and thus I'm left with the feeling that this is afine debut, too long in the making due to the artist's confusion. I'mmore than inclined to give Vinny time, though, because the best momentsof this album eclipse entire catalogues of other bands.Read More
