Mile is a band that many people have probably not heard of. At least not yet.
No publicity came with their debut release “Driving Under Stars” when it came out last August. It’s a shame because this band has so much promise and awesome songwriting. Mile should be selling discs left and right, but Columbia Music did a horrible job of promoting this outstanding modern rock band.
Every song on “Driving Under Stars” is crafted beautifully by the band, and could be played on the radio. The band sounds like Matchbox 20 and Vertical Horizon, but with their own niche of originality in every song.
The band formed in 1999 in Houston with lead singer Noel Hartough teaming up with drummer Stan Turner, guitarist Marlin Clark and singer/guitarist David Lareau. The band played one live show in front of Columbia Records executives, and were signed soon after. They play incredibly live, and their music sounds even better up close and personal.
Hartough was inspired to play music when he heard U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and since then, he has played and written his own music, including the entire Mile album.
Every song written by Hartough sings of past relationships, the hardships of life, new love and much more. It’s very down to earth songwriting that any listener can relate to. His crisp and bold voice makes every song on “Under the Stars” understandable and easy to sing with. On the first track, “Back to the Floor,” the band sings about life under the influence of alcohol: “You and I in a glass/the only place to be/ Back to the Floor.” This is one of the best songs on the entire CD, and really shows the listener what the band is all about.
“Perfect Ending” is the one song that has actually gotten national attention when it was played in the recent movie “Someone Like You.”
If the band would ever get popular this would be one of the songs that got them there. The song has a great guitar tune, and with Hartough’s voice in the background, this love song has a feverish and emotional feel. On the track “Someone Had to Save Me,” the band sings about being vulnerable and allowing someone else to help.
“Summer Day” is the most commercial track on the album. The sound almost reminds the listener of the rock band Semisonic, and its heavy pop influenced rock music. “Summer Day” has a catchy melody and easy listening lyrics that MTV viewers eat up.
The next song is the exact opposite of pop music; it has a 1950s style to it that is very original. This song symbolizes how great this album really is.
Mile is a newcomer band that has the talent and sound to become popular. Their music is very well written and tells a different story with each song. Their music is influenced by U2, Matchbox 20 and others, but sounds very new at the same time. Find this CD as soon as you can. It may be gone soon, and this gem may be lost forever.
