888 Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle Band (1976)

 888 Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle Band (1976)


Studio Album - Rock



About the Act:

The Steve Miller Band, not to be confused with Ed Milliband or even David Milliband, are an American rock band, from San Francisco, based around frontman and guitarist Steve Miller. They started in 1966 as a blues band, morphed into Psychedelic Rock, and in the early 70s then became more mainstream rock. The only constant member has been Mr Miller himself. The band did have Boz Scaggs for a while, who went on to have a career of his own.


About the Album:

This was the ninth studio album by the band.


My History with this Album:

None, but I know a few of the songs.


Review:

The Steve Miller band has always sat at the edge of my awareness. I know some hits, possibly knowing "Abracadabra" best, but also Rock'n Me (on this album) and The Joker. I've not really delved into the albums. The musical style is curious. it starts with "Space Intro" which is synthesiser noises, and for the first few tracks there's a sort of sci-fi theme. However, as we move through the album we have more blues influence, and a couple of the tracks are pretty straight-up blues. Nice blues. The rest, well "Rock" is the best description, there are elements of blues, of soul and even funk influence. His guitar sound is clean, in a kind of Mark Knopfler kind of way, and his singing is light, and quite airy. The last track, The Window, is very reminiscent of Abracadabra, although it predates it by quite a few years. 

I liked it, it was varied, there are some reasonably good lyrics at times, but the attraction is mostly musical for me. If you like medium rock of the radio-friendly variety, especially if you like a slice of blues alongside that, you might get on pretty well with this album. Despite the kind of slide from the sci-fi-ness (I would have respected a consistent theme) it hold together well as an album and is a good listen.


7.6/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0fjJOLqG3v7vXRYhz2wxPC

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLexoNUKqpjdbymV4a9KffEVoyBtJfWcRb

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_Like_an_Eagle_(album)


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