Record Review / Howlin’ Rain

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/6810/howlinrain-russianwilds-2011

As with anything tagged with the Ethan Miller name, warm nostalgia trumps originality. But it’s also unfair to call Howlin’ Rain a mere ’70s tribute band at this point … these guys simply exhibit too much enthusiasm to be relegated to mere also-rans in the long shadow of Miller’s previous band. The psych-blowout of Comets on Fire will be missed, but Howlin’ Rain is clearly the man’s main squeeze now, and a better use of his songwriting talents.