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FEATURED REVIEW: Jack Miz - "Jack Miz."_____________________________RSS

By Chris Brach

Tackling any 4 person project on your own is always a major undertaking. It always takes longer then you anticipated, takes way more effort then you ever thought it would, and when the going gets tough it's never shy about providing you with the stark realization that you have bitten off more than you can chew. For most people this is where the project comes to an end and the professionals are called in to clean up the mess. But when you're chasing your dream, these challenges are all only bumps in the road to overcome. Just ask Jack Miz, the 19 year old musician from Brooklyn, New York who just got done recording his debut solo album on his own (Sans a little help on the drums). He's here to write music that he hopes you like, but if you don't like what he put together, he says that's fine too, but it won't stop him from writing more!

Through the wonders of modern recording technology, Jack Miz wrote and recorded all of the vocal, guitar, and bass work for his self titled album. No small task. As Miz eases you into the album on the opening track "Everybody Dies," it becomes clear very quickly that he is not only dedicated to his dream of making it in the music world, but that he is a gifted musician on all fronts. The guitar cruises at a blistering pace on tracks like "Well I Am", "Somebody Give Me a Reason", and "Keep Yourself from Me". With quick yet clean riffs, Miz has no issue keeping the unique blend of melody and vocals heading in the direction he intended them all to go. I guess one of the perks of laying down all the instruments for your album is that continuity isn't an issue when there is no one else you have to be on the same page with!

While the guitar and drum work are great, the one aspect that sets much of Jack Miz's music apart is his voice. Miz's vocal range is generally higher, almost like Adam Levine from Maroon 5 or Jason Mraz, but he maintains a certain roughness to it throughout the album that keeps with the more aggressive Rock sound of his music. To further enhance the vocals, Miz worked in some phenominal harmonizing effects that make his voice sound even more unique. When he sings "Cause its too much for me, maybe I'm too blind to see..." on "Sound of My Soul", what would have been a normal chorus becomes a much deeper part of the song. Given his higher range, this effect is an excellent tool that is well placed throughout the album to give his voice a more powerful sound.

Miz slows the pace down a bit on the light hearted acoustic tune "5 Foot 3". A love ballad from him and his guitar about the inspiration for his music, "5 Foot 3" is as good as any pop tune on the radio today. With it falling right in the middle of the album, it is a great break from the fast pace that Miz tends to keep on the rest of the songs.

While Jack Miz attacked his solo album with a near solo effort, unless you're a rap star, that lineup doesn't work well when you try to take your show on the road. Since he has several dates already planned for the Spring, he has put together a band for touring that will support him as he plays shows off of the new album. Look for Jack Miz and his band to play several shows in NYC and along the East Coast this Summer.

To hear a few tracks off of Jack Miz's debut album, click here to head over to his profile page!


As the Webmaster and Founder of Rocksposure.com, Chris Brach is always looking for new music from up and coming rock bands. You never know, they could be our next Artist of the Month! If there is something you think he should give a listen to, email him at GetRocked@Rocksposure.com


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