| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: John & Dino Elefante |
| Record Label: Pakaderm / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1993 / 2020 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 56:44 |
Guardian pushed hard into the melodic hard rock and AOR segments with the 1990 release of its dynamic Pakaderm Records sophomore album Fire & Love. The 95% Angelic Warlord review described it as the type of ‘career defining album that fans come to identify a band’ and that featured ‘ten equally good songs characterized by big guitars, big hooks and (even bigger) choruses’. Fire & Love also represents a period of transition for the group from introducing new vocalist Jamie Rowe, whom delivers ample doses of heart and soul within a middle register framework rooted in the bluesy aesthetic. Rowe ultimately helped Guardian move on from the commercial melodic metal of its 1989 Paul Cawley fronted Enigma Records debut First Watch (a fine album in its own right, noting the 90% review) to the heavier and more soulful sounds of Fire & Love.
I identify with third album Miracle Mile (also Padakerm) from 1993 as both a whole lot different and a whole lot the same. In terms of the latter, it would not be out of line to suggest that if you enjoy Fire & Love you will embrace Miracle Mile from conceiving a similar high energy and melodic based sound. From standpoint of the latter, Miracle Mile is by no means Fire & Love 2; rather, it is a completely different animal! Musically, it diverges into rhythm and blues, with the horn section to match in yielding heavy doses of Gospel tinged rock and roll, but also jangly acoustic rock, as found in use of strings, mandolin and folk instrumentation. It adds up to a work in Miracle Mile that when placed alongside Fire & Love can be suggested is the more creative and varied effort when factoring its better material.
Miracle Mile lyrics draw inspiration from a movie to influence bassist David Bach that (as noted in the groups press material) ‘featured a turn-of-the-century carnival that had terrifying and mystical effects on the towns it visited. Bach was also fascinated with the religious tent revivals from the same period that had such a profound effect on the U.S. landscape. He began envisioning an album that combined the two elements, with snake oils, side shows, carnivals, and deep spirituality.’
Good news is that despite being an out of print and hard to find collectors item, Miracle Mile was re-issued in April 2020 by Retroactive Records on CD (Gold Disc Edition) and splatter vinyl. Re-mastering attributes to Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound) and detailed packaging (with write up from Bach and montage of vintage band photos) Scott Waters (No Life Til Metal).
Whereas the Elefante production to the original version was fine for its time, re-mastering takes things to the next level in adding an extra dose of polish. Guitars in particular deliver added edge and bite, while backing details such as bass, drums and harmony vocals stand out with greater clarity. Volume levels are up to modern standards but not to a fault.
Album opens to one of the all time classic Guardian cuts in “Dr. Jones & The Kings Of Rhythm”. With Rowe’s raspy croon of ‘well I’ve been walkin’ down that Miracle Mile’ to start, the song takes off to a backbone of monster groove in establishing the larger than life hooks and unflagging melodic hard rock energy to pigeonhole the standout Miracle Mile material. Backing vocals adorn without unnecessarily dominating. Lyric snippet:
There's a place outside of Memphis
Where I met the travelin' man
Preachin' on a wall of sound
Built by his ragin' band
I saw a sparkle in his eye
When I asked him for his name
He said Dr. Jones is who I am
Are You ready to play my game
I can take you to the mountain
But only heavens love can set you free
“Shoeshine Johnny” represents another top of the line showstopper. The song finds a jazzy horn section making its first appearance, aligning with Bach’s rumbling bass and heartfelt hints of singular blues to successfully acquire that ‘Gospel tinged rock and roll’ essence in question. Imagine a rawer and more striped down version to Bride.
Album ups aggression with “Long Way Home”. What we have is a riff driven bludgeoner to find Tony Palacios at the top of his game, laying down the catchy rhythm guitar hook foundation to join a heightened tempo (energy is off the charts) with the meaningfully melodic (commercial but simmering is the feel to resonate). Lead guitar is every bit bristling. Lyric snippet:
All this pain locked up inside of me
On my knees I prayed You'd set me free
I know you hurt
But I really do understand
I'm the one who held your pain when I became a man
Speak to me so I hear something
turn my eyes so I can see
You touch fear and I feel something
Sweet salvation cover me
Moving ahead in the track listing, “Let It Roll” carries forward the up-tempo sentiments with its front to back battering guitars and vehement hooks to garner with repeat play. Backing vocals play the more prevalent role, emboldening the affable refrain, as does the bluesy sentiments, with heightened soulful signatures the upshot.
Heaviness elevates with “Mr. Do Wrong”, cascading to walls of churlish guitars as Rowe digs deep in lending some intense emotion to his already soulful delivery. The successive sass and snarl peaks in the form of the barbed refrain. It does not get much more forthright far as Guardian is concerned. Lyric snippet:
Demons seed by the light of the moon
Hell I bent... he's on your door
Pull an ace... a crazy face
Serpent chase ... the lion roars
Promises that break like glass
Lead you down the crooked path
Turn you around
Steal your soul without a Sound
You are the enemy of old
“Curiosity Killed The Cat” reveals a high-energy Van-Halen-ish sound. I am somewhat reminded of First Watch track “One Of A Kind” in upholding a similar hook driven basis but faster and - in true Miracle Mile fashion - heavier as Palacios again puts on a catchy rhythm and flaming lead guitar clinic. This one was made for FM radio in an era when FM radio unfortunately was not paying attention.
Last of the hard rock cuts is this reviewer’s favorite in the Book of Proverbs inspired “Sister Wisdom”. With guitar feedback to start, the song maintains a hard charging mid-tempo aura its span in screaming of pure emotion but evoking a seamless melody as the group hits its stride in composing one of its finest cuts ever. Great way to end a seven-song whirlwind of melodic hard rock classy as it gets. Lyric snippet:
Sister Wisdom
Shine your light on me
You're hard to find but easy to see
I gotta tell ya
I just can't believe
all the things that you've done for me
She sings a smoky torch song
She burns a candle in the night
Her ways of truth are so strong
She lifts me up as my life goes by
Because rest of albums material in my opinion does not hold up as well, noting how four of the remaining tracks are acoustic ballads that might not be filler - I can tell Guardian put its full heart into heart - also fail to capture my imagination. “I Found Love” is a commercial acoustic rocker tinged with organ that while no means bad (I like the soulful backing vocals) comes across somewhat formula, while “Sweet Mystery” is of similar form but better with its soothing melody and Kansas-like string section. Whereas “The Captain” falls flat in not straining outside the acoustic rock framework, “Do You Know What Love Is” is quite good with its heavier rocking ballad formula and two-minute instrumental fade out. Last of the final tracks, “You & I” with its up-tempo pop driven rock formula, also impresses as derivative.
If Guardian had maintained the form of its better material throughout Miracle Mile, it would have a classic (in my opinion) to rank alongside Snakes In The Playground (Bride), Weapons Of Our Warfare (Deliverance) or at the very least predecessor Fire & Love. That said, if you enjoy the Miracle Mile acoustic tracks, feel free to add 10% (at minimum) to the final score. I am also not adverse to acoustic rock in that Independence Day is one of my favorite Liberty N’ Justice albums, but the Guardian take on the form does not do anything for me, noting how I passed on 1994 follow up effort Swing Swang Swung. Still, the strong Miracle Mile cuts are outstanding in ranking alongside the Fire & Love best. Give credit to Retroactive Records for making it available again such a highly upgraded format.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Dr. Jones & The Kings Of Rhythm” (5:10), “Shoeshine Johnny” (4:16), “Long Way Home” (4:31), “I Found Love” (5:24), “Sweet Mystery” (3:58), “Let It Roll” (4:11), “Mr. Do Wrong” (5:05), “Curiosity Killed The Cat” (4:28), “Sister Wisdom” (4:12), “The Captain” (4:19), “You & I” (4:04), “Do You Know What Love Is” (7:05)
Musicians
Jamie Rowe - Lead Vocals
Tony Palacios - Guitars
David Bach - Bass
Karl Ney - Drums
Additional Musicians
Glen Hirami - Accordion
J.R. McNeely - Bass
Jamie Wollam - Drums
John Elefante - Piano & Keyboards
The Fabulous Martin Brothers - Horns
Ian Sebreti - Percussion
The Orange County Wire Choir - Strings
