Tom Faia and Kate Miller - Bad For Each Other

​Tom Faia and Kate Miller

Bad For Each Other
self-released; 2023

​​By ​Dino DiMuro​

Bad For Each Other is the fifth and newest release from Americana duo of Tom Faia and Kate Miller. Last year’s “Risk It All For Love” topped the Americana charts, but this year they decided to go for a harder rock sound.

The first step was including Tom Ayers, a guitar player well-known around the San Francisco Bay Area for his expert playing and celebrity collaborations. “After four albums,” Faia explains, “we felt we had explored as much of our acoustic side as we could, so we decided to bring in Ayres to kick up the sound with his unique electric guitar style.This balances nicely off of my harp playing and adds some new energy.” Along with ringers Jessie Dia on bass and Vince Sanchez on drums, there’s also guest appearances by Jimmy Norris (drums) and bass players Craig Owens and David Franc.

The opening and title track “Bad for Each Other” dovetails nicely with the album cover showing Faia and Miller as a young, hot couple practically soldered together. The two share lead vocals for this swampy, moody rocker which also features plenty of Ayers’ guitar insinuations. It’s a great anthem for “dangerously in love” couples everywhere, with Billy Bob and Angelina being the gold standard. Faia’s mouth harp has a prominent role and ties the bow on this great tune. Kicking up the energy, “Don’t You Wanna Know” is a driving blues rocker with even more harmonica and tight-as-leather vocal harmonies. It’s a shorter track which leads into Miller’s first vocal turn “Good Love Goes Bad” where her voice AND the playing sounds a lot like Bonnie Raitt.

“Nobody Loves You for Free” is another bluesy romp packed with funky chords. The couple again shares vocal leads, especially appropriate for the subject matter (which sadly makes a lot of sense). “Forever” makes a radical change into a yacht rock-Jimmy Buffett vibe, including steel drums and lazy waves. Miller’s vocals contain an interesting hint of Marlene Dietrich. “Give an Inch and They’ll Take a Mile” is indentified by the band as “full on roots rock” and it’s definitely louder, with guitarist Ayers leading the way with demonic wah-wah leads and Faia taking crusty-voiced lead vocals.

Miller returns to the lead vocal mic for the heavily acoustic, dreamy  “Out Comes the Sun.” Interesting construction here, with an early Beach Boys quote (“All I feel is the warmth of the sun”) followed by the expected “I love you” chorus, but with the added kicker: “When I think of you, out comes the sun.” Call me a sap but I’m quite moved! “Damn It” is like a big full-chorus off-broadway anthem, with the kind of fun kids have swearing in a car with all the windows rolled up. The choruses have a cool, 60’s psychedelic garage band feel. The closing “Big Brother” brings us full circle back to Americana, and is not about Orwellian surveillance but a true, affectionate remembrance of an actual big brother. A perfect conclusion and moving to anyone with a sibling.

I’d say this expansion of the Faia and Miller sound has worked out quite well, and I dare you to disagree. Recommended!

tomfaiakatemiller.com

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