Jared & The Mill, This Story Is No Longer Available Review

Jared & The Mill are releasing their album, This Story Is No Longer Available (out 2/15/19), featuring “Dark Highways” and the band’s seven previously-released singles, including: “Soul in Mind,” “Break in the Ether,” and “Feels Like.” The five best friends from Arizona love the desert, love their city, its people, and they love each other. For the past few years, Jared & The Mill have consistently been on tour, hitting the road on their own, with fellow bands, and have been lucky enough to open for a few heroes. From living rooms and basement clubs, to theatres and arenas, they love playing shows, and being on the road.

“Dark Highways” enters with a lone electric guitar against the silence, that is soon joined by its fellow band mates. The lyrics are sung with emotion and a full voice by lead vocalist Michael Carter. Carter reflects, “I wrote Dark Highways during an overnight drive on tour. I had gone on a walk to call my girlfriend Ash and realized there were no streetlights in the neighborhood. It was nearly pitch-black outside. I remember telling her I might as well been walking down a dark hallway. Later on, on our drive, I reflected and wrote a bit on the realization that I wouldn’t see the person I loved physically for quite some time.” With full vocal harmonies and a song structure that has a few surprises and a sense of progression and balance, “Dark Highways” is going to stick in your ears. One of the many surprises is a incredibly musical bass solo at the end of the track that features a warm distorted tone.

On a more introspective note, “Break in the Ether” is told through a stirring melody and a waving song form. The lyrics are on point and the band creates a sound that is rock mixed with folk and pop influences. Jared & The Mill has the ability to create multiple layers within the song form that make each listen a new experience. Carter’s vocal quality and range is also very impressive, as he brings each track to life with charisma and style. Jared & The Mill have a sound that is unified and that enables them to take a track that has wide emotions like “Break in the Ether,” and convey the emotion and paint a musical story that is believable and relatable.

Jared & The Mill offers a well-built album that resonates for everyday people. Their music is relevant and hummable, making the listen one that lasts and creates a soundtrack to daily life.  With This Story Is No Longer Available they have another lasting piece in their discography, fans will adore.