Rating: NNNN
It’s too bad Susie Arioli waited so long to profess her love of Roger Miller in song, because her latest is a near perfect album. Though only six out of 11 tracks are Miller songs, Learn To Smile Again still captures all the ease and magic Arioli exudes as a performer. Jordan Officer, who’s featured prominently, plays his guitar in such a way that it sounds like he has a direct connection to the spirit of Django Reinhardt. Miller classics like A Million Years Or So and Husbands And Wives are of course included, but it’s the sublime takes on Jimmy Webb’s By The Time I Get To Phoenix and Naomi Neville’s Ruler Of My Heart that really stand out. Perfect for a romantic Saturday night or a sleepy Sunday morning.
