Maggie Valley Band - The Hardest Thing (2018)

“What really sets the group apart is the almost chilling vocal harmony of the sisters Miller. There is a weight to the music here that occasionally echoes The Band at its best...It usually takes a lifetime to write the kinds of songs these talented sisters have already created. What is clear is that it won’t be very long before they are known far and wide.” -- Scenes Although many bands affirm their reverence for the roots, few do it with as much clarity, credence and conviction as the Maggie Valley Band. Hailing from Maggie Valley North Carolina, sister duo Whitney and Caroline Miller repurpose the sounds they absorbed while immersing themselves in music as children and add a contemporary sheen to their vintage trappings. Otten compared to bands like the Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show and the Drive By Truckers, they successfully tap tradition while adding a freshness and urgency to their folky, folksy tunes. After two early EPs (2015’s Bring Us Back and Don’t Go, released a year later), not to mention years of busking and eventually touring with the likes of the Indigo Girls, Black Lillies, Lonesome River Band and others of similar stature, the duo has managed to garner a faithful following that spans the divide from South Florida to New York State. Don’t Go also brought them to the attention of Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter producer David Mayfield who eagerly agreed to produce The Hardest Thing, their forthcoming full length debut due for independent release on January 26, 2018. Mayfield hunkered down with the duo in Akron, Ohio and emerged with a ten song set that fully affirms their commitment to authentic Americana, while also suggesting a sound that’s likely to broaden their appeal and introduce them to new audiences in the process. “The new album affirms the fact that we’re in this for the long haul,” Whitney explains. “There are some bands who give themselves five years to make their mark. However we’ve been at this a lot longer, and that’s the point we hope to prove here. We’re determined to preserve the core of the traditional music that’s always been so precious to us, while also offering hope and comfort through the sounds we share.” “These are difficult times,” Caroline adds. “Life often isn’t easy, but there are things that bring joy and reason for celebration. The core theme of this album is about learning to be aware of the gifts we’re given, to be thankful for our blessings, and to try to grow and move on in the process. Indeed, the mix of celebratory songs and pensive musings create a diversity that’s evident at the outset. From the homespun sounds of “Angel Band” and the effortlessly embracing “Rambling Joe,” to the earnest and upbeat “Sweet Anna” (featuring Mayfield on guest vocals) and the evident upward gaze of “Bring Us Back,” Whitney (vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjitar) and Caroline (vocals, bass, percussion) find a remarkable mesh of sincerity and circumspect. All involved rise to the occasion. There’s added invention in the instrumental dexterity that underscore “Cold Water” and the double time rhythms that propel “Railroad,” just as the unlikely sound of a calliope gives “Hey Girl” a certain carnival-like revelry. Likewise, the Cajun style waltz that defines “Meant To Be Lonesome” is swept up in sentiment, just as the pensive pining of “Leave Me Alone” adds emphasis to the heart that’s caught up in heartbreak. “Sometimes the hardest thing is often the best thing when it comes to our ability to heal ourselves and move forward,” Caroline notes. Indeed, with The Hardest Thing, the Maggie Valley Band makes that sentiment easy to understand.