STEVE MILLER BAND

Let Your Hair Down

[Roadrunner/Loud & Proud]

Steve Miller has lately returned to the blues-based sound he pursued prior to the poppier material that made him a radio staple in the 1970s, while maintaining the distinctive style he’s boasted for the past 45 years. His effusive vocals, vibrant guitar solos, playful humor and producer Andy Johns’ supple arrangements serve him well here as Miller navigates the same strict parameters as on 2010’s bluesy Bingo! Traces of 1969’s Brave New World and 1970’s Number 5 echo through the funky “Snatch It Back and Hold It” and the emphatic “No More Doggin’,” but there’s relatively little variation in the rollicking rhythms and casual shuffles. Still, Miller’s tuneful takes on well-worn standards like “Sweet Home Chicago,” “When Things Go Wrong (It Hurts Me Too)” and “I Ain’t Got You” (the latter two are bonus tracks on a deluxe edition) ensure a thoroughly enjoyable time. –Lee Zimmerman