TREE RECORDS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF SIGN OF THE TIMES, A NEW FULL LENGTH ALBUM FROM PHILADELPHIA-BASED SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER JOHNNY MILES Produced by Jeff Hiatt and Johnny Miles at Turtle Studios in Philadelphia and featuring an ensemble cast of all-star veteran players, Sign Of The Times is one artist’s attempt to make sense of a country and a culture gone mad. Socially conscious observations and hard-learned life lessons are woven throughout while highlighting Miles’ talent for combining elements of rock, pop, folk, and country with poetic and poignant lyrics. Consisting of material written primarily between the summer of ‘04 and the summer of ‘05, when the singer was 21 and 22 years old respectively, the record is thematically poised on the juxtaposition of Miles’ own personal coming of age and the larger context of the country’s new direction under the Bush administration... “It’s a quick scribble across the American landscape...The lyrics are commanding...has the hard-bitten self-awareness of a protest song as well as a hooky alt-country catchiness” - Philadelphia Weekly “Die In Debt” opens the record with a solo performance, acoustic guitar and harmonica setting the scene for what's in store. “Modern Man” and “Faces in the Wind” gather momentum with help from dancing piano lines and blazing mandolin runs. Poppy garage-rocker “Gasoline” and a TV solo in “Signature” keep listeners on their toes, while the bittersweet shuffle of “Paralyzed In Love” examines the contradictions and complexities of relationship. “Nothing Gold” and the title track “Sign of the Times” act as the albums’ centerpiece before banjo, mandolin, organ, and vocal harmonies build to an emotive and focused crescendo in “Sailors”. The contagious alt-country/punk jubilance of “Turn & Draw” and crashing sonic landscape of “Follow Us Down” bring the listener full circle back to the solo finger-picking farewell of “Sowers”. The result is a uniquely satisfying musical journey that is as diverse as it is powerful and thought-provoking... “It’s a gorgeous record when I think about where it has taken me, not only musically, but the photographs that flash in my mind from Johnny’s accomplished lyricism...To be affected by how he captures images, that’s really what great music is all about.” - The Musicologist Adopting an independent approach to the music business and pursuing a grassroots connection with fans, Johnny founded TREE Records in early 2004 and in May released his first full-length album, the aptly-titled “Awakening”. Since 2005, Miles has been a regular fixture in bars, coffeehouses, clubs, and listening rooms throughout the Northeast. Currently based in the Philadelphia scene, he has performed at Tin Angel, North Star Bar, World Café Live @ XPN Studios, and The Fire among other well-known area venues, where he continues to win over new audiences to his ever-growing fan base. With live performances ranging from solo acoustic to full 5 piece band, Miles can be intimately engaging or raucously rocking the house – whatever the incarnation, the music is always biting and potent... “Miles doesn’t try to be an old soul, I think he really has one.” - Herohill “A singer-songwriter worth watching.” - Online Folk Festival