Break Mirrors is Mills’ debut solo album and the latest step in a remarkable musical career that has seen everyone from Kid Rock to Cass McCombs solicit his services as a guitarist. Mills’ trip began with Simon Dawes, the young L.A. rock outfit he formed with his childhood pal Taylor Goldsmith. They made an album, Carnivore, and eventually shared stages with some of the biggest bands in America, cranking out a fresh yet classic sound the Los Angeles Times called “exhilarating.”
After his collaboration with Goldsmith ran its course, Mills moved into the next phase of his career, as sideman to the stars. He moved quickly, too: In only a few short years Mills has become one of the most in-demand session guitarists in all of Los Angeles, touring with Cass McCombs, Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses and Julian Casablancas and recording with Weezer, Kid Rock, Jakob Dylan , Andrew Bird, and Jesca Hoop, among others.
“When it comes to playing guitar for other people,” he says, “...a lot of my dreams have already come true.”
Now Mills is taking center stage with a set of tunes that reflect that extraordinary wealth of experience. Recorded in casual bursts between other gigs over the course of much of 2009, Break Mirrors strikes a perfect balance between talent and tastefulness: You won’t miss Mills’ impressive playing—check out the fuzzy slide guitar solo on “Hiroshima,” for starters—but what sticks with you is his songwriting, which hits a bittersweet coming-of-age note.
In “It’ll All Work Out” he analyzes his parents’ marriage and comes to some surprising conclusions, and “History of My Life” ponders the best way to celebrate one’s privileges. (“It’s about a humility that comes with the transition into adulthood,” Mills says with typical thoughtfulness.) Elsewhere, “Cheers” documents a painful breakup, while “Hey Lover” celebrates the healthy relationship Mills is in right now.
“I wrote that song while I was on a tour and showed it to her when I got back home,” he says. “And then we actually ended up singing it together on this record.” With a laugh Mills describes the track as “my first song of having someone after one too many songs of longing.”
“Hey Lover” may only be rivaled by the album's artwork, for which Mills sought the help of acclaimed artist Sage Vaughn; together, the two collaborated in creating a collage that represents each song.
The music on Break Mirrors comes out of a long tradition of mellow Southern California rock. Yet, perhaps thanks to Mills’ work for other artists, the songs also reveal traces of something entirely different.
There’s also a sly sense of humor in much of the material that Mills credits to his time with Ben Bridwell and Ryan Monroe (Band of Horses). “There's a humor in some people's music that is not kitschy,” he explains. “And in some of those cases it ends up uncovering a certain kind of despair.”
The result is a record that feels as expansive as it does intimate, as forward-looking as it is nostalgic. Blake Mills is much more than the session guy, the band member, or the solo artist. Break Mirrors is the proof.
If I'm Unworthy
Blake Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the oldest words in use
Now I no longer ask myself
What have I got to lose
If I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
This line of thinking
The wonders it can induce
Look what your love can do
What if I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
Time before was wasted
But with you life is not long enough
I'll wrap you in my arms babe
I hope they'll be strong enough
My time before was wasted
But with you life's just not long enough
I'll wrap you in my arms babe
See if they're strong enough
What if I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
The lyrics in "If I'm Unworthy" by Blake Mills convey a sense of newfound understanding and meaning. The singer becomes aware of their own power and control over someone they love, possibly a partner or someone they desire. They no longer question what they have to lose because they understand the extent of their influence. The fact that they are "unworthy" of such power over someone else is perplexing to them. The power dynamic in the relationship is called into question, and the singer wonders if this individual truly deserves the power they possess.
As the lyrics continue, the singer expresses how this new understanding has affected them. They are "twisted in the sheets" from the intensity of their feelings, suggesting a physical and emotional connection with this person. The love they feel is powerful, but they are still unsure if they are deserving of such devotion.
Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty, perhaps exemplified by the line, "See if they're strong enough." The singer is unsure if they are capable of handling the love and power they possess. The message seems to be that love can be a transformative and powerful force, but it can also leave someone feeling unworthy and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I've found a new meaning
I have discovered a new perspective
For the oldest words in use
Regarding commonly used phrases
Now I no longer ask myself
I no longer ponder
What have I got to lose
What do I risk losing
If I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
In the event that I am undeserving of holding authority over you
This line of thinking
This train of thought
The wonders it can induce
The astounding effects it can produce
I'm twisted in the sheets now
I am tangled up in the blanket
Look what your love can do
Observe the impact that your affection has
What if I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
Suppose I am not deserving of the control I hold over you
Time before was wasted
Before, time was unproductive
But with you life is not long enough
However, my existence with you is not lengthy enough
I'll wrap you in my arms babe
I will embrace you, my sweet
I hope they'll be strong enough
I have confidence in my ability to hold you securely
What if I'm unworthy of the power I own over you
What if I do not merit the influence I have on you
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Sam Kemsley
Look how he's constantly changing the volume with his pinky, amazing
the BSG
@Whisker Whippers ™️ yeah that’s a great performance
Whisker Whippers ™️
Check him out with Vulfpeck
Jessie Smith
pinky winky went to makret
Philip Beach
I haven’t sat down and done a harmonic analysis (lol), but my ears are telling me that scales mean nothing to Blake. He has command of, and will use, all 12 notes regardless of the key he’s playing in. Such a colorful sonic palette to paint with. Just amazing stuff. And me trying to describe it or characterize it with words is beyond ridiculous.
luchadorito
I mean…blues vocabulary doesn’t really work with the traditional western theory regarding scales, see the ancient philosophical debate of ‘what key is Hey Joe in?’ It’s in the key of E blues. You cannot really superimpose a diatonic structure over it.
Cole Huntley
his bassline run at 4:45 is unreal
J.M. Tom
The way he plays with the volume knob mesmerizes me
Ní Síocháin Gan Saoirse
I've played magic axes for years, but I dont have the brain capacity still to think about coordinating all my fingers in such a way.
Its truly staggering.