A guitarist of uncommonly earthy tones and a bucolic bard of a songwriter, Buddy Miller possesses of one of the most soulful voices in country music and has become a Most Valuable Player within the hard country/roots music universe in a little over four years. When peers such as Steve Earle call your debut album "the country record of the decade," and legendary singer Emmylou Harris enlists your abilities to not only perform on -- but also co-produce -- her album, something special is going on here.
With the release of Cruel Moon, his third album for HighTone Records, Buddy Miller has concentrated his energies to create an amazing disc of passion, power and emotion that bridges the gap between honky-tonk and soul music. If real country music is "the white man's blues" as some writers have proposed in years past, then Buddy Miller is its Bobby "Blue" Bland. In a music field watered-down with overproduction, misdirection, and gentrification, Buddy Miller's distills country music to its pure essence.
"Look no further for one of country's great contemporary singer/songwriters," wrote USA Today in its glowing review of Miller's 1997 album, Poison Love. "Miller has produced a country album of stunning depth and breadth," seconded Billboard. Buddy Miller has become one of the hottest tickets in Nashville when you want a real songwriter, musician, or producer, or when you're just up for some honest, energized honky-tonk country.
In the past four years, his list of credits has grown to include not only his work recording and touring as lead guitarist/backing vocalist for Emmylou Harris's Spyboy band and road work with Steve Earle on that singer's El Corazon tour, but also his work as a songwriter. His tunes have appeared on recent albums by the Dixie Chicks, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Ann Womack and Hank Williams III. At the beginning of 1999, the Nashville Music Awards voted Buddy Guitarist of the Year. Moreover, he's been touring this summer as a multi-instrumentalist with the Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt band. Amid his hectic schedule, he's found time to produce several albums, including wife Julie Miller's stunning CD, Broken Things, and his own new disc, entitled Cruel Moon.
Cruel Moon showcases a number of heartfelt Buddy and Julie Miller songs, including the lead-off "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" (as hard-core country as has ever been waxed), the mournful title track (featuring Emmylou Harris on guest vocals), the beautiful ballad "In Memory Of My Heart," and the great hillbilly love song "I'm Too Used To Lovin' You." Good friend Jim Lauderdale joins the Miller-Miller songwriting team on the rollicking "Looking For A Heartache Like You" and the powerful "Sometimes I Cry." Respected Nashville tunesmith Paul Kennerley contributes the bouncy "Love Match," Julie Miller pens the Cajun/swamp rocker "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go," and Steve Earle writes the plaintive "I'm Not Getting Better At Goodbye." Also noteworthy are great covers of the old Gene Pitney classic "I'm Gonna Be Strong," and The Staple Singers' "It's Been A Change."
Once again, Buddy Miller has assembled a strong group of players to bring the songs to life, including bassists Byron House and Alison Prestwood; drummers John Gardner, Bryan Owings, and Don Heffington; keyboard players Phil Madeira and Steve Fishell; fiddler Tammy Rogers; and steel guitarist Al Perkins. Add to that an incredible array of singers, including the aforementioned Ms. Harris and Julie Miller, Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale and Joy Lynn White."
Above all this talent, however, is Buddy Miller himself, displaying incredible musicianship on guitars, banjo, and bass; and singing with the passion and soul of a man who walks the walk and talks the talk.
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01/03/2011 - Miller readies new CD with Frisell, Ribot, Leisz -
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07/06/2010 - Buddy Miller Plays at Country Music Hall of Fame -
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12/24/2009 - Americana Music Assoc. names top 100 albums of year -
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09/18/2009 - Americana Music Event Rewards Buddy Miller and Celebrates Music -
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