Universal United House of Prayer (New West, 2004)
Buddy Miller
Reviewed by Brian Wahlert
He sets the record up with a dark electric rocker, "Worry Too Much," in which he frets about the problems with the world. In the next song, a bright acoustic reading of the Louvin Brothers' "There's a Higher Power," he seems to find the answer to his worries.
Miller rues America's self-righteousness, whether manifested in the Cold War of Dylan's day or in the current war for democracy in Iraq, in a nine-minute marathon rendition of Bob Dylan's grand anti-war song, "With God on Our Side." The prettiest song here is the spare, acoustic "Fire and Water," co-written with Miller's wife Julie. It's a tale of a lost man who travels metaphorically through fire and water to find salvation. "Like a storm carries a seed away upon the wind/When it falls to the ground, it brings life back again."
From beginning to end and in every way - from Miller's intelligent songwriting to his masterful weaving of his central theme throughout an entire album - this is a wonderful record.
CDs by Buddy Miller
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