Buddy Miller - 'Universal United House of Prayer'

Buddy Miller achieves what many artist only dream of ... He successfully combines different musical styles to create his own unique and attractive sound in Universal United House of Prayer.

Pros

• Solid lyrics
• Good musical expression
• Tight pocket
• “Catchy” feelin’

Cons

• Use of the same “accent” instruments, in the same way through the CD, gets monotonous

Buddy demonstrates his ability to see the musical horizon. He has the skill, vision and musical sensitivity needed to interweave Folk with Gospel and Blues. The overall sound is very clean and energetic, while being thought provoking. Track 9 "Is that You" illustrates this point. The listener is treated to a smooth, but simple accompaniment with powerful lyrics riding over the top. Lines like “is that you my Lord”, “I can hear a sound (whisper on the wind), sounds like the spirit callin’ out my name,” and “He’s callin’ to me in the morning and comin’ to me in my dreams” cause the listener to not only listen to the words, but accept and personalize them. Buddy continues the same powerful effect with the more upbeat songs like "Worry too Much", "There’s a Higher Power", and "Fire & Water".

Overall, Buddy Miller produces a gem of musical, toe-tappin’ fun. Listeners will find the smooth rhythms, melodies, and counter melodies extremely “catchy”, fun and unexplainably familiar on top of lyrics that are deep and thoughtful.

• Worry Too Much - 4 Stars
• There’s a Higher Power - 4 Stars
• Shelter Me - 4 Stars
• With God on Our Side - 2 Stars
• Wide River to Cross
• Fire & Water - 4 Stars
• Don't Wait - 4 Stars
• This Old World - 3 Stars
• Is That You - 4 Stars
• Returning - 3 Stars
• Fall on the Rock - 4 Stars