Search - Buddy & Julie Miller :: Written In Chalk

Worth the wait

Deanokat | Michigan, USA | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been eight years since the last Buddy and Julie Miller album, but "Written in Chalk" was well worth the wait. It's a masterful album, with some of Julie's best songwriting to date. The raw, emotional sound is a tribute to Buddy's production and the acoustics of Dogtown Studio (aka Buddy and Julie's living room). This record is a great mix of Buddy vocals and Julie vocals, with some stellar guest appearances (Patty Griffin, Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Regina McCrary) thrown in for good measure. I will say that the song "Chalk," written by Julie, with Buddy on lead vocals and Patty Griffin on harmonies, is one of the best songs I've heard in years. Period. This is country music the way it should be. Even the CD packaging is a work of art. You won't be disappointed. (P.S. Best wishes to Buddy Miller as he recovers from heart surgery. Get well soon, Buddy. And thanks for a phenomenal album.)"

SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC--EVER !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buddy and Julie Miller have come out with another stellar album entitled "Written In Chalk." I am new to the artistry of this fine talented duo but after just one listen I became seriously hooked on them! They can sing country and folk flavored songs wearing their hearts on their sleeves and I admire them for that. Their chemistry as a loving married couple enhances their creativity when they produce songs like these. We also get some wonderful performances by guest artists on this album. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done. This is one album that will sell strong for quite some time to come!



"Ellis County," which was written by Julie, features some pretty incredible singing and together Buddy and Julie make "Ellis County" a very strong start for this album. I really like "Ellis County;" and listen for "Gasoline And Matches." "Gasoline And Matches" seems to mix country with a slight touch of rock and this works very well--"Gasoline And Matches" holds its own very well and the melody is actually quite catchy. Great! Patty Griffin adds some vocals on "Don't Say Goodbye;" and "What You Gonna Do Leroy" stuns me with its great sound. Buddy Miller and Robert Plant do an excellent job singing "What You Gonna Do Leroy" and this tune is quite memorable! The strings fit in perfectly with the overall musical arrangement and "What You Gonna Do Leroy" is another major highlight of this album.



"Long Time" has Julie singing very sweetly with an arrangement for the guitar that is somewhat stripped down--and that creates an awesome effect along with that gently swaying percussion. "One Part, Two Part" has Buddy, Regina McCrary and Ann McCrary covering a Dee Ervin song with a touch of class I won't forget anytime soon; the music swings great and that country feel to "One Part, Two Part" makes this a very cool ballad. In addition, "Chalk" by Julie Miller spotlights Buddy and Patty Griffin's strong ability to deliver a ballad with panache and I'm very impressed.



"Everytime We Say Goodbye" by Julie Miller features John Deaderick on the piano; and the key modulations enhance the natural beauty of "Everytime We Say Goodbye." "Memphis Jane" has some rather interesting key modulations; the combination of major and minor keys helps this number hold its own. "Memphis Jane" gets its strength from solid vocals by Buddy and Julie--not to mention a strong musical arrangement that includes Buddy's outstanding guitar work. And how's about those lyrics on "Memphis Jane?"



"June" is a tender ballad to remember the late June Carter Cash that has Buddy and Julie singing together for a great effect; and the album ends strong with "The Selfishness Of Man." "The Selfishness Of Man" features Emmylou Harris with Buddy Miller doing some mighty fine vocalizing! "The Selfishness Of Man" has excellent guitar mixed with strong percussion; when Buddy sings those lyrics with Emmylou they really makes this number stand out as a triumph. Now if only there were several songs more--their music is THAT good.



Fans of Buddy and Julie Miller will clearly want this album; and people who like the guest artists may be interested in this CD. This also makes a fine starter CD for people like me who are new to Buddy and Julie's artistry. Buddy and Julie have more talent in their pinky fingers than most singers could ever display; and I hope that we will continue to get new albums from them for many years to come.



Thank you, Buddy and Julie! Great job, everyone!

"

Going to be one of the best of the year

R. Kyle | USA | 03/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved Buddy Miller long before I knew his name. That's from hearing him play on Emmylou Harris tracks. He's a fabulous guitarist and his wife, Julie, is a knockout singer. When they get together, magic happens.



This time, they invited some friends along including Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Robert Plant, and Regina McCrary. The style shifts from slow, thoughtful ballads to rocked out. You can't quite set a mood for this album except for genuine pleasure in listening.



Kudos to the Millers for not only giving us an extraordinary album, but also tapping the CD's resources with a whopping generous helping of 12 songs timing out at 51 minutes.



Favorites here:



Memphis Jane -- this one is rocked out Buddy Miller and you can definitely hear the strength of his playing here. Plus, Emmylou joins them singing.



What You Gonna Do Leroy -- bluesy country tune with Robert Plant chipping in.



Chalk -- Buddy and Patty Griffin singing together, this ballad will break your heart



Just check this CD out. If you like any of the artists involved, I think you'll be delighted with this collection.



Rebecca Kyle, March 2009"