On the horizon - Buddy Miller, 9/21

Looking ahead, Buddy Miller will release Universal United House of Prayer on Sept. 21 (on New West records). Buddy is quite simply one of my favorite artists working today. He's Emmylou Harris's killer guitarist, a first-rate producer, and oh yeah, just about the greatest country/soul singer since Otis Redding.

This record appears to be a slight departure, as almost every song includes vocal support from Regina and Ann McCrary (daughters of Fairfield Four founder Rev. Sam McCrary) and contains a deep spiritual center, not entirely unlike his previous albums, just more focused. One of the centerpieces is a nine-minute-plus version of Dylan's "With God On Our Side", a timely inclusion that questions the use of militaristic force in God's name.

I can't wait to hear it. You can pre-order it now at Miles of Music and get an autographed CD booklet to boot:
http://www.milesofmusic.com/coming.soon.html

Also, you can listen to the new song "Worry Too Much" and Buddy and Julie's website (which is hooked up to the Emmylou Harris website). Keep an eye out for pictures and reports from the Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue, which features Buddy, Emmylou, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, which I think has about wrapped up.
www.buddyandjulie.com

Finally, there's a great article in the new No Depression about Buddy written by a favorite author of mine Silas House. Plus a great new article on Tift Merritt.
www.nodepression.net