Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE MASTERS PAINT ANOTHER MASTERPIECE, March 3, 2009
I have listened to this album repeatedly over the last three weeks. It was the only thing I played in my car for about two weeks, then for the last week it has been in rotation with other Buddy and Julie albums to give it some context. I have given it six (6) serious listens on the headphones, and had it playing around the house for the last three weeks. I'd say that, all-in-all, I have listened to the entire album at least 30 times to form the basis of this review.
Written In Chalk is a Buddy and Julie Miller album and, as such, is a mixed bag. You got your Buddy songs, you got your Julie songs and then you got your Buddy and Julie songs. The net result is a lot more variety in music, arrangements and lyrics than their solo projects. This has been true of their two previous duo albums and remains true here. And, as always, they usually have a trick up their sleeves - this time it's in A Long, Long Time.
Ellis County
Julie penned this gem, one of my favorite songs on the album. It is a paean to simpler times, a song that speaks directly to the things that are really important in life - friends, family and faith. And done with the eloquence that Julie has, and most other songwriters wish they had. A simple, almost sparse arrangement; the power comes from Buddy and Julie's duet vocals.
Gasoline And Matches
Jointly authored, this song will probably be the hit song of the album, by which I mean getting the most radio airplay. It has a driving, chooglin' beat, and the lyrics are riddled with sexual tension. If you don't end up tapping your feet to this, you need your hearing checked, and probably your hormone levels, too.
Don't Say Goodbye
Julie has the ability to write songs that positively rip your heart out, yet at the same time contain not a gram of self-pity. That's a very rare gift amongst songwriters, one that she shares with the late Townes Van Zandt. This is, as far as I'm concerned, a classic "Julie" song. Patty Griffin adds some lovely harmony vocals but otherwise stays out of Julie's way. This song grew on me to the point where it is now one of my favorites on the album.
What You Gonna Do Leroy
This is an old Mel Tillis chestnut, and as I've come to expect of Buddy with covers, he totally makes it his own song. The amazing thing about this song is the duet with Robert Plant. If you didn't know it was him, I swear you would never be able to tell it was Plant. A fun, light-hearted song that will bring a smile to any man who has had a woman do him wrong (real or imagined). The ladies will simply laugh.
Long Time (labeled A Long, Long Time on the advance CD)
A real departure for Julie. This is a quasi-jazz song, with very much of a film noir feel to it. A fairly sparse arrangement - brushes on drums, piano, some light guitar touches, and a muted trumpet (with a feel like Miles of the late 1950s) that enters on the bridge and continues to the end. Lyrically, this song is a gem; musically, it works reasonably well but is probably the weakest song on the album. I'd love to hear it in a more conventional arrangement.
One Part, Two Part
A cover of a Dee Ervin song with Buddy dueting with the combined Regina and Ann McCrary. I love Buddy singing with the McCrarys, and this song works as well as any they've done together.
Chalk
Another knockout Julie-penned song. This one has had me marveling since the first time I heard it. Buddy and Patty Griffin share lead vocals and provide a lovely counterpoint for each other. A sparse arrangement really lets the vocals develop and blossom, and Julie's lyrics are simply awe-inspiring. One of my favorite songs of the album, and one of my favorite songs of Julie's of all time.
Everytime We Say Goodbye
Julie solo, providing her own harmony vocals, with a pretty simple arrangement and some piano in the background. A lovely sad song, beautifully rendered.
Hush, Sorrow
Buddy and another lovely Julie song. Regina McCrary provides some lovely call-and-response with and harmonies behind Buddy's lead vocals. Larry Campbell's mandolin is exquisite and provides a lovely counterpoint to Buddy's vocals, as well as adding some tension to the song.
Memphis Jane (labeled Smooth on the advance CD)
Just when you're almost ready to categorize Julie as a songwriter, she whacks you upside the head with a song like this one. Powerful lyrics about a hitchhiker of dubious character, and a slow driving beat behind Buddy and Julie's shared lead vocals make for a kickin' good song. Buddy's solo guitar from the bridge on is a delight.
June
Julie's farewell to the late June Carter Cash. As sparse a song as there is on the album. Buddy on acoustic guitar, and Julie and Buddy on vocals. Songs like this showcase Julie's songwriting and her singing. The beauty is in the simplicity for me.
The Selfishness In Man
Buddy and Emmylou Harris cover a Leon Payne plea for people to remember what is truly important to close out the album.
Buddy Miller is one of the finest guitarists at work in any genre, has a marvelous voice that continues to develop and reveal more nuances with time, and is a masterful arranger and producer, not to mention a darn good songwriter.
Julie is a lovely singer whose voice can positively make you ache at times, but I continue to be totally overwhelmed by her songwriting, which is simply off the charts. To call her one of the finest singer-songwriters in America is understatement, to which this album stands as more testimony.
This is a wonderful album, easily one of the very best to be released this year (even though it's just the beginning of March) in the country/alt country/Americana category. My bottom line on Buddy and Julie has for a long time been that this is what country music is supposed to be. It still is.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the wait, March 5, 2009
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.)
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC--EVER !!!, March 5, 2009
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!
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