The Majestic Silver Strings
Buddy Miller is an alt-country deity. For his latest “solo” outing, Miller puts together classic country songs (and originals) and works them out with a core of guitarists — Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Greg Leisz — that make an all-star team no matter what the league. Throw in master drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Dennis Crouch and then a guest-list that includes Ann McCrary, Patty Griffin, Lee Ann Womack, Chocolate Genius, Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris and you’re looking at enough talent to staff a dozen albums. No one rests on his or her laurels here either. These are not straight interpretations, but re-imaginings that allow the songs new terrain. Chocolate Genius finds a night-funk to Roger Miller’s “Dang Me,” Miller slows down Eddy Arnold’s “Cattle Call” until it’s more like a dream. Emmylou Harris is her usual angelic self on “Why I’m Walkin’.” Buddy and Julie bring together the emotively direct “God’s Wing’ed Horse.” The “Deluxe Edition” includes a live video of “Why Baby Why” and a documentary on the ‘Making” of the album, which considering the line-up is worth seeing in action.
It would be incredibly difficult—if not downright impossible—to corral four guitar players more dexterous than Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Greg Leisz and Buddy Miller. Individually, these session musicians and solo artists tend to improve any song they play on, and their combined résumé represents a wide swathe of Americana: Steve Earle, Tom Waits, Vic Chesnutt, Madeleine Peyroux, Sam Phillips and John Zorn, among too many others to count, let alone name. When Miller gathered them together under the moniker the Majestic Silver Strings, the results promised to be extraordinary, a Rosetta Stone for guitar enthusiasts and country fans ...
AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.
Buddy Miller is a Nashville-based country musician who transcends “country” so brilliantly that he makes genre distinctions wholly beside the point...
Superb guitarists and top guest vocalists blend expertly on Buddy Miller's new album.