Buddy & Julie Miller

1	Keep Your Distance / Julie Miller 3:49
2	The River's Gonna Run / Julie Miller 3:59
3	You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast / Julie Miller 3:12
4	Forever Has Come to an End / Julie Miller 2:50
5	Little Darlin / Julie Miller 3:31
6	Rock Salt and Nails / Julie Miller 4:17
7	Dirty Water / Julie Miller 6:53
8	Wallflower / Julie Miller 2:55
9	That's Just How She Cries / Julie Miller 4:17
10	Rachel / Julie Miller 3:43
11	Holding Up the Sky / Julie Miller 3:08

Barnes & Noble

In a gentler era the concept of a husband-and-wife duo like Buddy and Julie Miller would be considered sweet, even romantic. But these are tough times all around, and the Millers beat the demons down by exposing them on this unfettered folk-rock set. On “The River’s Gonna Run,” penned by Julie, Buddy takes on lead vocals, accompanied by his droning guitar (NRBQ’s Joey Spampinato sits in on bass). It’s an exhilaratingly dark tune about abandoning just about everything for the unknown. Julie’s quirky little-girl voice welcomes obsessive love on “You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast,” which features Buddy playing like Chuck Berry on speed. Though the pace slows down for “Dirty Water,” Julie’s lyrics are just as intense as she describes her lover as a kind of poison liquid. And Emmylou Harris guests for a duet with Buddy on Julie’s plaintive and innocent “Forever Has Come to an End.” Rounding out the set are covers of Richard Thompson’s “Keep Your Distance,” Bob Dylan’s “Wallflower,” and Utah Phillips's “Rock Salt and Nails.” These pay tribute to the Miller’s influences, but this is not a couple with a penchant for nostalgia. Buddy & Julie Miller is in the here and now; it’s vibrant, almost terrifying, music that shatters the soul and then puts it back together again. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

Earthy husband and wife singer/songwriters Buddy & Julie Miller offer more rootsy, countrified folk music on their self-titled 2001 release, this time with a full, more rock-influenced sound. While the two have made involved appearances on each others' albums, Buddy & Julie Miller marks their first release as a true duo. The leadoff track, "Keep Your Distance," is a full and lush stomper, humming with rich Hammond organ and rattling tambourine, while the breathy trembler "You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast" is a bluesy throwback to late-'70s era Rolling Stones, with heavy electric guitar and throbbing drums. Fans of the Millers' traditional folk love songs needn't worry; the achingly bittersweet "Forever Has Come to an End" is on par with the honest American folk on their previous releases, and the dark murder ballad "Rock Salt and Nails" is as gripping and chilling as Gillian Welch's gritty recordings. The harmonies of Julie's sweet, girlish singsong and Buddy's gruff, dark voice still remain their strongest trademark, with their honest songwriting following closely behind. Buddy & Julie Miller continue to grow and experiment with their sound, and while this may ruffle the feathers of folk purists, Americana fans will certainly embrace this new direction wholeheartedly. Zac Johnson