Review: Victoria Nugent

American country singer Buddy Miller’s latest offering Majestic Silver String feels like less of an album than a country music compilation with an extensive roster of guest vocalists filling out the tracks. There’s a bit of a throwback to 70s style country, with the whole album coming across as mellow and somewhat prairie sounding in places. This is country music that is undeniably American, with strains of bluegrass and yodelling permeating the album.

Buddy Miller has teamed up with other country guitarists Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz to create the solid, if occasionally tired instrumentals that form the backbone of most of the tracks.

“Cattle Call” starts off with an extended instrumental that is pure bluegrass, lonesome and twangy, with the eventual addition of Miller’s mellifluous vocals and a tinge of yodelling.

In “No Good Lover”, Miller teams up with Ann McCrary for a duet with bite, focusing on the demise of a relationship, with McCrary’s bold vocals the true focal point for the song.

“Meds” is a melancholy lament founded on sweet but slightly bland vocals from Lee Ann Womack. Chocolate Genius’ cover of “Dang Me” has a distinctly soul edge which seems slightly incongruous.

“Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie” with deep vocals from Marc Ribot is dark, edgy and a little on the raw side. “That’s The Way Love Goes” is sweet and tender with finely honed vocals from Shawn Colvin.The instrumental version of “Freight Train” comes across as light and charming, yet thoroughly accomplished.

Ultimately, this is a very mild album, and I couldn’t help but wish that things would spice up occasionally. All the same, the tracks are fairly easy to listen, with nothing too unpleasant in the way of instrumentals or vocals, apart from a slight want of pizzazz.

Album Track List:
1. Cattle Call (Buddy Miller sings)
2. No Good Lover (Buddy Miller & Ann McCrary sing)
3. I Want To Be With You Always (Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin sing)
4. Barres De La Prison (Marc Ribot sings)
5. Meds (Lee Ann Womack sings)
6. Dang Me (Chocolate Genius sings)
7. Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie (Marc Ribot sings)
8. That’s The Way Love Goes (Shawn Colvin sings)
9. Freight Train (Instrumental)
10. Why I’m Walkin’ (Emmylou Harris sings)
11. Why Baby Why (Buddy Miller & Marc Ribot sing)
12. Return To Me (Lee Ann Womack sings)
13. God’s Wing’ed Horse (Buddy & Julie Miller sing)

Review: Victoria Nugent