Buddy and Julie Miller have been wed for 40 years. Their latest album, 鈥淚n the Throes,鈥� celebrates the marvelous marriage of his rustic, raspy tenor and her eternally youthful alto.
The 12-song set, which will be released Friday is filled with the Tennessee duo鈥檚 rootsy harmonies that bridge genres and are a model of an equal partnership. At times, either vocal line could be the melody, as with some .
The Millers also shine singing solo. Buddy鈥檚 at his plaintive, full-throated best on the ballads and 鈥淚鈥檒l Never Live It Down,鈥� which showcase the Ohio native as a Southern soul man. His distinctive electric guitar work is equally compelling.
Julie takes the lead vocal on 鈥淚鈥檝e Been Around,鈥� a delightful slice of bluesy bravado, dissonance and distortion punctuated by her antic shouts of 鈥淗ey! Hey!鈥� She says the song came to her in her sleep, and she awoke to record it immediately in one take, which is just how it sounds.
By contrast, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Make Her Cry鈥� required years to complete 鈥� Julie, Bob Dylan and Regina McCrary passed it around and share composing credit.
Julie is the sole songwriter on the other cuts, and there鈥檚 a recurring spiritual strain. 鈥淣iccolo鈥� mixes sweet and savory pop and finds comfort in angels, while 鈥淭he Last Bridge You Will Cross鈥� pays reverent tribute to the late for making love a weapon. The infectious country gospel singalong 鈥淲e鈥檙e Leavin鈥欌�� offers uplift, as does the simple ballad 鈥淚 Love You,鈥� where the Millers harmonize about the permanent bond that is a happy marriage.
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AP music reviews:
Steven Wine, The Associated Press
