by Thom Owens
Poison Love picks up where Buddy Miller's debut, Your Love and Other
Lies, ended, offering a set of exhilarating traditional country laced
with blues and soul. Half of the album was recorded with Emmylou Harris'
backing band (Miller is its lead guitarist), including Emmylou on backing
vocals, but those aren't the only tracks that kick. The entire album,
from his sturdy originals to smart covers, demonstrate that he has superb
taste and a flair for down-home, gritty performances. And although Miller
is a terrific guitarist, he knows enough to keep his solos concise, serving
the purpose of the song; that, in the end, is what makes Poison Love so
good -- it's an album of great songs, delivered without pretension and
with a whole lot of heart.
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