Buddy Miller grabs five AMA nominations
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 – Buddy Miller received five nominations for the Americana Music Association annual awards announced Wednesday out of six member-voted categories. Justin Townes Earle received three and Alejandro Escovedo, The Flatlanders and Australia's Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson each received two nominations.
"These nominations reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the ever-growing popularity of Americana Music," said Americana Executive Director Jed Hilly. "Our Honors & Awards show will again be filled with legends and the next generation of stars; it's going to be a musical night to remember."
Nominations were:
Album of the year:
Real Animal, by Alejandro Escovedo
Written in Chalk, by Buddy & Julie Miller
Jason Isbell & The 40 Unit, by Jason Isbell & The 40 Unit
Midnight At The Movies, by Justin Townes Earle
Artist of the year:
Alejandro Escovedo
Buddy Miller
Justin Townes Earle
Raul Malo
Instrumentalist of the year
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Jerry Douglas
Sam Bush
New & Emerging Artist
Band of Heathens
Belleville Outfit
Justin Townes Earle
Sarah Borges
Song of the year:
"Chalk," written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin
"Country Love" by the Gourds
"Homeland Refugee," by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock, performed by the Flatlanders
"Rattlin' Bones" by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, performed by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
"Sex And Gasoline," by Rodney Crowell, performed by Rodney Crowell
Duo or group of the year:
Buddy & Julie Miller
The Flatlanders
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
Reckless Kelly
Selected by AMA members, nominees' eligibility is based on work released between June 1, 2008 and May 1, 2009. Winners will be announced Sept. 17 at the Ryman Auditorium during the 8th annual Americana Music Association's Honors and Awards Show. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by Miller, the ceremony will also recognize Lifetime Achievements and awards in Performance, Songwriting and the unique Spirit of Americana Award honoring Free Speech in Music.
More news for Buddy Miller
CD reviews for Buddy Miller
The Majestic Silver Strings
Buddy Miller is one of Nashville's finest guitarists. He's also a tasteful player. Therefore, while "Buddy Miller's The Majestic Silver Strings" may read like a guitar lover's dream, this is not just an excuse for Miller - along with his fellow guitar stars, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz - to show off on said silver strings.
In fact, this album is as much about great (mostly) female singing, as it is about string bending. For instance, it's such a »»» |
Universal United House of Prayer
Buddy Miller has always been on the outskirts of mainstream country music, mixing influences from gospel to blues to bluegrass and hanging out with folks like Jim Lauderdale and Emmylou Harris. He continues to march to the beat of a different drummer on this, his first true gospel album.
He sets the record up with a dark electric rocker, "Worry Too Much," in which he frets about the problems with the world. In the next song, a bright acoustic reading of the Louvin Brothers' "There's a Higher »»» |
Midnight And Lonesome
This is an album without discernable weakness, and it adds to a growing sense that Buddy Miller is on his way to being the 21st century, Americana permutation of Charlie Rich. His country soul groove, his musical eclecticism and his vocal and instrumental chops certainly lend credence to such a comparison. So does a wife whose collaborations are essential to his art and whose songs are the frameworks for some of his strongest performances.
Here, those performances include the near-to-unbearable »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King –
Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people.
As in 10 people.... »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
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Wilderness
"Wilderness" is another twisted menagerie of The Handsome Family songs. Once again, husband Brett Sparks sings their songs, sometimes in a bellowing gravedigger voice, after adding music to wife Rennie's lyrics. This time out, each and every tune is named after an animal, insect or other such nature creature. However, Rennie studies animals the way Flannery O'Connor wrote about humans, which is with the weirdness and character flaws in primary focus. »»» |
Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»» |
Dark Dirty Mile
Jason Boland and the Stragglers have released a new country album that sounds old. This isn't to imply that the sound is aged in a negative way; they have a classic country maturity that isn't heard too much these days with the exception of Jamey Johnson. For those not familiar with the music of Boland, the first track is a great way to decide whether this is your kind of country music. The title track is a mid tempo country song reminiscent of the late Waylon Jennings. »»» |
Golden
Lady Antebellum probably needed a change in direction after "Own the Night" dropped in 2011. The material was overly geared towards taking dead aim at the radio jugular. That isn't the case this time out on the trio's fifth release because most of the songs veer away from being obviously radio fodder (except for the current single Downtown with its soulful beginning and strong vocals from Hillary Scott), but that also doesn't man that this was the right change. »»» |
Annie Up
For those who thought "Hell on Heels" was a one-off side project for Miranda Lambert (along with sidekicks Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe), think again. The Annies, aka "Lonestar Annie" (Lambert), "Hippie Annie" (Monroe), and "Holler Annie" (Presley), are no novelty act. Instead, they tackle material that you just are unlikely to hear on mainstream country radio both in subject matter and sonics. »»» |
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