Cruel Moon

Buddy Miller's third HighTone album has no filler but contains lots of power. Melding blues, country, and rock & roll, Miller gets a huge sound out of just guitar, bass, and drums. Backing Miller are Al Perkins on steel guitar, Tammy Rogers's fiddle, and vocal harmonies from wife Julie Miller, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris. He is a classic-sounding guitarist, an instinctive singer; a roots-music seeker; and one of the most driven and versatile artists working in 1999.