JULIE MILLER – BLUE PONY (Hightone)
Between 1990 and 1994 Julie Miller released four solid discs, each aimed squarely at the CCM market, and as good as they were, all missed the mark sales wise. Her fourth, Invisible Girl was particularly strong, but sales remained as depressing as ever. Given the right exposure, Miller’s rootsy mix of twang guitar and Appalachian style folk tunes coupled with a childlike delivery would seem to insure a bigger audience. The vocalist she most brings to mind, sometime singing partner Victoria Williams, is an prime example of quirkiness catching on with the general public.
With Blue Pony Miller has followed her husband Buddy, (whose debut effort Your Love and Other Crimes was one of the finest albums released in 1995) to mainstream label Hightone.
While the disc was recorded for a new market, Miller hardly changes her stance. As she explained to World Magazine, “I know the album’s for Hightone, so I’m not going to sell them a really heavy duty gospel record. But, then again, if I can’t be myself and release my heart – what’s the point. Our days are numbered, and I just want God to use my life. That’s all I really care about.”
Blue Pony makes good on the promise of all these years, offering the most mature, enjoyable disc of her career. Perhaps with Hightone behind her Miller will finally begin to reach the audience she deserves. To that end, the influential Entertainment Weekly magazine recently awarded the disc an A rating.
Miller’s pal Victoria Williams guests on the following two releases.