Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

As a guitar sessioner, he's much in demand in Nashville including his work as a sidesman for Emmylou Harris. In CCM circles he's probably best known as the husband of Julie Miller who recorded a handful of Christian music albums at the beginning of the '90s. He's released solo projects and albums with his wife for a while now but with 'Universal United House Of Prayer' it feels as though everything has come together to create a steaming gumbo of intense music and spiritual questions and challenges. This is searing music that separates the spiritual flimsy from what is real, earthy and worthwhile. Kicking off with a Mark Heard song "Worry Too Much", thematically it's almost immediately answered by the second song "There's A Higher Power". Both songs feature the immaculate soulful gospel vocals of Regina and Ann McCrary. Another highlight is a brilliant cover of Dylan's "With God On Our Side" which seems to speak with increasing power in these days of America's actions post 9/11. Elsewhere there's the excellent spiky alt country "Don't Wait" and the bluesy Julie Miller-penned "Fall On The Rock" that closes things. Ultimately this is an all round superb piece of artistry.

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