Customer Reviews

Rhett Miller

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...when they said Rhett Miller's new, self-titled album was the best so far. Unfortunately, they were a star short with their Four-Starred assessment.

As a long-time fan of both Rhett's solo career as well as the Old 97's, I feel like Rhett has really outdone himself with this album. Lyrically, it's what we've all come to expect from this gifted song-writer with lines like, "hollow your heart out and hold out your hope/ god give me strength and a good length of rope" (Nobody Says I Love You Anymore).

Whereas his earlier albums seem more pop-oriented, Rhett has successfully managed to mix rock (Happy Birthday Don't Die) with country (Another Girlfriend) as well as his usual sixties-inspired pop (If It's Not Love). This is a great album that new fans will easily fall in love with and will remind die-hards why we fell in love in the first place.

Personal Favorites:

Nobody Says I Love You Anymore
I Need To Know Where I Stand
Sometimes

As a long-time Old 97s fan, I've noticed a shift in that band's sound as frontman Rhett Miller has developed his solo career. After Satellite Rides, which was in all honesty a pop-rock record, the Old 97s headed back toward their original country-rock turf (albeit with an increased leaning towards the pop side of the rock spectrum). Meanwhile, Rhett Miller released a series of albums (The Instigator and The Believer) which indulged his pop sensibilities and gave him room to explore different genres. This duality worked well for Rhett Miller, but despite some strong sets of songs he had yet to release a real masterpiece. This one, IMHO, is that masterpiece.

This is a subtle album of carefully-contructed mature pop, which brings out the best of Rhett's pure songwriting abilities. Rather than doing a track-by-track analysis (no need, all of them are fantastic), I'll just say that each track is unique and often stunning in its novelistic lyrical detail and memorable melodiousness. Rhett has moved past the lovable sad-sack character he protrayed in much of his earlier work, which is refreshing. His themes have become more universal and his stories more off-kilter in an entertaining and poignant way. As much as I have loved the last two Old 97s records, I have a feeling that this is the one I will be reaching for first when I just have to hear Rhett's voice and words.

In a year where many great albums are being released (Wilco, Cracker, Eels, U2, John Hammond Jr., Tommy Keene, Tinted Windows, Neko Case, etc. etc.), this is the one that I think will end up making the greatest and most lasting impact on me. I knew Rhett had this in him.

By way of context, I have been a big Old 97s fan for many years as well as being quite familiar with Rhett's earlier solo efforts. I have seen the Old 97s live several times and Rhett play solo twice. Thus, I am in a good position to evaluate his newest release.

His self titled solo album is mature, extremely thoughtful, and unbelievably melodic. As much as I really like his first two albums, this one puts him into a different category among contemporary singer/songwriters: The top echelon. Without bothering with a song by song critique, I think it is fair to say that he has taken some real musical risks on this album. The time signatures are interesting, the lyrical and song structures are unpredictable, and the content is meaningful and insightful while still being a whole lot of fun. We live in an age of highly saturated exposure to mostly bad music. Rhett Miller has such skill at taking potentially wornout themes and a style of playing that is hardly new or innovative and finding his own voice, his own originality.

My only concern (are you listening Rhett????) is that his solo success will eventually detract from his involvement in the Old 97s (I bet he has never heard this worry before...). I really appreciate Rhett's solo work; however, the guys in the Old 97s have a way of grounding his melodic, popish sensibilities with spice and grit that collectively produces some of the most outstanding music of any contemporary band. OK, that may be just a tad of overstatement. In any event, this is a terrific album. Buy it.

This is a great new set by Rhett Miller. The opener "Nobody Says I Love You Anymore" has a Kurt Weill feel like a renegade track from "The Threepenny Opera." "Like Love" bubbles melodically with lyrical heartbreak, "She wanted things that I couldn't afford like a house filled with laughter every night." "I Need to Know Where I Stand" blathers lyrically to a light boppy beat, "Well you tell me that you love me yet you won't even hug me." "Happy Birthday Don't Die" rocks to a raging electric lead with Miller's desperate lyrics tugging on the heart. "If It's Not Love" jumps out of the speakers like a clown with red ants crawling up his leg, "I was a concrete jungle in summer; I was a desert aching for rain." Songs like the hushed and intimate "Bonfire" and the tongue-in-cheek "Another Girlfriend" are also strong. This is another gem from Rhett Miller. Enjoy!

Most of the Old 97's music is up-beat and fun. Here their lead singer and primary song writer takes a departure from that to create his own album. It is a strong first solo effort, but it comes off as a little dark and melancholy. Repeated listenings reveal more layers than are readily apparent in the first few listenings.

Overall, I am a fan of Rhett Miller and the Old 97's. Including the catelog of both the band, and Rhett's solo efforts this is probably my least favorite. That said, I still listen to it regularly.

"Happy Birthday, Don't Die" is an interesting song which is probably the most upbeat song on the album.
"Like Love" is a cool song
"Sometimes" is melodic and slow, but compelling.

I suggest listening to the samples of those three songs, and I feel they are the strongest songs on the album and offer a good representation of the album as a whole.

Saw Rhett open for Old 97s the other night in St. Louis. They never cease to amaze me . . .always sound perfect and are so charismatic.
'Rhett Miller' is a fantastic album. I'm a huge fan of 'Happy Birthday Don't Die' and 'If It's Not Love'.
Check them out if you get a chance . . I guarantee, you'll become a life long fan!

The title is a reference to the first song on this terrific album. The first five songs rise up and dissolve into a rock masterpiece, Happy Birthday Don't Die. It's impossble to pick a favorite song, I listened to them all twice the first time through. All I can say is, I hope Ryan Adams is listening too.

What's not to love about Rhett Miller? His voice is so unique and cool. His songs are ultra-catchy with clever lyrics and heart-tugging melodies. And, to be honest, it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes.

I'm so happy to hear his new solo material. Every song on this album is really solid, but my favorites are definitely "If It's Not Love" and "Refusing Temptation".

this is his best album so far.
the songs are already stuck in my head after one day.

I love Old 97's and Rhett Miller. This album exudes the essence of Rhett's creative lyrics yet is stronger than his previous solo albums.
I love this album and so will you!