Rhett Miller

For his fourth solo album (counting his long out-of-print debut, Mythologies), Rhett Miller finally gets to just be himself. His last two albums had him playing the roles of The Instigator (2002) and The Believer (2006), but now, with this self-titled release, Miller strips away those labels and the one for which he’s best known, lead singer of the Dallas band Old 97’s, and offers up a set of tunes that reflect a conflicted psyche. Lyrics come from a dark place, but are masked by jaunty melodies and Miller’s exuberant charm. Themes that range from death (“Happy Birthday Don’t Die”) to self-loathing (as in the refrain of “Caroline” — “I am my own arch enemy”) and self-doubt (“I Need to Know Where I Stand”) mesh seamlessly with cheekier fare like “Another Girlfriend” (“the last thing I need is another girlfriend/two’s enough for me/two’s enough, and you would make three”). Miller teamed up with Salim Nourallah (who also produced the Old 97’s’ Blame It On Gravity) to showcase the smart and thoughtful lyrics in a way that expresses a more personal side, yet stays true to his alt-country roots. There’s still the same driving energy of the Old 97’s, and a touch of twangy nostalgia here and there (as in the dreamy West Texas guitar parts of “Bonfire”), but this presentation invokes more pop-rock influences like the Beatles, Elvis Costello and the Clash. Longtime fans will appreciate the transparency of this intimate portrait, while new listeners will get an introduction to Miller’s significant range and substance.