Rhett Miller

After establishing themselves with a twang, Rhett Miller and his band the Old 97's were
becoming less and less of an alt-country group on their last two albums -- with 2001's
excellent Satellite Rides, Miller appeared to have found his true voice in Replacements- and
Pixies-inspired pop. Unfortunately, that good-natured raggedness isn't much in evidence
on Miller's second solo album, The Instigator, an album that's too self-consciousl... More >

With producer Jon Brion overdubbing band parts, these pretty-hooks-all-in-a-row end up too pick-'em-up-and-put-'em-down, and some of the lyrics are reductive, victims rather than bright clear examples of the high focus Miller sets his sights on. "Things That Disappear," for instance, doesn't fuse mortality and splitsville the way it means to. On the other hand, "This Is What I Do" is a statement of artistic purpose straightforward and subtle enough to justify anybody's solo debut. In his minor way, Miller is a major talent. I still miss the Old 97's. (Grade: A-)