When
Rhett Miller released
The Instigator in 2002, more than a few
Old 97's fans were worried that the group's charismatic frontman and ace songwriter was going to leave alt-country behind in favor of the pop stardom that seemed to be his for the asking. 20 years later, it's safe to assume that
Miller isn't going to be topping the charts anytime soon, and he seems to know it.
Miller's 2018 solo LP
The Messenger found him dipping his toes into more experimental waters, conjuring a set of idiosyncratic smart pop with the help of producer and multi-instrumentalist
Sam Cohen, a former member of
Apollo Sunshine and
Yellowbirds. The result was one of
Miller's most interesting solo releases to date, and he teamed up with
Cohen again for 2022's
The Misfit. Since
Miller rarely works with the same people twice as a solo artist, this is a bit of a surprise, and in their return engagement, they build on the eccentricity of
The Messenger and deliver the most satisfyingly weird release of
Miller's career. Steeped in electronic keyboards with
Miller's voice gliding through clouds of echo and reverb,
The Misfit is a sterling exercise in off-kilter psychedelic-infused indie pop that manages to sound not a bit like the
Old 97's or the lion's share of
Miller's solo work. Even the relatively straightforward numbers like "Beautiful Life" and "Let Me Go There with You" drip with atmosphere as
Cohen's melodies turn with the evocative tone of
Big Star's 3rd, and his willingness to explore the outer boundaries of
Miller's music yields potent results on "Heart Attack Days" and his slightly bent homages to
the Beatles ("Go Through You") and
Tom Petty ("Follow You Home"). Part of what makes this collaboration so rewarding is the strength of
Miller's lyrics; he wrote the words to these tunes while
Cohen penned the music, and instead of his usual tales of life as a lothario,
The Misfit deals with relationships with greater honesty and no small amount of introspection. Even if they're not presented with their usual clarity, his vocals are more than up to the challenge of this more mature material.
The Misfit is an album where
Rhett Miller has taken a whole bunch of chances, and nearly all of them pay off. Doubtless there are fans who will not know what to make of this music, but those who investigate with an open mind will be amply rewarded. ~ Mark Deming