Rhett Miller (from The Misfit

Rhett Miller (from The Misfit

Rhett Miller (from The Misfit available on ATO Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
‘I was living in a dream’ Rhett Miller coos so convincingly on “Follow Me Home”, one of several effusive and effervescent tracks illuminating The Misfit, Rhett Miller’s eighth and most affecting solo effort to date. Miller, the erstwhile leader of Americana champs Old ‘97s, sounds like he’s newly liberated, given the carefree sounds the album exudes throughout. Lead track “Heart Attack Days”, a giddy, good time romp of a tune, sets up the feel of the album overall, thanks to a compelling chorus (‘let’s spend the night together’ it urges) that echoes the intent of the classic Stones standard, albeit with less obvious menace and malfeasance.
 
More to the point, Rhett Miller creates songs with an occasional blurred edge, but with songs as sweet and serendipitous as the cooing “Already There”, he offers a warm, welcoming embrace that engages the listener with a soothing scenario and s sometimes surreal entreaty. Granted, things can also become somewhat eschew at times. “Just When it Gets Good”, for example, shares a semi-psychedelic sway, while “Beautiful Life” take on a delightfully delirious tone all its own. Miller proves to be a convincing crooner, and there’s not a single song here that doesn’t resonate in ways that are alluring, affecting and enticing.
 
That said, Miller seems to have exhausted his energy as the set winds down, with “The White Tops”, “Let Me Go with You”, “Twelve Thirty-Four”, and “You’ll Be Glad” shifting his stance towards a more pensive approach. The tone is hypnotic to a great degree, and it remains well in keeping with the wistful aura that pervades the album overall.
 
Ultimately, one would be hard-pressed to find a set of songs as captivating and compelling as those offerings that define the absolute essence of The Misfit’s music. Immensely satisfying, it shares a calming caress that’s so needed in the midst of today’s tragedies and turbulence. In that regard, consider it an excellent antidote for a decidedly unsettled era. (By Lee Zimmerman)
 
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