Rhett Miller

Add Date: May 22 

Artist: Rhett Miller 

Album: The Dreamer 

Label: Maximum Sunshine 

Genre: Folk rock, alt-country 

Comments: The Dreamer is the latest effort from Rhett Miller, frontman of the long-running Dallas band Old 97's. As with his previous solo work, it's a collection of well-constructed tunes, veering a bit more toward the singer/songwriter end of the spectrum--just a bit, though, as Miller works with The Serial Lady Killers, who will also be his backing band on tour this summer--than the alt-country of the Old 97's.

If you're unfamiliar with Miller, think Ryan Adams or M. Ward, but with more noticeable nods toward country--the most consistent of these touches being Rich Hinman's pedal steel, which shows up on 11 of The Dreamer's 13 tracks. Opening cuts "Lost Without You" and "Long Long Long" are fine slices of roots rock, while "Out of Love" is a foreboding country-rock gem; also try the folk number "As Close As I Came to Being Right", a duet with Rosanne Cash.