Rhett Miller: The Instigator : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

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-consciously crafted for its own good. From the Cure-like moping of "This Is What I Do" to the Beatlesque refrain of "Things That Disappear," the Buddy Holly riff in "Point Shirley" and the AC/DC reference in "I Want to Live," Miller seems to want to show off his encyclopedic knowledge and geek-rock range. You have to wonder why: He's already proved his status as a clever songwriter. The Instigator is a middling record from a guy who's capable of making an excellent one.

MARK KEMP
(RS 909 – November 14, 2002)