SOLO ALBUM
ON SHOUT! FACTORY RECORDS IN STORES JUNE 9
National Summer Tour To Follow
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Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and Old 97's front man Rhett Miller will release a collection of new songs on June 9, his fourth solo album and the first on Shout! Factory. The self-titled album will thrill fans with an up-close and personal journey through Miller's dark heart and complicated mind - all set to the kind of rollicking tunes for which he's known. The album is the darkest of Miller's deep catalog of releases, and is a personal triumph both lyrically and sonically.
“My approach to songwriting has always been to take a heavy subject and put it to a bouncy tune. This record takes that trick to the next level," Miller says. “Don't get me wrong, there are some rays of sunshine on the album, but there is a lot of deep night." He explains further, “The death of my grandmother, the suicide of my hero, David Foster Wallace. In my head, I was sort of in a dark place when I made this record." Laughing, he adds, “It's still a fun record to listen to. It's a fine line you gotta walk, right?"
Miller penned all the songs on the record with the exception of “If It's Not Love," which was co-written with Matt Scannell. Rhett Miller was produced by Salim Nourallah, who also produced the latest critically acclaimed Old 97's release, 2008's Blame It On Gravity. The exciting new 12-song set also features multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon Brion on guitar and bass, The Apples In Stereo's John Dufilho on drums and Billy Harvey on guitar. While speaking to Billboard Magazine about the album, Miller stated that “Every musician I hired was a producer. All these people could have easily produced this record themselves." While the album was initially planned as a stripped-down, acoustic record, with the help of his stellar backing band, it quickly turned into one of huge sonic scope.
While maintaining his career with the Old 97's, Austin-born Rhett Miller has also released three previous solo albums: Mythologies, recorded during his junior year in high school and produced by future Old 97's co-founder Murry Hammond in 1989, 2002's The Instigator, and The Believer in 2006. While based in Dallas, Miller and Hammond formed Old 97's in 1993. With their effortless combination of rock, power-pop and country, the band quickly became one of the most acclaimed and beloved bands to spring from the 90s indie rock scene. They have released seven powerhouse studio albums to date.
Well-known as an explosive live act both solo and with the band, Miller and the Old 97's will be on tour throughout the summer and fall. Many of these shows will be billed as “An Evening With...," and will feature an opening solo set by Miller during which he will perform songs from the new album and favorites from his solo catalog.
Rhett Miller Track Listing:
1. Nobody Says I Love You Anymore
2. Like Love
3. Caroline
4. I Need to Know Where I Stand
5. Happy Birthday Don't Die
6. Bonfire
7. Haphazardly
8. If It's Not Love
9. Another Girlfriend
10. Refusing Temptation
11. Lashes
12. Sometimes
Rhett Miller tour dates can be found here.
