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Rhett Miller, lead singer of boozy raucous rockers The Old 97 s, will release his new solo album ‘The Traveler’ on May 12th. Recorded with Black Prairie (members of The Decemberists ) and produced by Chris Funk, The Traveler showcases a relentless and seemingly ageless songwriter honed by years on the road.
The Traveler is one of Miller’s most satisfying solo efforts to date; on these sessions, he was accompanied by Black Prairie, a band featuring several members of the Decemberists on a busman’s holiday, and their atmospheric sound, full of fiddles, accordions, mandolins, and rolling drums, gives his melodies a flavor that’s rootsy but not necessarily country (and very different from the Old 97’s), and their harmonies blend beautifully with Miller’s lead vocals. (Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey also pop up on a few songs, adding some welcome jangle.) Most of the songs on The Traveler pass muster, and a few are excellent, but it’s Miller’s interaction with Black Prairie that really makes the album work. They ought to collaborate on a follow-up about a mildly reluctant but essentially faithful husband living in Austin. At least in theory, it should come natural to him.