A dozen love songs

Rhett Miller has returned. The Texas alternative country icon’s self-titled release is his third solo album.

When not fronting his usual band, the Old 97’s, Miller has shown his ability to stand on his own, showcasing his writing talent. For the most part, he continues that trend with this release.

“Like Love” sets the tone with an upbeat tempo juxtaposed with Miller’s soft, whiny voice. The song keeps a steady beat throughout, with his vocals standing out like they do so well on most of his work. Though it may seem like an upbeat number, Miller’s lyrics paint a vastly different picture.

“We’re all alone in this world / From cradle to grave and maybe after that / We all want things we can never afford, like a house filled with laughter every night / All of these things that we’ll never afford, like love.”

Though “Like Love” might prove to be the best track, “I Need To Know Where I Stand” is the first single. Though more laid-back than the aforementioned track, it has an equally upbeat vibe, with a hummable rhythm beneath Miller’s yearning voice. There is definitely a hint of Grateful Dead influence in this song, between the lazy-but-happy feel of the rhythm section coupled with the chorus, where Miller’s harmonized vocals soar to new heights. This is vintage Rhett Miller.

This latest release from the singing Texan is full of love ballads from start to finish. Though many of them have great depth, there are a few that seem to fall flat. “Lashes” and “Haphazardly” just sound boring, and any emotion contained in them seems contrived.

Though Miller might still have some work left to do to come up with the perfect album, he’s always able to compose good songs.