The Believer

Performer: Rhett Miller
Engineer: David Bianco; Rafael Serrano; Matthew Cullen
Producer: George Drakoulias; George Drakoulias
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Rhett Miller (vocals, hand claps); Rhett Miller; Danny DeLaMatyr (vocals, background vocals); Rossilind Ross Miller, Salim Nourallah (vocals); Josh Schwartz (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jon Brion (guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, chamberlin, bass guitar); Lyle Workman (guitar, electric guitar); George Drakoulias (guitar, piano, shaker, tambourine, hand claps, percussion); Salim Nouraliah (bass guitar); Rachael Yamagata (vocals); Gary Louris (guitar, background vocals); Patrick Warren (chamberlin, keyboards); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion). Audio Mixer: David Bianco. Recording information: Allaire Studios, Shokan, NY; Sound City, Los Angeles, CA; Sound Factory, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Mark Seliger. The second major-label release by Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller is even better than its excellent predecessor, 2002's THE INSTIGATOR. This should come as no surprise to fans: Miller has the sort of sparkling talent destined to constantly evolve and refine itself. As a tunesmith, Miller writes moving songs with minted pop melodies that rock, twang, and etch themselves into the brain, and are made whole by his honest, emotionally charged voice. With its stellar songcraft and sophisticated arrangements, THE BELIEVER is top-notch pop-leaning rock (or as Miller himself describes it, it's like "George Gershwin does T. Rex's THE SLIDER"). With a cast of seasoned session musicians and bright, pristine production by George Drakoulias (of Black Crowes and Tom Petty fame), THE BELIEVER has all the hallmarks of a polished pop product. But the expressive, emotional bent to Miller's songwriting and the conviction of his performances inject a healthy dose of humanity into the mix, and a genuine sense of yearning that does not go unnoticed.

Rolling Stone (p.90) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[F]ull of gracefully rocking arrangements and ace tunes....Miller is a well-read guy who believes in keeping his heart on his sleeve and his songs tidy and focused." Entertainment Weekly (p.100) - "BELIEVER has gorgeous arrangements, melodies, turns of phrase, tailoring, and portraiture." -- Grade: B

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