So what was Rhett Miller's last great moment, you ask? "No Baby I" three Old 97's albums ago. That's a near perfect songs like the ones who he wrote for his alt-country band on classic albums like Fighting Songs and not pieces of twaddle like the two Grand Theater albums.
Even live he has sucked the last coupla time I've seen him.
Maybe he just can't quite do it any more.
Maybe, the former glamour puss ain't what he used to be.
This live album recorded at L.A.'s famous hole in the wall hangout of the stars before they closed it and moved to bigger digs, Largo, are some favorite cover songs with Jon Brion playing back-up here and there. And it doesn't answer any questions except one: the man is great solo. I saw him perform a terrific solo gig at Hiro Ballroom a coupla years ago and this is nearly as good. Rhett is an excellent guitarist, a muscular, subtle man and a good singer, he embodies sincerity, and power.
Not all of this is golden, but what work kills. First and foremost Elliott Smith's "Happiness" -a terrific version in the middle of the late lamented folkies fave hangout. Smith comes with so much baggage now, it is hard to hear him clean but this is clean. The song is what is left standing. The Paul Simon and tom Petty cover aren't up to much, but "Brilliant Mistake" is something of a lost great Costello song and if Miller had slowed it down a heartbeat hedda got it all.
And the one time, Miller let himself get ambitious, a steely eyed "The Bewlay Brothers" which almost makes sense of all the strangeness. The song itself is pre-Ziggy Bowie channelling Dylan like a roaring, depressed great Queen. Miller seems to dig himself inside the song, he seems to be interpreting its meaning, it's like a form of rock criticism. He is more at home with "I'll Cry Instead" where he can he run his red blooded designs on you while he licks his wounds.
Grade: B+