The Believer

There’s never been a question as to whether sometime Old 97s frontman Rhett Miller could write songs. He’s always matched his scruffy alt-country roots with a knack for Beatles-esque pop, but on his solo debut, the band behind him sounded wholly uninspired. Not this time. From the opening moments of the rollicking “My Valentine,” everyone here sounds fully engaged. Even when the songs veer ordinary, Miller sounds committed enough to justify the album’s title.