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He thinks he belongs up there in front of that expert new band, singing or shouting whatever banality, profundity, or turn of phrase he's written down, and his level of enthusiasm combined with his level of craft will convince anyone who still likes, you know, songs.
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Given time, though, The Believer blooms.
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BillboardHas less twang but more bang than any of his previous work. [4 Mar 2006]
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Entertainment WeeklyA few more quirks and blemishes might've made it more memorable. [3 Mar 2006, p.100]
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The Believer is a strong and enormous album about sex.
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BlenderThere's a little too much goop here. [Mar 2006, p.113]
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These fluid, unfussy songs don't quite stick in your gut the way the 97's' best stuff does, but give Miller a chance and he can charm you something fierce.
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What, besides an extra layer of production syrup, can Believer cuts like "Ain't That Strange" and "Delicate" offer that almost any Old 97's barn burner can't?
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Ultimately he fails to make a lasting impression.
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The New York TimesWhile the Los Angeles-based Mr. Miller looks good at the cabaret mike, he's still better when part of a real band. [27 Feb 2006]
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Sticks to the mold of its hook-y predecessor.
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The Believer may be a formula recording, but it still satisfies, for the most part, on the level of what it is: a finely crafted pop/rock album.
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After Drag It Up, their dismal last offering, The Believer is another sign pointing to what may be the wreck of the Old 97s.
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Unfortunately, the music gets bogged down with strings and other symptoms of overproduction.
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Miller's compositions are typically well crafted and slightly artier than what you'd hear on, say, a Josh Groban disc, but this isn't too far off that sort of pouty boy bellowing.
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There's no question Miller can wring plenty of twisted emotion out of tender love songs. He's one hell of a songwriter. Problem is that even when working with uber-producers Jon Brion and George Drakoulias, Miller misses his bandmates.
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Alternative PressThe sound of an artist losing the qualities that made him unique to begin with. [Apr 2006, p.216]
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No matter how many literary allusions or whimsically witty turns of phrase he packs into a verse, The Believer lacks the balance and blood of his previous work.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 8 out of 9
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Mixed: 1 out of 9
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Negative: 0 out of 9
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StephenVMay 19, 2006
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StanApr 8, 2006
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JDSaintApr 4, 2006