Rhett Miller: A Lifetime Of Riding By Night [Album Review]

Rhett Miller
A Lifetime Of Riding By Night
ATO Records [2025]

“A weathered, heartfelt ride from a songwriter who still finds beauty in the miles behind him.”

Album Overview: Rhett Miller—best known as the frontman of the long-running alt-country band Old 97’s—has built a career as both a prolific songwriter and a sharp storyteller. Born in Texas and now based in New York, he’s also an author, podcaster, and educator. Over more than three decades, Miller has released a dozen albums with Old 97’s along with a steady stream of solo projects that showcase his more personal, reflective side.

A Lifetime of Riding by Night marks his tenth solo album and reunites him with Old 97’s bassist Murry Hammond as producer—their first time working together since Miller’s 1989 debut Mythologies. Recorded primarily at Dave’s Room in Los Angeles, the album features collaborations with Nicole Atkins, Evan Felker, Jesse Valenzuela, Caitlin Rose, and Ben Greenman. Across its tracks, Miller contemplates love, mortality, and resilience with the kind of hard-won perspective that only comes from years of living it. The record also lands at a moment of well-earned recognition, as Old 97’s were recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Honors & Awards.

Musical Style: A Lifetime of Riding by Night blends folk warmth with country-tinged rock and subtle cinematic flourishes. It’s melodic and understated—built on shimmering guitars and graceful arrangements that let Miller’s voice and phrasing take the spotlight. The album keeps a classic singer-songwriter feel but benefits from his collaborators’ fingerprints: Rose’s emotional push, Atkins’ soulful lift, and Felker’s earthy grit—all stitched together by Miller’s natural storytelling charm.

Evolution of Sound: This might be Miller’s most open and self-aware record yet. Where earlier albums sometimes chased clever hooks or crisp pop polish, this one leans into quiet reflection and emotional honesty. You can feel the vulnerability that came from recording just before his vocal surgery—there’s a rasp of truth in the delivery that gives these songs weight. Hammond’s steady hand as producer grounds the material, providing a familiar heartbeat that lets the lyrics lead.

Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Jeff Tweedy’s literate Americana, Iron & Wine’s gentle craftsmanship, or Josh Ritter’s reflective storytelling will find plenty to love here. There’s also a shared spirit with Jason Isbell, Nicole Atkins, and Caitlin Rose—artists who marry heartfelt emotion with sharp, timeless songwriting.

Pivotal Tracks: “All For You,” co-written with Jesse Valenzuela, is a tender ode to gratitude and redemption—made even more poignant knowing it was recorded just days before Miller’s surgery. “Come As You Are,” featuring Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours, pairs empathy and grit in equal measure. “All Over Again,” written with Nicole Atkins, is a luminous plea for compassion anchored by the line, “What if everybody was there for each other just for a minute?” Together, these tracks form the emotional backbone of the record—a gentle reminder of hope’s endurance.

Lyrical Strength: Miller has always had a knack for wordplay, but here his writing feels more lived-in. The cleverness gives way to clarity—songs that read like letters from someone taking stock of where he’s been and what still matters. There’s gratitude, weariness, and grace in equal parts. He sidesteps pretense, instead leaning on plainspoken truth that hits harder because it’s simple and sincere.

Final Groove: A Lifetime of Riding by Night refines Rhett Miller. It’s the sound of a veteran songwriter easing into his skin, comfortable enough to trade flash for feeling. The album won’t floor you with reinvention, but its steady acoustic warmth lingers long after the last note. If this is Miller riding through another chapter, he’s doing it with the kind of quiet confidence that suggests there are still plenty of miles—and stories—left ahead.

RHETT MILLER REVIEW HISTORY
The Misfit (2022) / The Traveler (2015) / The Believer (2006)

OLD 97’S REVIEW HISTORY
American Primitive (2024) / Twelfth (2020) / Graveyard Whistling (2017) / Most Messed Up (2014)

RHETT MILLER LINKS
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | ATO Records