We first visited Chris Mills back in issue #4 upon release of his debut single, one of the best 7-inch releases of 1996. Nobody’s Favorite shows further evidence of Mills’ promise, though it’s still more a harbinger of what may be in store for this barely-old-enough-to-drink lad than the real deal itself.
If there’s a disappointment here, it’s that the clear standout track is “Nowhere Town”, which is the same song that was the A-side of last year’s single. I’d hoped for another half-dozen songs to match its brilliance and passion, and that’s not quite the case on this EP. However, there’s still enough good material to keep things interesting, and it’s bound together with a simple, rough-cut acoustic touch that gives the feel of a small-time, homegrown treasure.
“Bad With Names” is the best example, with a slowly rolling, entrancing melody that recalls the qualities for which the Scud Mountain Boys have become appreciated. “This Love” and “Killers” are less successful, a little too spare and simple to hold attention. But “Nowhere Town” promptly kicks the disc back into gear near the end, and the closing track, “Keep the Corpse Beautiful”, is a portrait of heartbroken devotion that’s not easily forgotten once the spinning has stopped.
