Old 97's - Blame It On Gravity Review

Rewind the clock to the early 1990s, when the Old 97's were not old in the least and their charismatic, pinup-worthy frontman -- a struggling musician sharing an apartment with Clark Vogeler of the Toadies -- had yet to reconcile his dueling adoration for pop music and vintage country songs. As the band rose to prominence, first in their native Dallas and then in alt country circles nationwide, they displayed a twangy vigor that fueled their early efforts. That vitality never quite left, but it became tempered over the years -- tempered by the band's hasty exit from Elektra Records in 2001, by Rhett Miller's subsequent solo career, by the onset of fatherhood, by the steady encroachment of middle age. Cutting back to 2008, however, the Old 97's sound youthful and newly energized, having returned to Dallas and relocated that beloved crossroads between twangy country rock and tight, economic power pop....full text Old 97's may have begun their days injecting their ragged, sandy alt-country with frenetic punk energy, but on this, their first record in four years, the focus is squarely on hooks, pop crunch and a sense of fun not always apparent in their recent records. "Blame It on Gravity" is a fevered, carbonated affair, especially on the jingly "No Baby I," the extremely sticky "My Two Feet" and opener "The Fool," which also benefits from a solid helping of Rhett Miller's tricky, narrative wordplay. But the band scores well on the slow numbers too—"Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue" is a near-perfect country weeper for a summer's night (penned by bassist Murry Hammond, no less)....full text The latest from veteran Dallas alt.country rockers Old 97’s is an album I thought would never be made. Following 2004’s subdued Drag It Up, lead singer Rhett Miller focused extensively on his solo career, and I figured that the 97’s had finally derailed. Not so fast, buckaroo. Miller, wit firmly intact, contributes 11 of his smartass, lovelorn pop nuggets on this record, and bass player Murry Hammond piles on with a letter-perfect Buddy Holly tribute....full text