Old 97's Album: “Fight Songs”

Yes, "Fight Songs" is a radio-friendly album and not so honky tonky as their other albums but it still is a great album. I don't really listen to the Radio anyways so I could care less if these songs are overplayed or not. This album has an all around certain mood that brings the listener back to the mood of a Johnny Cash or Tom Waits record. It's the feeling of loneliness, desolation, last cigarette and shot of whiskey, my girl's just left me, ands I'm stranded in this God forsaken boring town. The music style is Alternative (I hate using the term but it is) with Country tones. It isn't fully Country so don't worry. The lyrics and mood are what make this album so great. Take for example this beautifully chilling lyric from "Lonely Holiday": "I've thought so much about suicide, parts of me have already died. Lonely, baby I'm not lonely, baby I'm not. I got my imaginary friend..." I don't know how many times I've listened to "Lonely Holiday" when I've been depressed. Other great songs include: "Oppenheimer", "Murder (Or Heartattack)", and "Nineteen." There are a few dragging parts at the end but the songs listed above make the album worth buying. A lot of fans consider this a "Sell out" album but I think it may be their best. Give it a chance on a moody day.

The Old 97s, members of the alt-country movement spearheaded by Uncle Tupelo and its offshoots Wilco and Son Volt, have achieved greatest commercial success to date with their fifth (?) album, which is, not surprisingly, also their least country-sounding record. Despite generous amounts of twang and occasionally morose lyrics ("I've thought so much about suicide, but parts of me have already died"), this is clearly a rock and roll album. In fact, it's reminiscent of days when the general music-listening public was not so afraid of country music and its trappings; when a number of mainstream rock acts (the Byrds, the Eagles) sounded far more like authentic country than a lot of commercial C&W these days (Shania Twain and her ilk.) The most immediately arresting song here is also the first single, "Nineteen," an ode to late-adolescent listlessness and lovelornitude which is as catchy as anything Tom Petty ever wrote, but the album is chock full of crunchy guitar hooks and rootsy head-bopping grooves, including the bright, propulsive "Murder (Or A Heart Attack)" and poppy shuffle "Oppenheimer." The lyrics are well-crafted, but have a familiar ring ("me and this girl, we've been falling in love..."), and lead singer Rhett Miller's voice is distinctive and appealing. While this release hardly brings anything new to the table, it's a great reminder of how fresh and enjoyable music can be when it sticks to the bare essentials; the elements that have been around since rock began.

I just saw Rhett Miller open for Neil Finn and he was fantastic. The bile spewed by all the "I'm-a-fan-of-the-OLD-Old97s-and-now-they-stink" people is really unfair and unfortunate. I found Mr. Miller to be gracious, energetic and top-notch professional when I saw him live in Feb 2003 (and the Instigator is a great album, not perfect, but great). And I know that Neil Finn is a fan as well, and I trust his opinion a lot more than the sour grapes I've seen here from fair-weather fans and musicians alike. Anyway, the album is great! Yes it's different, yes it's more "produced," yes it's not as yowly or twangy. But so what? Why can't an artist try different things? Lighten up people, and enjoy the album because it's really good. So is their old stuff, just in a different way.

I'm a relatively new fan of the Old 97's, starting out listening to their Fight Songs and Satellite Rides albums. Over the past several months, I've picked up every other album they released. For those of you who hate their newer material, I have this to say: each album is unique in some way, even the new ones are awesome in their own right. It's a Good Thing for bands to dabble with newer styles. Jagged and Satellite Rides are just as much the Old 97's as Hitchhike to Rhome or Wreck Your Life.

I first heard Old 97's on a local public radio station just after this album came out. They were playing "Oppenheimer". My first thought was that the singer sounded a bit like The Cure's Robert Smith. My second thought was that this was a great song; Catchy as could be, and just well written all the way around. I soon realized that this station played Old 97's quite frequently, and as I listened to all that I heard, I just fell in love. "Fight Songs" was the first Old 97's album I ever bought, and it is still my favorite. The album opens with "Jagged", a perfect example of edgy pop with just enough twang to it. "Lonely Holiday" is depressing in a wonderful way, leaving you feeling the pain of love. "Oppenheimer" and "Indefinitely" are happy-go-lucky, poppy sort of numbers that are absolutely perfect for driving in the car on a sunny day; "Nineteen" and "Murder (or a Heart Attack)" are radio-friendly numbers, but are well crafted, and don't let even the die-hard, cling-to-the-old-stuff Old 97's fan down. My least favorite song on this album for a long time was "What we talk about". I would always skip past it when I'd listen to this disc. Once I really gave it a good listen, it became one of my personal faves; Don't make the same mistake I did. The final track, "Valentine" is the icing on the cake. As if Rhett Miller's voice weren't enough to make this band shine, bassist Murray Hammond takes over vocals on this track (as well as on "Crash on the Barrelhead"), and literally draws that gut-wrenching, life-ending, heartbreaking feeling right out of you. I can't recommend this album OR this band highly enough. Why are you still sitting here reading? Go buy this CD!!