Old 97's Album: “Satellite Rides”

The old 97s are distancing themselves from their alternative country tag and exploring a more pop sound on their new release "Satellite Rides". This album to me sounds similar to "Fight Songs" but it is much better in that it is more of a "band sound" then the polished studio sound on "Fight Songs". The first song is "King of all of the World" which has been receiving quite a bit of radio play and it is no wonder because it is the catchiest track on the album. My favorite is "Book of Poems" but "Rollerskate Skinny" is excellent too. All in all it "Satellite Rides" sounds like a band hitting it's stride while distancing itself from it's no depression/alt. country roots. You'll hear quite a variety on this disk with more harmoninies and a bit of a brit-pop influence. The band not only sounds different but they look different, just see the band photo on the album cover. The Beatles meet Texas Swing? Anyways buy this great new album by the Old 97s and listen.

I bought this CD three days ago and can't get enough. It's audio crack, I can't wait for my next fix. This is one of those rare records where after several spins you get the sneaking suspicion that every song on the record is great, kinda of like "Hey, I'm on song #6, and I've loved every song I've heard so far". It's when you realize you're still to hear such goodies as "Weightless" and "Designs on You" that you know you've reached a happy musical zone. These guys get such a buzzing, joyous guitar momentum going in each song, layering on little twangy filigreeing codas just to take the feeling up a notch. When you put that together with singing like Miller's soulful Oh Yeah, Oh Yeahs on "Weightless" or his mournful crooning on "Buick City Complex", you have a very heart-swelling experience. All the vaguely curious who have stumbled upon this review should do themselves a solid and pick this up.

This is simply great stuff. Whether you want to call it power pop, alternative country, or whatever, it is great stuff. "Buick City Complex" and "Designs On You" are brilliant. While I would agree that this album isn't as tight as Too Far To Care, it is still a great rock and roll album. Don't bother putting a tag on the 97's, they transcend titles. They rock and boogie and country. It's simply American music. Rhett Miller is a very strong song writer, and he carries the band well. Hooks, choruses, solid beat, nifty guitar breaks, and enthusiastic singing. What else matters? Give me that "Roller Skate Skinny," let's rock.

Sometimes when I listen to a CD I hear what I call "pure music." Usually by artists who exist to create music, not get rich, not make videos, not be on the cover of magazines. This CD is pure music. Every song is perfectly crafted without sounding over-produced or losing spontaneity. The lyrics are universal without being trite and poetic without being pretentious. Then there's the music: hooks that are poppy but not shamelessly so... the whole package just WORKS. Folks, who cares if this isn't as "alt-country" as the 97's earlier work... it's pure music, and it's darn good music too. Buy it... you won't be disappointed.

Admittedly I'm an Old 97s nut so take this with a grain of salt, but this is a sweet CD. Personally I don't buy into the proposition that the last CD, Fight Songs, was a sell-out to pop. I view it as the evolution of a fine band. And Satellite Rides is evidence of further, positive evolution. There is a confluence between the band's very first albums and this CD that is unmistakable - Miller's stunning raw vocals, the often bitter lyrics, the blend of country, rock and pop that satisfies the soul of an eclectic, guitar- and lyric-loving music fan. As on other CDs, there are a few tepid tracks, but most of the CD is excellent and grows on you, listen after listen. I had the pleasure of seeing the band live after I'd listened to Satellite Rides 3-4 times. They played about 7 songs off the new CD and they were incredible. The songs are better live (they always are with Old 97s), but the CD stands on its own two feet as another recorded gem by the best live band around. Catch their act next time they come to your town, you'll be saying "DAMN THEY WERE GOOD" for days.