There seems to be a feeling of disappointment in many of the reviews of the Old 97’s new album, Drag It Up. Oh, the album is being lauded and applauded across the music world. But there’s also a subtle of “we expected something else” thing going on in the reviews. For instance, Andy Whitman in the August/September Paste article says, “After the British Invasion power-pop leanings of 1999’s Fight Songs and the masterful Satellite Rides, Drag It Up marks a return to the Old 97’s cowpunk roots.” Is this supposed to imply a let down?
I guess if you’re still jonesing for “Murder (Or a Heart Attack),” then when Drag It Up opens with “Won’t Be Home” you probably are scratching your head. “Won’t Be Home”’s trap set rhythm, plucky bass, and fuzzy lead-in guitar aren’t that power-pop of 1999. However, even Fight Songs doesn’t open with that power-pop on track 1. Instead, you’re welcomed by “Jagged,” a country/dirty blues ditty. If you’re really ready to step onto the train with the Old 97’s, travel from Texas to Nashville to Motown to Britain to Memphis, if you’re ready to say, “Oh, the places you’ll go,” then there’s no disappointment. Drag It Up is another collection of varied, countrified rock songs, ready to burn down the place, open up your head, and leave your heart slamming against your chest and your throat.
If you didn’t expect those varied sounds on Drag It Up, you haven’t been paying attention, because the boys have tapped into these styles before, each time creating something new, challenging, and rock steady. Just as “Won’t Be Home” launches the latest collection with its train track trap beat, so drummer Philip Peebles has driven that beat before on “Am I Too Late” (Satellite Rides), “Let the Idiot Speak” (Fight Songs) and Too Much to Care’s opener “Timebomb.”
Just as “Coahuila” is a quirky, Buddy Holly a la Tejano song, so the 97’s have often included a quirky tune here and there—“Up the Devil’s Pay” (Satellite Rides), “Crash on the Barrelhead” (Fight Songs) and “West TX Teardrops” (Too Much to Care). The change this time around is that while the quirky songs have sometimes featuring bassist Murry Hammond on vocals, Drag It Up presents guitarist Ken Bethea’s first take at the lead vocals on “Coahuila.”
What remains a part of each album, including the newest, is the ability of this band to take a country rock song, make it feel like an all-out punk throw down, while also retaining the right just to party at the bar. “The New Kid” does just that on Drag It Up, and incidentally would make a fine song to use when talking to youth about social circles in high school. That countrified head banger sound also can be found on “King of All the World” (Satellite Rides), “Nineteen” (Fight Songs) and “Streets Where I’m From” (Too Much to Care).
That throw down AltCountry rock sound is what I most look forward to hearing and watching live when I get a chance on Friday, October 22, in Minneapolis. Those tunes are especially made all the more energized by lead singer Rhett Miller’s heart-on-sleeve, heartthrob, busted heart presence. (Miller said on the official Website blog that he sometimes grew weary of writing up the set list. Rhett, might I suggest a package of these 4 throw down tunes for Minneapolis?). Tune into Music Spectrum that the week after the Minneapolis show a review of the live set and to see if there’s more news and comment from Murry Hammond.
Finally, one more comment on my love for the new album: the song “Bloomington.” I grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. I doubt the guys are singing about my Bloomington, and I’m not going to admit that the song sounds like my experience. However, I was the one who had a blue car. I drove around Bloomington, chasing all of the girls. I was reminded of all of those silly high school feelings as I arrived back home last weekend listening to this song.
Even if you’re not from Bloomington, you won’t be disappointed with Drag It Up. Don’t drag yourself to go get Drag It Up; two-step, pogo, “slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched” to your nearest independent record store to grab this disc. (Kudos, by the way, if you know what song that quote is from, and no, it’s not an Old 97’s song).
Thanks to New West Records, the Old 97′s, and Murry Hammond for the review copies and their help.
Past Old 97’s Postings at Music Spectrum
Old 97′s Fight Songs posted 3/22/04
Old 97′s Interview with Murry Hammond posted 7/19/04
The Murry Hammond interview is also the featured article this month at Phantom Tollbooth, a Website dedicated to music and movie reviews from a Christian perspective.
