Old 97's
Old 97's
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- The Basics
Believe it or not, 2008 marked the 15th anniversary of Old 97's' formation. Actually, that fact's not so surprising when you consider all the crucial alt-country albums they've released among glimpses of white-knuckle punk and hook-seeking power-pop. Hit play on any of the following cuts to hear their history in song, from the lightly seasoned balladry of "Question" to the rollicking, beer-soaked grooves of "Timebomb" — a bar brawl just waiting to happen. Can't forget a hearty helping of twang-centric tunes, either, served up courtesy of "Wish the Worst" and "Big Brown Eyes."
And then there's the solo career of singer/guitarist Rhett Miller, which is featured alongside more Old 97's tracks in our Next Steps.$15.15 The Basics
Parental AdvisoryName Time Price 1 Question 2:15 $1.29 View In iTunes 2 Murder (Or a Heart Attack) 3:41 $0.99 View In iTunes 3 Timebomb 3:08 $0.99 View In iTunes 4 King of All the World 2:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 5 Wish the Worst 4:32 $0.99 View In iTunes 6 Barrier Reef 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 7 Designs On You 3:48 $0.99 View In iTunes 8 Big Brown Eyes 4:23 $0.99 View In iTunes 9 Dance With Me 2:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 10 Indefinitely 3:41 $0.99 View In iTunes 11 Niteclub 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 12 19 3:40 $0.99 View In iTunes 13 Buick City Complex 3:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 14 ExplicitDoreen 3:42 $0.99 View In iTunes 15 Won't Be Home 4:46 $0.99 View In iTunes Total: 15 Songs - Next Steps
While we certainly don't endorse quitting school, Rhett Miller's easily one of Dallas' coolest college dropouts, leaving Sarah Lawrence College behind for early attempts at folk and Anglophile pop. Hey, at least he eventually applied his creative writing skills to the wry tales of Old 97's and a pair of recent solo albums. The latter's in full bloom here, including the lonesome chords and lovelorn lyrics of "Come Around," the candlelit duet of "Fireflies," and the whiskey-swilling, piano-pounding saloon routine of "Singular Girl."
More than 15 years of proving everyone wrong has produced quite a few fan favorites and rarities, too, as heard throughout our Deep Cuts.$14.85 Next Steps
Parental AdvisoryName Artist Time Price 1 ExplicitThe Other Shoe Old 97's 2:58 $0.99 View In iTunes 2 My Two Feet Old 97's 3:28 $0.99 View In iTunes 3 Come Around (Radio Edit) Rhett Miller 4:11 $0.99 View In iTunes 4 Up the Devil's Pay Old 97's 3:48 $0.99 View In iTunes 5 Streets of Where I'm from Old 97's 3:15 $0.99 View In iTunes 6 Fireflies Rhett Miller & Rachael Yamagata 4:07 $0.99 View In iTunes 7 I Need to Know Where I Stand Rhett Miller 3:12 $0.99 View In iTunes 8 ExplicitW-I-F-E Old 97's 3:31 $0.99 View In iTunes 9 Drowning in the Days Old 97's 4:03 $0.99 View In iTunes 10 Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue Old 97's 5:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 11 W. TX. Teardrops Old 97's 3:05 $0.99 View In iTunes 12 Moonlight Old 97's 3:38 $0.99 View In iTunes 13 Singular Girl Rhett Miller 3:44 $0.99 View In iTunes 14 ExplicitVictoria Old 97's 3:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 15 Jagged Old 97's 3:27 $0.99 View In iTunes Total: 15 Songs - Deep Cuts
"Cryin' Drunk" — what a song title, and what a way to sum up Old 97's' appeal in two simple words. Not that the Dallas natives are downers, per say — they're just here for you in good times and bad, like a bartender whose ear is always open. Don't take our word for it, though. Listen and learn as Rhett Miller leads the boys through a playful, road-tripping anthem ("Stoned"), a pint-slamming pop song ("Rollerskate Skinny"), a couple of high notes ("The New Kid"), and a moonlit shuffle that'll make you want to jump into a '65 Chevy no matter how late it is ("Northern Line").
$15.15 Deep Cuts
Name Artist Time Price 1 This Beautiful Thing Old 97's 3:06 $0.99 View In iTunes 2 Stoned Old 97's 4:01 $0.99 View In iTunes 3 Rollerskate Skinny Old 97's 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 4 St. Ignatius Old 97's 4:15 $0.99 View In iTunes 5 The New Kid Old 97's 3:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 6 Cryin' Drunk Old 97's 3:14 $0.99 View In iTunes 7 Valium Waltz Old 97's 4:38 $0.99 View In iTunes 8 Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You) Old 97's 2:45 $0.99 View In iTunes 9 Melt Snow Old 97's 3:35 $0.99 View In iTunes 10 Making Love With You Old 97's 3:24 $0.99 View In iTunes 11 Dancing With Tears Old 97's 2:57 $0.99 View In iTunes 12 Caroline Rhett Miller 2:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 13 Busted Afternoon Old 97's 3:11 $0.99 View In iTunes 14 Champaign, Illinois Old 97's 3:24 $0.99 View In iTunes 15 Driver 8 Old 97's 3:22 $1.29 View In iTunes Total: 15 Songs - Complete Set
An alt-country legend on par with Wilco and Whiskeytown, Old 97's survived several sonic shifts and Rhett Miller solo albums on their way to becoming critical darlings and a reason for living among diehard fans. Despite those sonic shifts, one thing's remained constant: the Dallas foursome are traditionalists at heart, with an ear for meaty hooks and heart-tugging storylines, whether they're served up via the jangling chords and sugar-spun melodies of power pop — Satellite Rides, Miller's own The Instigator — or the range-roaming riffs and bar-bound confessionals of cowpoke-rock, à la Wreck Your Life, Hitchhike to Rhome. Pulled from a dozen albums and as many years, our Old 97's Essentials is just what diehard fans live for: all the choice cuts, the best of both worlds.
$45.15 Complete Set
Parental AdvisoryName Artist Time Price 1 Question Old 97's 2:15 $1.29 View In iTunes 2 Murder (Or a Heart Attack) Old 97's 3:41 $0.99 View In iTunes 3 Timebomb Old 97's 3:08 $0.99 View In iTunes 4 King of All the World Old 97's 2:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 5 Wish the Worst Old 97's 4:32 $0.99 View In iTunes 6 Barrier Reef Old 97's 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 7 Designs On You Old 97's 3:48 $0.99 View In iTunes 8 Big Brown Eyes Old 97's 4:23 $0.99 View In iTunes 9 Dance With Me Old 97's 2:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 10 Indefinitely Old 97's 3:41 $0.99 View In iTunes 11 Niteclub Old 97's 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 12 19 Old 97's 3:40 $0.99 View In iTunes 13 Buick City Complex Old 97's 3:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 14 ExplicitDoreen Old 97's 3:42 $0.99 View In iTunes 15 Won't Be Home Old 97's 4:46 $0.99 View In iTunes 16 ExplicitThe Other Shoe Old 97's 2:58 $0.99 View In iTunes 17 My Two Feet Old 97's 3:28 $0.99 View In iTunes 18 Come Around (Radio Edit) Rhett Miller 4:11 $0.99 View In iTunes 19 Up the Devil's Pay Old 97's 3:48 $0.99 View In iTunes 20 Streets of Where I'm from Old 97's 3:15 $0.99 View In iTunes 21 Fireflies Rhett Miller & Rachael Yamagata 4:07 $0.99 View In iTunes 22 I Need to Know Where I Stand Rhett Miller 3:12 $0.99 View In iTunes 23 ExplicitW-I-F-E Old 97's 3:31 $0.99 View In iTunes 24 Drowning in the Days Old 97's 4:03 $0.99 View In iTunes 25 Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue Old 97's 5:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 26 W. TX. Teardrops Old 97's 3:05 $0.99 View In iTunes 27 Moonlight Old 97's 3:38 $0.99 View In iTunes 28 Singular Girl Rhett Miller 3:44 $0.99 View In iTunes 29 ExplicitVictoria Old 97's 3:51 $0.99 View In iTunes 30 Jagged Old 97's 3:27 $0.99 View In iTunes 31 This Beautiful Thing Old 97's 3:06 $0.99 View In iTunes 32 Stoned Old 97's 4:01 $0.99 View In iTunes 33 Rollerskate Skinny Old 97's 3:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 34 St. Ignatius Old 97's 4:15 $0.99 View In iTunes 35 The New Kid Old 97's 3:39 $0.99 View In iTunes 36 Cryin' Drunk Old 97's 3:14 $0.99 View In iTunes 37 Valium Waltz Old 97's 4:38 $0.99 View In iTunes 38 Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You) Old 97's 2:45 $0.99 View In iTunes 39 Melt Snow Old 97's 3:35 $0.99 View In iTunes 40 Making Love With You Old 97's 3:24 $0.99 View In iTunes 41 Dancing With Tears Old 97's 2:57 $0.99 View In iTunes 42 Caroline Rhett Miller 2:49 $0.99 View In iTunes 43 Busted Afternoon Old 97's 3:11 $0.99 View In iTunes 44 Champaign, Illinois Old 97's 3:24 $0.99 View In iTunes 45 Driver 8 Old 97's 3:22 $1.29 View In iTunes Total: 45 Songs
Customer Reviews
Great Band...Lousy Essentials
As a long-time, passionate fan of this band, I have to say I only consider 8 of these 15 songs to be "essentials." If you want to get into the Old 97's, purchase the albums "Too Far to Care" and "Fight Songs" in that order. When you love those albums, buy the rest. This is not a greatest hits band, their catalog is too good and too diverse.
Sidenote: Does the word horny really warrant a parental advisory?
