Old 97’s (from the album American Primitive

Old 97’s (from the album American Primitive

Old 97’s (from the album American Primitive available on ATO Records) (by Brian Rock)
Thirty years ago, Old 97’s discovered the perfect musical mind-meld of Alt Rock and Alt Country. Before the term Americana even existed, they helped define it. Now, three decades on, they’re still hammering home that blueprint on their 13th release, American Primitive. The album title was plucked from a Stephen King story, but it aptly describes their entirely American, utterly unvarnished sound.
The title track erupts with Ken Bethea’s Dwight-Yoakam-meets-Dick-Dale guitar into. Philip Peeples’ thunderous drumming adds to the intensity as Murry Hammond’s subtle bassline holds everything in place. Frontman Rhett Miller saunters in singing, ‘Is that a cherry blossom or an eastern redbud? The sun setting in the west looks like fresh blood…’. Expressing the untamed beauty of nature, the band revels in the glory of the unbound landscape – with just a hint of foreboding. The high energy of the music reflects Miller’s restlessness and his desire to live as wild and free as nature. However, that freedom comes at a cost. Singing, ‘I’m always comin’ home, someday I’ll finally get there to smell the cherry blossoms lingering in your hair’ he admits that his freedom keeps him away from the one he loves. Spaghetti Western flourishes underscore the cinematic image of a lone hero riding off into the sunset, as a wistful woman waves goodbye from the dust covered streets of a frontier town.
“Somebody”, “Masterpiece”, “Magic”, “Western Stars”, and “This World” all capture that wonderfully primitive Americana sound. Like the Velvet Underground riding through the streets of a Wild West town, Old 97’s combine classic and modern sonic elements with flair.
Venturing further afield, the band explores Ventures style Surf Rock on, “Falling Down”. Assessing world conditions, Miller sings ‘you’ve got to dance like the world is falling down around you, because it is’. Acknowledging that the world is far from perfect, he recommends making the most of your personal world by giving thanks for the blessing you do have and dancing and living life to the fullest. “Honeypie,” incorporates Ragime piano and Piedmont Blues rhythms to sing the praises of his ‘old lady’. “By the End of the Night” recalls Summer of Love style Folk rhythms. The band explores dirge-Folk on the brooding, “Incantation”. “Where The Road Goes” is a mellow Alt-Rock anthem to not knowing where you’re going. The band goes full Honky-Tonk on “Chased the Setting Sun”. Exploring the fringes of both Rock and Country, Old 97’s draw their sonic influences from lesser-known bands like Southern Culture on The Skids, The Dead Milkmen, The Ventures, The Sadies, and dozens of other overlooked gems. Because they draw inspiration from (and now inspire) acts off the mainstream musical radar, they still sound fresh and vibrant after all these years. While Nashville continues to chase style over substance and polish over passion, Old 97’s prove that there’s a better option for those of us who prefer our music a little more primal. (by Brian Rock)
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