old 97s twelfth

​Old 97’s (from the album Twelfth available on ATO Records) (by Bryant Liggett)
They’re a Dallas band and proud of it. With a dozen proper full lengths studio albums, Old 97’s latest Twelfth, likely named so to recognize where the band land with regards to records dropped, while honoring one of the towns top football stars. Showcasing the branded sound Old 97’s has honed for over a quarter century, Twelfth is more chugging Cow Punk that seamlessly drifts into a Rootsy Indie Pop, where rock solid melodies drive frontman Rhett Millers words. Twelfth album opener in “The Dropouts” comes as a rallying cry. Fans can be happy Miller’s ‘one true love is this cheap guitar’ and we’re all good with ‘whiskey and guitar strings’; it’s fine being a dropout, thank you very much.
“Confessional Boxing” and “Bottle Rocket Baby” have that rhythmic chug the band has owned since day one, complete with the latter referencing Miller’s pal Robert, a lyrical reference that repeatedly shows up in song lyrics like a great inside joke. Pop inspired Rock rears its head on the dreamy “I Like You Better” where Rhett Miller claims, ‘I like you better than playing guitar’ and the missing-you love ballad “Absence (What We’ve Got)”. Old 97’s are never solely the Rhett Miller show. Bass player Murray Hammond kicks in vocals on the bouncy “Happy Hour” and the roots-psych “Why Don’t We Ever Say We’re Sorry”. Rowdy Country Rock peers from behind big Rock hooks, a locomotive rhythm section pushing Ken Bethea’s always stabbing guitar, while Miller’s lyrics are personal while dialing in Pop Culture references. You know where you stand with Old 97’s, while also knowing the goodness they will always deliver…from number one through Twelfth. (by Bryant Liggett)
 
Listen and buy the music of Old 97’s from AMAZON
For more information, please visit Old 97’s website
 
 
 

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