CD Review

The Old 97’s are used to having fun. If you’re a fan of the band, then you’re probably used to seeing lead singer Rhett Miller flash his boyish grin, always having a grand time behind the microphone. Always living life at a fast and furious pace, the Old 97’s were bound to hit a speed bump, which eventually turned into a “breather” of 3 years to “get married, have babies, release side projects, and build home studios.” Something tells me they still had fun on the side.

Newsflash: They’re still having a blast.

Blazing back with a new album, The Old 97’s return with Drag it Up, their first effort since 2001’s Satellite Rides. Rollicking out of the gates with “Won’t Be Home,” a tune that would fit on any Quentin Tarantino film, the Old 97’s instantly mix up their sound—and it works like a charm. Miller’s voice is once again playful and strong on numbers like “New Kid” and “Friends Forever” while Philip Peeples packs a punch on percussion during the latter tune. Throughout most of the disc that mixes bluegrass, country, rock, and folk, the music seems so tight that it’s a wonder that they even took a break from recording.

It’s nice to have the Old 97’s back in the fold, especially since nothing seems to have changed from their approach to making music. If anything, they sound more like the band that released their first album back in 1994—a bunch of guys who had the energy to rule the world. Go ahead and drag this one up from your local record store—you won’t be disappointed.