Old 97's: Blame It On Gravity

Old 97's
Blame It On Gravity
New West Records [2008]









Fire Note Says: The Old 97's make a superb return and offer up another "alt-country" staple!

Album Review:
When a person defines the “alt-country” genre the Old 97s always and rightfully so are mentioned in the same sentence. The band has always had the right substance to their music that accomplished melding pop songs with a country-rock background, which was instantly catchy, fun and memorable. On the Dallas bands seventh studio long player Blame It On Gravity they bring more of that “Old 97s” charm with a controlled and balanced vibe that only a band of their experience can deliver. This is the upside of having more responsibility in their life such as fatherhood and slowly creeping into a middle age stature because they know that every song does not need the fire like their own “Timebomb” from the breakout album Too Far Too Care [1997], but that transitions, style and poise do matter. For longtime fans of the band, Blame It On Gravity is a must because it offers everything they will enjoy from the rebel rousing rockers like “Ride” and “The Fool” to the Murry Hammond touching number in “Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue” to the ever solid Rhett Miller and his likeable desperation vocals on “Dance With Me” and “No Baby I” that not many other singers can pull off. The Old 97s are successful in achieving their staple sound on Blame It On Gravity because they recognize what they do best and that is producing “alt-country” classics – This offering is no different!

Key Tracks: "Dance With Me", "Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue", "My Two Feet"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Drive-By Truckers
The Bottle Rockets
Uncle Tupelo

Official Old 97's Website
Old 97's MySpace
Old 97's Info [Allmusic]
New West Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony