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EDIT INFOThe Old 97s - Too Far To Care
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Album Details
- Artist: The Old 97s
- Album: Too Far To Care
- Label: Elektra
- Year of Release: 1997
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-01-11
RecommendI got into the Old 97's with their awesome Fight Songs album and really never went back in their catalog, only forward. One of my coworkers was dumbfounded when he found out that I hadn't heard Too Far To Care. Well, we can't all hear everything, now can we? Anyway, he lent me his copy of Too Far To Care for me to get this review out and I do feel a little more fulfilled having heard it. It's the type of album where you hear a singer/songwriter (primarily Rhett Miller) come into his own. The album opens with a song that I heard ages ago on a CMJ Magazine sampler, "Timebomb". It is truly the finest Old 97's song to be penned. It's super upbeat with a great rhythm to it. They slow things down slightly with the track "Barrier Reef", a song that an instant classic feel to it. "Broadway" keeps that feel going for another track. Then the first ballad of Too Far To Care hits, "Salome" aches so beautifully and you can hear Rhett's voice pine. Then we really hear the country come into play on "W. TX Teardrops". I just love their signature train sound that they use on so many songs like "Melt Show", "The House That Used To Be" and "Timebomb". It's the rhythm that gets your head bobbing and feet tapping and ultimately make you fall in love with the band. Too Far To Care is a great major label debut for a band that would go on to release 2 more albums on Elektra before parting ways. You may think of their Elektra chapter as their highlight (as I would) but they are still plugging away and time will tell if they have something better than Too Far To Care up their sleeves.
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on 2007-02-06 Sharp Tooth Benny Said:
The Old 97's are one of those bands that just grow on you. At first listen, they might not jump out and grab you but most likely after a couple runs through this album, it won't leave your cd player for a while. They have a uniquely engulfing writing style that really draws you into the context of the songs. Lots of puns and whimsical plays on words throughout the album especially on tunes like "Barrier Reef"...I.E.
The Empty Bottle was half empty, tide was low, and I was thirsty.
Saw her sitting at the bar, you know how some girls are,
Always making eyes, well she wasn't making eyes.
So I sidled up beside her, settled down and shouted, "Hi there."
"My name's Stewart Ransom Miller, I'm a serial lady-killer."
She said, "I'm already dead," that's exactly what she said.
You can almost feel Rhetts' emotions on some of these tunes like "W. TX Teardrops" and "The Streets From Where I'm From". I have a lot of "favorite" songs from this album and one of my all-time favorites is "Four-leaf Clover" featuring some guest vocals from the incomparable Exene Cervenka of X. This one starts off with a bang and just keep on rumblin' to the end with some great hooks and that signature "locomotive" beat that Dscan referred to above. I love this album and highly recommend checking it and the rest of their discography out. I very highly recommend checking out "Fight Songs" for another glimpse at some more of their finer work. You will not be dissapointed.
Rating: 8/10
