MP3 Exclusives New Arrivals   Alt-Country Alternative Blues Electronic Jambands Jazz Metal Pop Punk R&B Rap/Hip Hop Reggae Rock   Top Downloads Features Archive Contests Control Panel MUSICBLITZ Alert!   METALBLITZ REGGAEBLITZ BLUESBLITZ Musician's Friend   Alt-Country Alternative Blues Electronic Jambands Jazz Hip Hop Metal Pop Punk R&B Reggae Rock   Getting Started Free Players	Welcome !      Old 97's While the scene itself has drifted back to the underground, the Old 97's remain one of the most engaging and interesting bands to emerge from the whole "twangcore" brouhaha of the mid-90s. Mixing punk intensity with bluegrass smarts and a strong head for pop hooks, the 97's rip-snorting cowpunk -- both highly energetic and high lonesome -- serves as an antidote to the often dour bands that permeate the alt-country scene. Lead singer Rhett Miller has a truly astounding knack for clever wordplay -- his lyrics are often maniacally depressing but the band's up-tempo "freight train" delivery make the tunes sound almost upbeat -- and an astounding set of "hound dog lonesome" pipes, often complimented with able back-up vocals from bassist Murry Hammond. Lead guitarist Ken Bethea is a crackerjack player who draws equally from country and classic rock licks. The trio formed in March 1993, with drummer Phillip Peeples coming aboard that September. The band built up a following in its native Dallas and released the debut, Hitchhike to Rhome, independently on Big Iron Records in 1994. The band continued to tour and build a fanbase, and by 1995, had signed with groundbreaking insurgent country label Bloodshoot, releasing Wreck Your Life. While Hitchhike was adequate described as a "garage record," Wreck is a fully formed album full of top-notch songs, fantastic harmonies and hot-as-a-firecracker playing. By 1997, the major record labels decided "y'allternative" was to be the official "next big thing," and the Old 97's signed to Elektra, releasing the band's magnum opus Too Far to Care. The band's best record to date, the album made a splash in both roots rock circles and college radio, garnering quite a Greek crowd for the 97's. The band survived the alt-country purges by the majors to release 1999's Fight Songs, which represented a stylistic departure for the Old 97's. The rough cowpunk edges were smoother, and some of the band's trademark intensity was reigned in, leaving the pop-rock sheen and Miller's incredibly catchy melodies. Though it confounded some long-time fans, Fight Songs increased the band's popularity among the college crowd. Bloodshot released Early Tracks in 2000, an eight-song collection of out-of-print 7” singles and unreleased tunes.     Old 97's King Of All The World WinMedia Alt-Country Power-pop hooks and an aggressive rhythm section kick this melodic rocker into high gear. Band’s “Knack” for songcraft rings familiar.
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