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Written by Eammon Azizi Monday, 16 June 2008 03:07

Plain and simple, this is a great album that any music lover should be proud to own.

It's a perfect blend of pop, alt-country and rock that's fit to be listened to on a long road trip or over a tavern drink.

While the hype for alt-country rock phase has cooled in recent years, the Old 97's are proof that a foundation built on great songwriting and consistency can help any band stay infinitely relevant and admired.

After taking a short break from making music for about 15 years, their latest release, Blame It on Gravity, delivers 13 solid tracks that weave together stories with strumming progressions that become addictive after the first listen. It's a perfect blend of pop, alt-country and rock that's fit to be listened to on a long road trip or over a tavern drink.

The vocals are smooth, the choruses are catchy and the guitars mix clean and crunchy tones. The lyrics are thoughtful, fun and memorable, telling stories of love and introspection. They're also printed in the CD booklet, so you can easily follow along and catch on quickly to the refrains.

The album has an infectious, positive energy, making it obvious that the Old 97's had a great time recording it. Perhaps that's because it was a homecoming of sorts. As singer and guitarist Rhett Miller explains on the accompanying press material, "We recorded it in Dallas in the same Lower Greenville neighborhood where our band formed." Miller adds, "I feel like this collection of songs is the best we've ever done. And I loved our earlier albums."

Listening to Blame It on Gravity all the way through is easy, because no two songs sound exactly the same. One of my favorite tracks, "Dance With Me," features a choppy rock riff on an electric guitar, while "She Loves the Sunset" and its slide guitar lead is relaxed and completely different from any other song. Then there's the trembling guitar on "This Beautiful Thing" and the classic alt-country sound of the final track, "The One." The arrangement and range of the tracks maintains a steady momentum, delivering listeners something fresh every few minutes.

It's difficult to find anything negative to say about Blame It on Gravity, so why bother trying? Plain and simple, this is a great album that any music lover should be proud to own. A | Eammon Azizi

RIYL: Tom Petty, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello

Standout Tracks:
"My Two Feet," "No Baby I," "Dance With Me," "I Will Remain"

Online
www.old97s.com