Hit by a Train: The Best of Old 97's

Old 97s | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000FFJ808
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,126 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Old 97's have a rich, organic sound that effortlessly fuses roots rock, alt-country twang and pure pop sensibilities. Known for the raw intensity of their live shows and the authentic Americana-spiked punch of their recordings, the band formed in Dallas, TX, in the early '90s. Their early singles and 1994 indie debut disc, Hitchhike To Rhome led to a trio of critically acclaimed and crowd-pleasing albums for Elektra, beginning with 1997's stellar Too Far To Care and running through 2001's Satellite Rides.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More of a 'Great Sampler' than a 'Greatest Hits' Collection July 17, 2006

By Thomas D. Ryan

Format:Audio CD

I've been a fan of Old 97's for a while now, so it's easy for me to recommend "Hit By a Train: The Best of Old 97's." The only problem I'm having is trying to figure out exactly why this is considered a "best of." Quite frankly, each of their albums stand quite well on their own, and in many ways equals the overall quality of this collection. There are a few songs here that I personally would not have included, ("their rendition of "El Paso", for instance), while there are plenty of songs from each studio album whose inclusion would have been easily justified ("Wreck Your Life"'s "W-I-F-E" and "The Other Shoe," and "Too Far to Care"'s "Streets Where I'm From", for instance). Nevertheless, "Hit By a Train" is an entertaining listen from start to finish. In that sense, this is more of a sampler than a collection of their best hits.

Miller has a tendency toward song-title puns that don't do justice to the songs themselves ("Cryin' Drunk," "Crash on the Barrelhead" - not included here), but this only points out his self-consciously clever way with a phrase. The band has obviously mastered the two-step `train beat' (3 tracks here) and the hard-bouncing "Texas shuffle" (which accounts for eight of the CD's eighteen tracks), but it's Miller's lyrics that keep you coming back for more, even after repeated listens. Miller's albums as a solo artist certainly hold up well, but it's his work with Old 97's that is most effective, which is why this collection works as well as it does. How can you not love an album containing "Barrier Reef," "Lonely Holiday," "Jagged" and "Victoria," all on the same disk? "Hit By a Train" encapsulates some of the band's best moments, and hardcore fans of the band will want this if only for the non-album tracks (the above-mentioned "El Paso" and "Cryin' Drunk"), but casual fans would do well to continue exploring their catalog further. A- Tom Ryan

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Foolproof Plan June 22, 2006

By Son of Byford

Format:Audio CD

Buy this cd. You will love some of the tracks intensely. Then, go buy the original cd's those tracks appeared on. Soon you will love those cd's and every song on this one (except maybe 1 or 2) and you will have to own the entire Old 97's catalog. Maybe it costs you around $100 total. But it will give you years of intense listening pleasure. It's the best deal ever. Plus you can catch them playing a show and even though you know all the songs by heart, they will still make you smile ear to ear. Trust me.

If you're really head over heals after all that, get Rhett's solo stuff. You'll like that as well. And if you're a metro-sexual type, be sure to get his latest release "the believer" because you will like the picture on the cover.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the Best of the Old 97's July 23, 2006

By Joseph W. Hedlund

Format:Audio CD

If you have ever heard an Old 97's song, and have liked that Alt/Country/Rock sound. This CD is a good choice. My personal favorite song is,"TimeBomb". The songs are well written and performed. Its a different kind of music to listen to. But it is something to check out if you've never tried it. I don't know how anyone can listen to Top 40, other than 12 year old girls! So if you appreciate good solid music, this is something to check out.