Customer Reviews

Hitchhike To Rhome

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're an alt.country fan and you don't own this album, then what the heck is wrong with you? This ranks up there with any of Uncle Tupelo's albums, though certainly different, but equally as good.

I knew little about the 97's when I bought this album. A friend of mine recomended that I go out and purchase an album of theirs, and this was my first. I went out the next day and bought all of their other albums, driving all across town to complete my collection.

This album has a very distinct Texas sound, and I knew right away where these cats were from...ok well the title helped a bit too.

If you've never heard of the 97's then start here. This album is the best of the best, and they start to go downhill after this, with maybe the exception of Too Far to Care. Not to say that the other albums are bad. On the contrary, actually, each are very distinct and good within their own right, but when you make an album as perfect as this it is hard to follow up. Don't buy just this album, go get 'em all!

This is possibly the 97's best & a must have in the alt country genre. Back before they signed a major label deal & descended into pop rock radio fare these guys made a few records that had brains, soul spirit & twang to spare. Don't hesitate... it'll make you smile & forget all the bands that tried to follow.

This is my favorite CD. I never thought I'd find anything even remotely country I would like. I like mostly Classical, rock, and metal. The songs are all original. On this CD, there are 3 songs that are outstanding, (Miss Molly, Doreen, and Mama Tried) and the rest are really good. For owners of the Old 97s' newer CDs this one is not the same. The newer ones are more like pop, this one has a definite country/bluegrass influence, but without being country per se. It's hard to explain.

By the way, I just discovered that Mama Tried is a cover of an old Merle Haggard song, you may want to check out his greatest hits album. I might get that one soon too.

I'm glad I read the other Amazon reviews and got this one.

*Hitchhike to Rhome* is one of the classic "alt. country" albums and a defining document in the band's history. Fans of the Old 97's newer releases may not be prepared for this album's fusion of raw country aesthetic and indie-rock abandon, and even genre fanatics will note some limitations. Mediocre production and immature arrangements don't always do the material full justice: Rhett Miller hadn't yet learned to use his voice, and the guitars don't always sound as great as they should. The key to Old 97's records, though, is Miller's songwriting, which has some fine moments here. Not many albums can reinvent classic genres ("Doreen," a classic paean to the joys of an underage girl's affections), resurrect the tried-and-true (a loving treatment of "Mama Tried"), and top it all off by sneaking in what may be country music's first, last, and only allusion to Plato's Allegory of the Cave (the otherwise unpretentious "St. Ignatius"). The album's major flaw is its inclusion of tracks which should've remained on the cutting room floor ("Hands Off", "Desperate Times"). A band of this caliber is allowed a few lapses, though, and the album remains a rare achievement in country-rock songcraft.

This is one of the best bands that I have heard in ages. Although I do not consider myself to be a C/W fan, I loved this album the moment the music began entering my ears. The album is a little rougher around the edges than their later work, but the edginess gives the songs more texture. Not a bad song on the disc. I also highly recommend their CD, Wreck Your Life.

My 23 year old punk rock daughter picked out hitchike to rhome for my 51st birthday gift. Desperate times, has me! Wish the worst, superlative! The old 97's have a sound that is unique with undertones of the garage bands I used to love, only almost better. The vocals are desperately sweet and the music makes me crazy happy... One note, my CD has about 2 1/2 minutes of dead time between if my heart was a car and desperate times. But I don't mind cause just about the time my mind is wandering on to something else the music kicks back in. I know where my tax rebate is going, more old 97's!

this is probably one of my all time favorite albums. i have to take it with me on the road... there is nothing like driving, windows down and singing "wish the worst" or "if my heart was a car" at the top of your lungs. all the songs are quite catchy and bring out the instant twang in any would-be texan.

In a world where pre-fab pop and processed hip-hop get 90 percent of radio air time it's nice to come across a gem like the Old 97's. This album is rough, raw, and in the end unbelievably refreshing. The vocals aren't stellar, the guitars aren't the greatest ever, but the songwriting is sensitive and the lyrics are witty and wise. Like many have said, there are certain tracks which will haunt your mind and make you listen to the album over and over. Some of my favorites: '504' which can make you remember New Orleans even if you've never been there, the belt-along 'Wish the Worst', and the catchy 'Doreen' which makes me want to break out my guitar and head down south. For certain this album is a treasure.

After hearing their more recent albums, Old 97's "Hitchhike to Rome," sounded raw and unfocused. Before long, though, the songs came through. One by one they kept creeping into my head, drawing me back to the album to hear the source. I'll admit the delivery is suspect in some cases (the brilliant "wish the worst" for example). Some of these songs need to be released in their present live incarnations to do them justice. For now just sing along real loud and resist the urge to drawl out that second verse in "Wish the Worst".

If you like the newer old 97's, you'll love this album. Most of it has more of a country feel than the others, but it still has alot of twang rock, like the first track. An essential album for even the slightest old 97's fans!