Customer Reviews

Satellite Rides

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Satellite Rides finds the Old 97's straying even further from their country roots than on 1999's Fight Songs, which despite what some purists may argue, is not necessarily a bad thing. The endlessly energetic Dallas quartet has evolved into a damn fine pop band, at times echoing such '60s pop luminaries as the Kinks and the Byrds. Charismatic vocalist Rhett Miller never seems to be at a loss for clever couplets (see "Rollerskate Skinny"), while bassist and occasional frontman Murry Hammond unleashes his strongest songwriting contributions to date ("Up The Devil's Pay", "Can't Get A Line"). Boasting playfully flirtatious lyrics and melodies, tracks such as "King Of All The World," "Buick City Complex" and "Book Of Poems" will have listeners mesmerized, while "Weightless," "Question" and "Designs On You" ache with a sincerity that will forever endear the Old 97's to their fans. If you're already a fan, you don't need to read this to know this album is worth buying. If you have yet to be captivated by the Old 97's, than one listen to Satellite Rides should do the trick.

The old 97s are distancing themselves from their alternative country tag and exploring a more pop sound on their new release "Satellite Rides". This album to me sounds similar to "Fight Songs" but it is much better in that it is more of a "band sound" then the polished studio sound on "Fight Songs". The first song is "King of all of the World" which has been receiving quite a bit of radio play and it is no wonder because it is the catchiest track on the album. My favorite is "Book of Poems" but "Rollerskate Skinny" is excellent too. All in all it "Satellite Rides" sounds like a band hitting it's stride while distancing itself from it's no depression/alt. country roots. You'll hear quite a variety on this disk with more harmoninies and a bit of a brit-pop influence. The band not only sounds different but they look different, just see the band photo on the album cover. The Beatles meet Texas Swing? Anyways buy this great new album by the Old 97s and listen.

I was introduced to the 97's by Fight Songs. I read the gripes that it was too pop and not enough punk/country, but I didn't care. Fight songs was great. Then I listened to "Too Far to Care" and was completely blown away. While not as slick and accessible as FS, Too Far To Care's bludgeoning rhythms and clever, cutting lyrics have made it one of my favorite albums. I now understand what everyone was so upset about.

That said, we come to Satelite Rides. The fans spoke and the band listened. SR is not as pop-oriented as Fight, nor does it have the shameless radio appeal, but it is not TFTC, either. Satellite stands on it's own as the next generation of modern/country/rock. I'm disgusted by the word "country" and what it implies, but the Old 97's are country like Lyle Lovett, the DeRailers or the Bottle Rockets. Country that respects where it came from, not country that's been Def Leppard-ized.

While Satellite Rides is not the punked-up wild ride that TFTC is, it's worth a look and a listen. Tracks like "King of all the World" and "Bird in a Cage" have the radio hooks from Fight Songs, but the live production feel of some of thier previous efforts. "Question" and "Designs on You" will have the ladies sighing, though for different reasons, and "Buick City Complex", and "Book of Poems" make you want to bang your head on the steering wheel, although not as hard as "Timebomb" does.

Also, for those of you that have not seen the Old 97's live, you must check them out. You won't be disappointed

I bought this CD three days ago and can't get enough. It's audio crack, I can't wait for my next fix. This is one of those rare records where after several spins you get the sneaking suspicion that every song on the record is great, kinda of like "Hey, I'm on song #6, and I've loved every song I've heard so far". It's when you realize you're still to hear such goodies as "Weightless" and "Designs on You" that you know you've reached a happy musical zone. These guys get such a buzzing, joyous guitar momentum going in each song, layering on little twangy filigreeing codas just to take the feeling up a notch. When you put that together with singing like Miller's soulful Oh Yeah, Oh Yeahs on "Weightless" or his mournful crooning on "Buick City Complex", you have a very heart-swelling experience. All the vaguely curious who have stumbled upon this review should do themselves a solid and pick this up.

What a great disc! It's rare when you can listen to a new album that has so many great songs to offer. Great lyrics...catchy hooks and rockin' guitars. I have alot of friends who would really dig this record...if only they knew about it. I suppose that's my task for the rest of the year...spread the good word..Satellite Rides is a gem and the Old 97's are a rare bright light in a music scene loaded with ....

This is simply great stuff. Whether you want to call it power pop, alternative country, or whatever, it is great stuff. "Buick City Complex" and "Designs On You" are brilliant. While I would agree that this album isn't as tight as Too Far To Care, it is still a great rock and roll album. Don't bother putting a tag on the 97's, they transcend titles. They rock and boogie and country. It's simply American music. Rhett Miller is a very strong song writer, and he carries the band well. Hooks, choruses, solid beat, nifty guitar breaks, and enthusiastic singing. What else matters? Give me that "Roller Skate Skinny," let's rock.

Rhett Miller throws himself into a song and that counts for a lot. Whether trying to convince a girl to "mess around" in Buick City Complex, unable to accept the end of the affair in the CD highlight Bird in a Cage, or eulogizing the life of a grandmother (?) with wonderful pop joy in Am I Too Late, Miller always sounds to me like he has one foot on the verge of ecstasy and the other equally on the verge of desperation. He, or the other members of the band since they share all writing credits, is a quick, intelligent lyricist, who if sometimes allowing himself a soupcon of self-pity always does so with an accompanying wryness. The musicianship on Satellite Rides resembles the rowdy spontaneity of the late Whiskeytown. Which also leads to the aside that Miller is the talent Ryan Adams thinks he is.

CD highlights: Rollerskate Skinny ("ain't nobody gonna see eye to eye/with a girl who's only gonna stand collarbone high"), the aforementioned Bird, Question, Am I Too Late, Weightless and Designs on You. But everything else except Up the Devil's Pay worked for me as well. This is a very strong work and a definite buy.

Sometimes when I listen to a CD I hear what I call "pure music." Usually by artists who exist to create music, not get rich, not make videos, not be on the cover of magazines. This CD is pure music. Every song is perfectly crafted without sounding over-produced or losing spontaneity. The lyrics are universal without being trite and poetic without being pretentious. Then there's the music: hooks that are poppy but not shamelessly so... the whole package just WORKS. Folks, who cares if this isn't as "alt-country" as the 97's earlier work... it's pure music, and it's darn good music too. Buy it... you won't be disappointed.

I only own this CD and Fight Songs, and I greatly prefer the new work. There is an energy and a pop sensibility that is lacking in Fight Songs, which seems to be self obsessed at times. I am sure some hardcore fans would disagree with that statement vehemently, but my point is that the sound is becoming more approachable, without losing that rootsy essence that makes Old 97s standout and ABOVE the mass produced radio tunes. Two listens are you WILL be hooked. Melodic, fun, energetic roots pop. What's not to like?!

Admittedly I'm an Old 97s nut so take this with a grain of salt, but this is a sweet CD. Personally I don't buy into the proposition that the last CD, Fight Songs, was a sell-out to pop. I view it as the evolution of a fine band. And Satellite Rides is evidence of further, positive evolution. There is a confluence between the band's very first albums and this CD that is unmistakable - Miller's stunning raw vocals, the often bitter lyrics, the blend of country, rock and pop that satisfies the soul of an eclectic, guitar- and lyric-loving music fan. As on other CDs, there are a few tepid tracks, but most of the CD is excellent and grows on you, listen after listen. I had the pleasure of seeing the band live after I'd listened to Satellite Rides 3-4 times. They played about 7 songs off the new CD and they were incredible. The songs are better live (they always are with Old 97s), but the CD stands on its own two feet as another recorded gem by the best live band around. Catch their act next time they come to your town, you'll be saying "DAMN THEY WERE GOOD" for days.