Satellite Rides [ENHANCED]

Old 97s

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 20, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000059ZHP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,763 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #21 in

  Music > Rock > Power Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As with Fight Songs, the 1999 predecessor to Satellite Rides, the Old 97's are ringing a poppy bell. The cover art has a retro 1960s vibe, and the chiming guitars echo that sentiment. Is it 1960s Britpop? A tad, but singer Rhett Miller has a vocal palette that runs from 1980s new wave-leaning alternative to a more scouring, acidic country yowl. He uses his range well. The twang here is more subtle than in the past, cloaked in big rave-up melodies (like the fine single "King of All the World") and heart-on-the-sleeve emotions (as on "Question"). Some of the latter are great, particularly the poppy "Do you wanna mess around" refrain in "Buick City Complex." Miller runs down a seriously twangin' gem on "Am I Too Late," and bassist Murry Hammond does the same on his brooding "Up the Devil's Pay," which ranks as one of the CD's highest marks. What the Old 97's have done with this session is push themselves further away from their original alt-country heartbeat--much the way Jeff Tweedy did after Uncle Tupelo once he had Wilco as his platform. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old 97's - Satellite Rides, March 20, 2001

By	Michael Frey (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Take a ride, August 8, 2001

By	"saltylizard" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars satellite rides less twang, March 20, 2001

By	The Specialist (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

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.