Blame It On Gravity LTD ED CD/DVD COMBO

Old 97s

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 2008)
• Original Release Date: May 13, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B00146378Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,878 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Blame It On Gravity is the seventh studio album and the first new album in 4 years from alt-country pioneers Old 97 s. The album finds the band turning up the amps and returning to the satisfying crunch with a mix of rock, punk, pop and classic country that defined the band s sound on earlier albums. The band credits the new album s enthusiasm to their return to their hometown of Dallas, TX to record, the first time since their initial independent release. The band, still comprised of original members Rhett Miller, Murry Hammond, Ken Bethea and Philip Peeples, deliver what they believe is the finest album of their 15-year career.

The bonus DVD contains a 44 minute documentary on the history of the band including live performances featuring classics and new songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They just keep getting better, May 15, 2008

By	N. McLain "De La Nate" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

The latest album from the Old 97's just proves that a band can keep getting better with age. As usual, the songs are beautifully and cleverly written. The song 'The One' sounds like vintage 97's and is a perfectly fitting song to finsih off this album. Murry sings two songs on this album that are just beautiful and touching. The first song by Murry 'This Beautiful Thing' is just a very touching song that reminds you just how soulful the 97's really are. And then there is, what in my mind is already a classic, 'Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue'. I think it's impossible to listen to this song and not get deeply emotional about something.
I'm glad that they all came together to record the album back home in Dallas and have it produced by their long time friend Salim Nourallah. You can definitely tell that they album was produced by someone who truly cares for the band and Salim has definitely left his mark on this album. It's still pure Old 97's, but if you're familiar w/ Salim then you will know what I mean.
All in all I could not be more pleased w/ this long awaited album. It's the perfect blend of 97's energy and soul. If you don't like this album then you just don't understand real and genuine music.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Older 97s, June 1, 2008

By	Mark Twang (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I can't help but think that the last couple of studio albums by the Old 97s have been unfortunately titled. DRAG IT UP was a bit of drag and BLAME IT ON GRAVITY finds the boys aging, not always gracefully. It's a good album, but matches neither the ramshackle spunk of their first albums or the rollicking poppiness of their peak. No longer kids, this outing feels a bit enervated. Rhett Miller seems to have invested his energy and sense of melody in his solo career, which has nonetheless missed the cohesion and idiosyncacies of this nifty little band.

There are good tunes here: "My Two Feet" and "The One" hew to classic Old 97s form (not too surprising since the DVD reveals they've been kicking around a while.) Murry Hammond's "Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue" is maybe the most wistful thing they've done. "The Easy Way" sounds like early Stones, and there are other mid-60s Britpop allusions sprinkled throughout. Tex-Mex and bluegrass flavorings hearken to those early albums.

But these guys only get together to make an album every couple of years, and they've got other lives now. It's a bit much to expect them to knock one out of the park again. But it's nice to hear them together, if not making magic, at least offering that comfortable chemistry that made the band so likeable in the first place.

The DVD will charm fans, but the live-in-studio performances lack the fun of their actual live shows.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Old 97s, July 21, 2008

By	Lauri (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews

I have been listening to this CD since I got it, and it is terrific. If you are a fan of the Old 97's, you won't be disappointed. The DVD is a great little extra, has some live performances and a fun interview with Rhett Miller.