Mike Orren Staff

Additional 97's happenings today, via New West:

Wednesday, May 14 Watch the band perform 2 songs live on Fox-TV's Good Day Dallas. Then, if you are a hockey fan, the band will be at the American Airlines Arena performing between breaks at the Dallas Stars/Detroit Red Wings Western Conference Finals game.

5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

Great review, Scott -- I was on my way to saying the same half as well and in twice as many words and you saved me the trouble :-)

Can't resist adding a couple other thoughts, though:

• As expected, Salim Nourallah's production made this sound different from any 97's album before it (at least that's where my untrained ear lays a good hunk of the credit). As Scott points out, the 97's have always had pop tangled up in their roots, but some of their earlier pop attempts sounded like someone said "let us now right a pop song" and tried to do so by formula. These songs sound like the guys wrote a great song and performed it effortlessly but expertly without worrying about categorization.

• There are more instrumental layers in these songs (Hi, Salim!) than in any you've heard out of the band before. Philip's drums in particular are displayed to better effect. Go listen to these songs on some nice headphones-- your jaw will drop.

• That said, my only fear about the boys recording with Salim was somewhat realized. The result is at times a really pristine sound and vibe (see praise above) that is difficult to accept when you fell in love with a sweaty, boozy, off the rails powerhouse that left string breaks and their aftermath on final recordings. It only effected me on the rave-ups, and really on the first couple listenings. I can't wait to hear those numbers live.

• "The Fool" is a perfect track one for this album and really sums up the new old sound.

• Overall album is lyrically smashing with lots of the signature double entendres and cultural references.

• I'm really conflicted on "Dance With Me." I initially wanted not to like it because it seemed like too much of a retread musically ("This Is What We Talk About" + "Smokers" = "Dance With Me") But dammit, I'm a sucker for whistling in the dark apocalyptic lyrics and it's really sticking to the ribs now.

• The Murry songs seem less of a shift from the rest of the album than in the past. If you've heard his solo album, you'll hear the connection.

• Although I like it all, "side 2" (for vinyl lovers) is the strongest. "Here's to the Halcyon" is already on my all-time fave list.

• Only possible exception to that is the closer, "The One." I'm going to need to give it a few more spins, as it seems an allegory on the band's label career, but as a song it initially came off as too insidery and indulgent. It's "Friends Forever" with more name-checking. But I have a feeling that live, after a Shiner or seven, it'll be a favorite.

• The promotion machine seems intent on telling us all that this is the band's return to the form of Too Far to Care. If I was to engage in such soundbitery, I'd say it sounds like a hybrid of Hitchhike To Rhome and Fight Songs.

First time in a long time that I've listened to an album straight through ten times in as many days. Great success!

5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

Other reviews: http://hitbyatrain.com/news/index.htm...

4 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

Sorry-- Should have been clearer. I was speaking metaphorically about the latter half of the disc. Another good reason for you to write the review instead of me...

4 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )