Old 97's Revived by 'Gravity'

The Old 97's return May 13 with their first new album in four years. Dubbed 'Blame It On Gravity,' frontman and principal songwriter Rhett Miller is calling the disc, "the rebirth of the band."

In the aftermath of his critically-acclaimed sophomore solo album, 2006's 'The Believer,' Miller says he was itching to get back to his Dallas-based bandmates Murry Hammond (bass/vocals), Ken Bethea (lead guitar) and Philip Peeples (drums). "I definitely appreciate the strength of the band as a unit -- the little army that we've become over the years," Miller tells Spinner. "Making solo records can be a little lonely and I was glad to have a support system again."

Among the new tracks are 'Ride,' 'My Two Feet' and the rollicking 'Dance With Me.' "That one was top-to-bottom undeniable," Miller says of the latter song. "The song has everything. The surf guitar element has always sort of been in our band -- it's where Ken comes from. And I'm really proud of the lyrics. It's got this kind of creepy story line. Philip blew me away. I feel like it might be his best-ever performance. It plays to everyone's strengths, and when we've had the opportunity to play it live, the response has been over the top."

As for his solo ventures and the band's brief hiatus, Miller asserts that it was never cause for concern. "You know, there was never any question that we wouldn't do another record," he says. "We worried only about the quality of the music and not what might happen to it after the fact. I feel so happy, so hyperbolic when I talk about it."

Old 97's play a SXSW showcase at Stubb's in Austin on March 13.