The Old 97's Are New Again on the Interface
- Posted on Jun 13th 2008 1:30PM by Mike Spinella
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The Old 97's, once a humble bar band from Texas, have contributed seven albums innovatively fusing Britpop, classic country and indie rock. Their unique combination of styles have often being credited as a huge influence on the alt-country genre. "The Old 97's have been lumped in with alt-country since that became a term for it, but there's been times when it really bothered me," frontman Rhett Miller tells Spinner. "It was just so reductive. I loved it all the Hank stuff, and the Willie stuff -- but then there's so much of the newer country that really gives it a bad name, and that's why people say that, and I understand that." Miller tells Spinner.After a four-year hiatus and a few solo records from Miller, the band is back in full swing. The 97's rock three new tunes, including a flashback treat, 'Barrier Reef,' from 'Too Far to Care.' Miller sums up his reunited group's latest album, 'Blame It On Gravity,' thusly: "It's the kitchen sink, and it's delivered with as much feeling, heart, honesty and real energy as we could muster. And even though we're getting a little long in the tooth now, I feel like we still got a lot of energy left." The Old 97's prove that to be the case on the Interface.








