Drag It Up
The Old 97's suggested they were ready to abandon their bittersweet Americana sound with their previous album, 2001's power-pop heavySatellite Rides. But the Dallas, Texas band's sixth release sees them once again digging into soft pedal-steel guitars, rolling pianos, and relaxed southern rhythms. How could they not? It's clear they are genuinely in love with this music, delivering the woozy "The New Kid" and the surging "Smokers" with so much blood and conviction that it's impossible to detect that the songs were recorded on just eight-tracks. The only thing keeping them from inhabiting the same critically hallowed ground asthe JayhawksandMy Morning Jacketis singerRhett Miller's cocktail napkin penned lyrics. It's nothing a remedial English class can't fix.--Aidin Vaziri