The Old 97’s 1997 major label debut for Elektra was simply astonishing.  How many records start with that blazing a guitar riff right in your face in the first five seconds?  This album quickly took over as the sounds of my summer that year. Windows down, speakers cranked as Rhett, Murray and the gang tromped through song after song of Texas rock.  In fact the trio that starts the record is hard to beat anywhere.  ”Timebomb” melts your face with energy and energy that is carried live in my many travels to see the band play.  ”Barrier Reef” rocks while still telling an hysterical story of the player who tries again.  And the boistrous chorus of “Broadway” would roust anyone from sleep.

The album goes on through the fan favorite “Salome” and Murray’s singing on “West Texas Teardrops,” and “Melt Snow” and revs right back up with the second in your face trio of rockers.  The one two punch of three song segments surround and contain some of the bands best ever songwriting.  This particular trilogy features the ode to small town life where “The Streets of Where I’m From” “are paved with hearts instead of gold,” “Big Brown Eyes” always are inviting, and the nearly screamed chorus of “Just Like California” where passion is audible and still semi-restrained.  You see the tug between letting it all out and keeping it all in.

This is the Old 97s emergence as the most hard-charging rock band in my world.  Don’t get me wrong I’ve loved Satellite Rides and the others through their latest Blame it On Gravity but for me, this is where it really began.  From start to finish this is one of the best albums of the late 90’s.  Especially because “This Old Niteclub” also stole my soul in those days.  Check it for yourselves and come see the band or its frontman Rhett Miller when I present them someday soon or again.