Too Far to Care

Even though they may not have liked the descriptor “alt-country”, the Old 97’s had produced two solid albums in the genre’s mold. With jangly guitars, honky-tonk and country bar elements along with some of the finest clever lyrics, the band was bound for greatness.

Their third album, Too Far to Care was released on Elektra Records on this day in 1997 and expanded their sound while remaining true to their roots sound. Led by the witty and dreamy lead singer and songwriter Rhett Miller – it’s, to me, still their finest work to date. So pull up a bar stool, grab a Shiner Bock and enjoy the album from start to finish. Because it’s today’s feature on Throwback Thursday.

The expanded sound wasn’t your dad’s country rock and while there are shades of The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Flatlanders, the Old 97’s hit their stride and found their sound with this release. Starting with the blistering “Timebomb” you knew what you were getting into with Too Far to Care.

“Barrier Reef” is next and contains one of their most famous lines, “My name's Stewart Ransom Miller, I'm a serial lady-killer". The song is a drunkards love song full of hope, then painful emptiness. It remains one of their finest.

The rest of the album wrestles with tragedy and humor with sly lyrics that can turn a phrase at the drop of your ten-gallon hat. Isn’t that what makes music so wonderful? "Broadway" was written while Miller was in a hotel room in New York City during their courtship with Elektra Records. Miller felt very out of place, saying "As I stood in that tiny room, I did the math. I could live for a month in my East Dallas garage apartment for the amount of money Elektra was paying per night at the Paramount Hotel.

Don’t discount the rock and roll on this album – with solid guitars and the killer rhythm section of Murry Hammond on bass and Philip Peeples on drums. Crank up the volume on “Melt Show” and the album finale, a re-recording of their track “Four Leaf Clover” with special guest vocalist Exene Cervenka of the band X. The song originally appeared on their debut album Hitchhike to Rhome.

These songs are sing along songs – belt them at the top of your lungs songs. No matter if you’re a drunk, a punk a lawyer or a loser at the end of the bar. These are songs for you.

There are few bands that equate their studio sounds and their live sounds – This band is one of them. The Old 97’s energy is always there, whether it’s in the studio or live on stage. As one reviewer put it, “Too Far to Care holds up not just as a strong album of its time, but as one of the best albums of its genre (whatever genre you care to pick). The Old 97’s utilized a variety of sounds, by pushed them all through a high energy mill to produce something coherent and distinctive.”