Record Reviews

Old 97's

Satellite Rides (Elektra)

Satellite Rides is the fifth album from Dallas' Old 97's, and if you're wondering if they have anything new to say, the time has come to wipe that skeptical look off your face and get ready to be moved -- again. The Old 97's were always a rock & roll band at heart, even when they were alt.country darlings, and like Fight Songs, their last album, Satellite Rides finds them singing about sex and girls, while furiously rocking out and remaining surprisingly literate. The last LP found the long-running quartet distancing themselves from the country side they originally cultivated, yet the band has returned to embrace said twang somewhat -- with no apologies offered. From the power pop anthem, "King of All the World," that opens the disc and the pleading, Kinks-style "Buick City Complex" to the frank assertions of "Designs on You" and simple kiss of "Nervous Guy," the Old 97's sound as confident as ever. That they're able to achieve a balance between what they were and what they've become ultimately makes Satellite Rides as solid a set of songs as they've ever released. Better still, the initial pressing of the album also includes a bonus disc that features five live tracks and an outtake from the last sessions. It accurately captures the band's fiery live side, as well as offering a special treat for longtime fans, who will fall in love with the band all over again on Satellite Rides.