The Old 97s: the best band you're not listening to

So yeah, you say "Alternative Country" people laugh, snicker or give you the "huh" look. Its a genre not a lot of people know about, and many disregard right away. The idea is simple, Old-School style country, but with a more modern message. Think of it like this: yeah, it sounds like country, but nobody sings about their girlfriend dumping them, stealing their truck and running off with the dog. Another way of thinking about it: what if Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard could really rock? Well, then you'd have Alt. Country. And its undisputed monarchs: the Old 97s.

They play fast, fun, cool country sounding music. While not a hugely successful commercial band, they briefly appeared in the 2006 Jennifer Aniston & Vince Vaughn movie "the Breakup" (Actually, the band had broken up until Vaughn asked them to get back together for the film). Front man Rhett Miller sings with a voice cracks and twangs like the country stars of old, but he sings about college students battling depression and hanging out in the boroughs of New York; no horses or cowboys in sight.

Saddly, they closest thing they've had to mainstream fame is a song called "the Question" which is played on medical dramas a lot for some reason (it was used in 'Scrubs', 'House' and 'Grey's Anatomy'). This song, while great, isn't a good example of a typical Old 97s song. My personal favorites are "Victoria", "Barrier Reef" and "Timebomb". I would suggest starting with one of their greatest hits albums, while they do rock, they have put out a lot of albums, not all of them were rock solid. Still, if you're looking for a new sound, and you have an open mind and your parents say its okay, check them out, thank me later.

Home Page for the Old 97s: http://www.old97s.com/