Blame It on the Other Old 97's

Johnny Buzzerio The Old 97's have a new album forthcoming, Blame It on Gravity, due in Ye Olde Record Shoppes May 13. But, good God, from the sound of this Billboard interview with Rhett Miller, posted today, you'd think this might also be the last Old 97's album. Because he...

By Pete Freedman

March 26, 2008

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Johnny Buzzerio

The Old 97's have a new album forthcoming, Blame It on Gravity, due in Ye Olde Record Shoppes May 13. But, good God, from the sound of this Billboard interview with Rhett Miller, posted today, you'd think this might also be the last Old 97's album. Because he ain't got much good to say about 2004's Drag it Up, for reasons explained after the jump.

"I'd say looking back at the last record, there's only two songs that would have made this record. The quality just wasn't there," Miller says. "On Drag It Up, I let the other members run the show; I took a total step back. [1999's] Fight Songs was called that because we fought about everything, and I was pushing everyone. The last one, I didn't push. I just let it happen and then they could feel what it's like to carry the load. Afterward, they were more willing to let me in. I'm the youngest member of the band, so there has always been this push back."

No doubt, a "clarification" is forthcoming. --Robert Wilonsky

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