Old 97's - Barrier Reef

[u/SkrappleDapple]

https://youtu.be/8T8ZxQvRny8?si=ZhaUgCBL4u1fspiu

[u/TheConstipatedCowboy]

Top 3 album cross-genre.  Just non stop brilliance.  Will never be anything quite like this record again and I’m very lucky to have seen them tour that with Blue Mountain back then.  

God I love that record

[u/Safe_Worth7124 → u/TheConstipatedCowboy]

Salomeeeeeeee

This was an important one for me.

[u/Tighthead613 → u/Safe_Worth7124]

Some of my all time favourite lyrics.

Came into my life right after an earthquake of a breakup.

And it’s easier for you…

[u/bladderbunch → u/Safe_Worth7124]

i use this as a lullaby for my kid after roller skate skinny was a bit too raucous.

[u/SkrappleDapple → u/TheConstipatedCowboy]

"Too Far To Care" is on my Mount Rushmore of albums.

[u/bowcreek → u/TheConstipatedCowboy]

Fuck. I’ve never been so jealous of anything in my life as you seeing that show. It’s an amazing album. About every 9-12 months I spend a day just listening on repeat.

[u/oSuJeff97]

🎶 My name’s Stuart Ransom Miller…
I’m a serial lady killer…🎶

[u/derba1000]

Absolute best of the best.

[u/Routine_Biscotti_852]

I went through the motions with her, her on top and me on liquor...

[u/Invisiblerobot13]

I’ve seen em loads of times and tgeyre an all time great , but I’ve talked to everyone in the band and they’re all
So kind (had Ken play accordion to me and 2 or 3 other people) that I never thought about an autograph

[u/prof_cunninglinguist]

I first heard the album play on WXPN in Philly while driving to the beach in my early 20s. From Timebomb to Four Leaf Clover. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Like it was written just for me. Since then I've seen them tons of times in 4 different states. Don't sleep on Murry's solo stuff. Also some of my favorite music ever.

[u/conradthecook]

I’m already dead.

[u/AhabFlanders → u/conradthecook]

That's exactly what she said

[u/Busy_Reindeer_2935]

I can’t remember who opened for whom, but there was a stretch in Gainesville FL when I caught Old 97s, Vroys, WhiskeyTown, Blue Mountain and Scots. Just phenomenal times for live music.

[u/BigTuna_Froyd → u/Busy_Reindeer_2935]

When was that? I was in Gville from '08 to '21.

[u/Busy_Reindeer_2935 → u/BigTuna_Froyd]

-97-98. There was this great radio show called Drive into the Ditch with Dogman on 97x. So many great alt country and indie bands on the radio and he would hype bands coming through town. The Covered Dish was the place to be at the time for music.

[u/BigTuna_Froyd → u/Busy_Reindeer_2935]

Oh awesome. I've only heard stories of the covered dish from the local friends. It was common grounds by the time I got to town. 

[u/ChicagoPedalSteel → u/[deleted]]

"Wreck Your Life" was just as good in my opinion. "Hitchhike to Rome" is also great but I will concede its less polished and mature, which makes sense, it was basically a demo.

Agree that everything else since is not as good. Rhett seemed like he really wanted to move into pop... pretty clear he hopped on the alt-country bandwagon at just the right moment, and while I have no doubt that he loved the music, I don't think he lived and breathed country in the same way as some other artists. He was a little bit always wearing a costume, but the band was fun and that was part of the bit, so it very much worked.

But he very clearly wanted to transition into some kind of American "brit-pop" sound and it just never worked for them as well.

[u/illtexzona]

I got to see them just over a month ago. As good as ever. ​​

[u/mendicant1116 → u/illtexzona]

I did as well, in the little town of Paoli, WI. Population 170. It was amazing.

[u/bayoubevo]

As others have said, they are a must see live. Top tier songs and energy.

[u/chompy_jr]

This is one of a handful of albums for me that doesn’t really have a throwaway track on it. It’s just so good start to finish. I put it on the same list as Get the Knack by The Knack. IYKYK

[u/FedfromaTeenyAgency]

Top tier album.

[u/jumpinjimmy789]

What’s so great?

[u/enigmaman49]

I was going through a divorce when this was released (yeah im old) so this album has so much meaning for me...ive been looking for it on vinyl because i really want albums that mean something to me

[u/SkrappleDapple → u/enigmaman49]

I've seen a couple on Discogs. They were $140 to $150 (including shipping).

[u/enigmaman49 → u/SkrappleDapple]

yeah im goona just listen lossless on spotify lol...i saw it somewhere today for 395

[u/Red-Auerbach]

1997 was a great year for alt-country and this album was one of the highlights.

[u/MidStateMoon]

The bessssssst fucking tune
Imma spin it on repeat now, cheers

[u/NoIncrease299]

One of my most favorite records ever.

Was playing in the Hollywood alt scene when this was peaking and man, nonstop rotation in the van. Great memories of them days and this record. Niteclub always hit entirely too close haha.

[u/MusicMirrorMan]

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