Too Far to Care [reissue]

Fifteen years ago a little band from Dallas was making waves in its home state of Texas while becoming part of a newly anointed “alt-country” movement that included groups like Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo. What separated the Old 97’s from the rest of the pack was their penchant for being a little bit country and a whole lotta rock ‘n’ roll. It was never captured more perfectly than on their 1997 major-label debut, Too Far to Care, an album that married outlaw country with Replacements debauch. Frontman Rhett Miller’s tales of drunken encounters and life on the road are told through the voice of someone whose nose is always buried in a book. Not to be overlooked, guitarist Ken Bethea provides the album’s memorable riffs (especially on the full-tilt “Timebomb"), in addition to his loose lead work. There’s nary a dud in the bunch. Exene Cervenka punches things up by sharing vocal duties with Miller on “Four Leaf Clover,” and bassist Murry Hammond’s “West Texas Teardrops” provides the full country experience. In addition to being available for the first time on vinyl, this 15th anniversary reissue also features 11 previously unreleased demos. Fifteen years on, Too Far to Care hasn’t aged a day.