Ever wonder how Lynyrd Skynyrd might sound if they were a top-40 radio pop rock band? Chances are, they would sound mysteriously similar to the OLD 97’s. Their music is an odd, but successful combination of modern rock with an interestingly southern quality. Satellite Rides, the group’s fifth album, is a typically enjoyable, poppy album with its share of catchy songs.
The album gets off to a good start with three straight upbeat tracks: ‘King of All of the World,’ ‘Rollerskate Skinny’ and ‘Buick City Complex.’ The first two are fun, punchy rock songs while the third has a bit of a drawn out twang. From there, the album begins to mix things by combining a slower guitar and vocal-driven tracks with more fun, upbeat tracks like ‘Up the Devil’s Play.’ ‘Play’ is the album’s highlight featuring a driving drumbeat and a blues-sounding opening and bridge. That track also represents the perfect balance between mainstream and southern rock. Additionally, it features some yodeling from bassist Murry Hammond and vocalist Rhett Miller.
There are also some more mainstream tracks like ‘Designs on You.’ It is a song which almost abandons the southern twang in favor of a guitar rock but makes an effective piece of music. On the other hand, the band goes a bit too far to the other side with the song ‘Am I Too Late,’ which may be their most annoying song since ‘Timebomb’ from their 1997 release Too Far to Care. ‘Am I Too Late’ is the kind of song that might not seem out of place being played over a redneck bar fight scene in a film, as it straddles the fine line between southern rock and country and almost veers into bluegrass.
For all its variety, Satellite Rides tends toward being repetitive about two-thirds through, but the choruses are constantly catchy and help the album avoid becoming uninteresting. It is a fun album, even if it looses some steam after getting off to a strong start. OLD 97’s is a band with a unique sound that keeps finding new ways to experiment. While not all of those experiments are 100 percent successful, enough of the songs work and the album is an overall positive listening experience.
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