# Out: Old 97s; In: Thrift Store Cowboys **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170 "2003-09-07T22:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/1 "2003-09-07T22:49:01Z")
I’ve been a fan of the **Old 97s** for several years. However, their last two albums and the solo work of lead singer Rhett Miller is leaving the alt.country roots they started with and becoming increasingly pop. Albiet, it’s good for pop, but it’s not what I want from them. Today, I was at Texarkana’s Quadrangle Festival when I hear the intro chords to _Big Brown Eyes_ and then the lead singer starts belting out “Big brown eyes, and a gust of wind …” The Old 97s aren’t playing the Festival, so who’s that, I wonder. So I drift over to the stage. One song after another is well performed by the entire band and the vocals; original songs and covers of legends like **Buck Owens** and **Jimmie Rodgers** and alt.country stars like **Old 97s** and **Whiskeytown**. I heard enough, so I had to buy their CD. And I’d like to share it with y’all. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’re wonder where you’ll get your alt.country fix now that Rhett seems more interested in being a Pop Star, **Uncle Tupelo** is defunct and **Wilco** gotten even more eclectic, then here’s your answer: [**Thrift Store Cowboys**](http://www.thriftstorecowboys.net/home.html). There must be something in the water out in Lubbock, because here’s some more talent from that little town that gave us **Buddy Holly** , **Roy Orbison** , **Joe Ely** , and **Mac Davis** Enjoy ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/2 "2003-09-08T01:49:45Z")
Gad, you’re so _jaded_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/3 "2003-09-08T02:59:40Z")
I would give anything not to be … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/4 "2003-09-08T03:10:21Z")
Oh, crap, I just realized that I misremembered the song title. It wasn’t _Jaded_, but _Jagged_. Talk about a weak pun made even weaker by being a non-sequitur… Now, there _is_ a great pop song called _Jaded_, but it’s by a group horribly named The Mommyheads. What I actually had running in my mind was the Old 97s song with the other song’s title. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/5 "2003-09-08T12:59:42Z")
I knew what you meant. Jagged is one of the “last two albums” I lamented above. Which is not to say I disliked _Fight Songs_ and _Satellite Rides_. I like both albums. But they aren’t _Wreck Your Life_ or _Too Far to Care_, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-old-97s-in-thrift-store-cowboys/200170/6 "2003-09-08T13:05:45Z")
Jagged is **on** one of …