If Twelfth is your introduction to Old 97s, you’re sorely late to the party, but we welcome you just the same. If you’re like me and have been following them for most of their careers, (I’m one of those Longer Than You’ve Been Alive kids) then you’ll find Twelfth to be the familiar punchy vulnerability you’ve come to expect of Old 97s, while still standing resolutely as its own album with a distinct sound.
Old 97’s have remained relevant in the music-sphere since their inception, but I was anxiously anticipating more new music after the three year drought after Graveyard Whistling. I was rewarded in 2018 with Love the Holidays, but remained insatiably starved for non-Christmas themed tuneage.
Enter: Twelfth.
Many of the tracks on Twelfth are a navel gazing sort of sweet and sour introspection, that lends itself to an even deeper vulnerability than past work we’ve seen from the 97’s. The not-exactly-country-alt-rock is hard to box into one genre, but the north Texas influences are obvious, as in most of Miller’s work. He’s referred to the band’s work as “loud folk” in the past, I would say I agree with him.
Miller’s lyrics are party songs that flirt with heartbreak, and this album has not escaped that. Diamonds on Neptune is the standout classic on this album, with Turn off the TV following in a close second. Both have all the fun juvenile energy of drinking songs, with the former being a sweet foil to the latter.
The lyrics to Diamonds on Neptune remain the most poetically significant to me on the album;
“You know I'm always on the move
Leavin' is what I do
I go from neon sign to neon sign”
The spirit of nomadic wanderlust is heavy in many of Miller’s lyrics, and it’s something I’ve come to expect, but these really hit home in a crunchy, deep feeling kind of way. The dark whimsy of being a cast out misfit is so well bottled here. The absolute catharsis of putting on this record and finding a long, flat stretch of highway to tear up cannot be overstated.
The entire album is top notch, and I’m giving it an 9/10, only because in my heart, nothing will ever top their 1999 Fight Songs.
Turn off the TV and go stream Twelfth on Spotify.