Too Far to Care

Audio Compact Disc [Expanded Version]

Label: Omnivore

Category: Country

Too Far to Care

UPC: 816651012770

Release Date: 10/09/2012

Original Release Date: 10/09/2012

Number of Discs: 2

Mark Deming & Zac Johnson

Serving as the ideal apex between the Old 97's Texas twang and smart pop fascinations, Too Far to Care is instantly catchy and endearing, channeling heartbreaking desert soul and punk-fueled swagger all at the same time. Chief songwriter Rhett Miller turns a phrase like a doorknob and opens doors to dusty barrooms and tattered bedrooms, both containing the same boozy characters in various states of emotional undress. The initial blast of "Timebomb" carries through the first three songs, relenting finally in the breathy croon of "Salome," accented warmly by bassist Murry Hammond's light harmonies and guitarist Ken Bethea's airy, tremolo-heavy guitar. Other highlights include the high-speed chase of "Melt Show," the reckless surge of "House That Used to Be," and their confident re-recording of "Big Brown Eyes" (originally appearing on their 1995 album Wreck Your Life). Throughout the album, Miller's swooning howl aches with too many miles on the road and too many lonely nights -- familiar topics to be sure, but he still manages to tackle them like he invented heartache. The curse of the Old 97's may be that country fans consider them too rock & roll, and rock fans can't get past the twang, but for those who dip both feet into these streams, it really doesn't get any better than this band and this album. [Considering it wasn't a major hit, it's a grand surprise that Omnivore Recordings have given Too Far to Care such a well-appointed reissue. Disc one expands the original album to 17 songs with the addition of "Northern Line," an Opal cover that previously appeared only on a promo EP, and three never before released tracks, most notably the excellent "Holy Cross." And disc two features 11 acoustic demos the group cut while prepping for the album; six of the songs never made it into the studio, and the result is a treasure trove of legitimate rarities for longtime fans. The packaging of the new edition is superb, and the set includes new liner notes from Rhett Miller as well as Tom DeSavia, the A&R man who signed the group to Elektra and oversaw the making of Too Far to Care. More than a few Old 97's fans consider Too Far to Care to be the band's masterpiece, and this expanded reissue treats it like one. Fans will love it.] ~ Zac Johnson & Mark Deming, Rovi