Alive And Wired
by Old 97's
  • Record Label: New West
  • Release Date: Sep 20, 2005
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Quite simply, Alive & Wired captures a great band on a great night.
  2. Junkmedia
    90
    If you're an Old 97's fan you've been waiting for this. If you're not, you just might be when it's all said and done.
  3. Pitchfork
    70
    By culling from early releases and rescuing tracks from last year's tepid Drag It Up, the band showcases a surprisingly deep and ridiculously rich canon of loser anthems ("Wish the Worst"), dark ballads ("Salome"), odes to romantic doubt and suspicion ("The Other Shoe"), cowboy calls ("West Texas Teardrops"), and frenzied barnstormers ("Doreen")-- all written and played with generous humor and genuine exhilaration.
  5. Prefix Magazine
    80
    Hardcore 97’s fans may be disappointed by a few omissions (only two cuts from Wreck Your Life?), but Alive & Wired is a pretty complete package.
  6. Slant Magazine
    80
    What Alive & Wired does best is reconcile the considerable charms of the band's studio output with the immediacy of their live shows' energy, and the Old 97's captured on this essential double-album is a band that lands at the midpoint between Wilco's high-minded songcraft and the ball-busting rock swagger of Drive-By Truckers.
  7. Uncut
    80
    A sweatstorm of strum and twang. [Dec 2005, p.106]
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  8. PopMatters
    90
    What is great about this set is that one disc feels like enough, but once you hear the second you know it's necessary.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. KrisB
    Nov 23, 2005
    9
    Are they out of their freaking heads? Where's "What We Talk About"? Whatever. They're an amazing band with great Americana tunes, Are they out of their freaking heads? Where's "What We Talk About"? Whatever. They're an amazing band with great Americana tunes, and the album is great (they new it was gonna be a live album and they still couldn't play...) sorry. It was still great without it.… Full Review »
  2. MelissaB
    Nov 15, 2005
    9
    I only give this a 9 and not a 10 because i would have like to hear more banter.. Rhett is funny :)
  3. RobA
    Nov 13, 2005
    8
    This band rules. These CD's don't quite capture how awesome their live shows are, but if you like great Americana, go ahead and This band rules. These CD's don't quite capture how awesome their live shows are, but if you like great Americana, go ahead and pick this up. Some of the catchiest songs ever written.… Full Review »
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