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Entertainment Weekly

Old 97s spend their rootsy sixth disc recalling growing up. [30 Jul 2004, p.69]

Spin

Shift[s] between singer/songwriter Rhett Miller's heartrending country and mojo-fueled power pop. [Sep 2004, p.120]

All Music Guide

While they may have traded in some of their youthful punk rock spastic enthusiasm, they've replaced it with a world-wise wit and a smart approach to how a rock & roll record should be made in 2004.

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Alternative Press

All [their] cleverness works better than ever before. [Oct 2004, p.142]

Under The Radar

Old 97's have become synonymous with infectious melodies and whip-smart lyrics, and they don't disappoint on album number five. [#7]

PopMatters

The most well-rounded effort of their career: contemplative, spontaneous, goofy, serious, raw and frequently beautiful.

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Pitchfork

Marks the first time the band's sound has taken a step backwards.

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Uncut

There's an effortless clip... that suggests renewed confidence. [Mar 2005, p.93]

E! Online

The Old 97's are a good band, but Drag It Up simply isn't them at their best.

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Austin Chronicle

Miller's plaintive vocals sell you on the sincerity of his damaged goods.

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Blender

The Texas combo strings together images that never add up to cohesive narratives. [Aug 2004, p.137]

Village Voice

Drag it Up doesn't have the gut-level impact of the older stuff.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Drag It Up is a proper full-length, but it occasionally plays like an odds-and-ends collection.

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Magnet

Gradually succumbs to torpor, with track after track given over to midtempos and pretty-yet-languid riffing. [#64, p.104]

Rolling Stone

Kind of a drag.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Cliff D gave it an8:
This album is an example of how versatile these guys can be. Adelaide is the best song the 97s have ever put together. Tracks such as Won't Be Home and Friends Forever take us back to the "Too Far To Care" era. This is a very well rounded album and a great purchase.

jj money gave it a 9:
You either got it or you don't. Hard to explain, but this one stands up with their best. It's not easy to follow a masterpiece.

mark f gave it an 8:
I hope I don't sound like a broken record, but music reviewers are some of the most-worthless, brain-dead dofuses on the face of the Earth. This album doesn't "sound" like the last few. "There's something wrong with it!" The songs seem to change in style from track to track. "It's not 'cohesive'!" Oh my, they let three vocalists sing lead. "There's weak songs!" It doesn't "seem" to progress to a new level. "They're coasting!" There are some quieter, low-key songs. "It's a drag!" (Look at the title, dork.) I'll admit that when I first played the album, I was disappointed. But unlike a "music reviewer", I didn't churn out a piece on auto-pilot that used much less thought than what went into even the "weakest" song on this album. I kept playing it, alongside other googd music, and the thing just grew on me. It's very heartfelt, even when in a couple of instances, it's being humorous ( i.e. "Coahuila".) This album eventually feels as comfortable as sharing problems with your best friend. You know you might not solve anything, but you will get some relief. Plus, there's nothing wrong with ANY of the songs, and after about three listens, it IS cohesive. End of NON-review.

Katie gave it an 8:
It's solid throughout. Won't Be Home, In the Satellite Rides a Star, and Adelaide especially are top-notch. Definitely not as bad as they say, and worth repeated listens.

Milan C gave it a 9:
Great CD, give it a chance.

Tony P gave it a 7:
Considering the quality of most of todays music, this album shines although next to their past efforts this is not the strongest. Highlights are "Won't Be Home", "Valium Waltz", and "In the Satellite Rides a Star".

David G gave it a 6:
This is a very good band who has consistently put out good to great music. That being said, Drag It Up truly feels like a hodgepodge of Old 97's songs. Very little consistency as a whole and a few songs are simply weak. Production sounds somewhat flat and lacking dynamics. Overall not bad per se, just doesn't live up to previous releases that well imho.

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