www.dallasobserver.com
� 1999 New Times, Inc.
Let's Fight Songs
Nobody ever said Rhett Miller wasn't a smart guy. That's why he knows the
question even before it's asked: "Why the hell is our record in the jukebox
at the Barley House?" he offers, his voice full of what-the-hell
resignation. But, yup, that's the question, all right. The Old 97's fourth
album � and the band's second for Elektra Records � will not be in stores
until April 27, but already, the twang-free-at-last Fight Songs is available
for a fistful of quarters at the Henderson Avenue pub. Official advance CDs,
sent out to press and radio, don't even exist yet � they won't for another
week � but hundreds of folks have listened to the thing over and over again.
Richard Whitfield did come by his copy of Fight Songs through, well,
official channels: Murry Hammond, Old 97's bassist and Miller's longtime
collaborator, provided Whitfield a CD-R straight from the mastering
facility. Such discs are intended strictly for the band's use, but Hammond
thought it would be a nice gesture nonetheless for a venue that booked the
band back in the day. Still, Miller isn't entirely happy about it.
"It makes me uncomfortable," says the singer-songwriter, who, for all
intents, now lives in Los Angeles. "Everybody will have formed opinions
three months before the record comes out. Murry assures me it's no big whoop
and a cool thank-you to the city and the fans and the friends, and so, ya
know, I'm OK with it. But at this point I'm scared to death of anyone
hearing it, so of course it makes me uncomfortable...I mean, I am sure there
are groups of people who pump in quarters and listen to the record and
critique it. And from what I've heard, most of them like it. I think only
one group said they didn't like it so far." At this point, Miller lets out
one of those high, swell-guy laughs.
Of course, Miller could have told Whitfield or Hammond to remove the disc
from the jukebox if he was that uncomfortable with it. But he was concerned
enough to call the band's new manager, Chris Blake (who once handled Toad
the Wet Sprocket, poor guy), and ask him what the consequences might be of
the album's being available for consumption so well in advance of the
release date. After all, even radio stations don't have a single � OK, like
it matters. Blake told him it was no big deal.
An Elektra spokesman who doesn't want to be named says the label isn't too
thrilled with Fight Songs showing up "months ahead of time" on the jukebox.
"You try to coordinate an effort to make an impact at once, and when it goes
out piecemeal, it can lessen the impact," he says. "Even though this may
seem minor, it's not, because every little thing like this adds up. It keeps
happening and happening." He mentions that there's also a Bay Area radio
station that has been playing at least one cut from the album, which is an
industry no-no this far out from release. "Plus, the other thing is, from a
sales point of view, if someone hears something they like on a jukebox and
they can't buy it for two months, they tend to forget it."
But leave it to Rhett Miller to put the whole thing in its best perspective.
"I'd rather just wait and let it all happen naturally," he says. "But it's
not like it's the new R.E.M. record. Nobody cares that much." Boy does have
a point.
� Robert Wilonsky
