[tps_header]Old 97’s: Most Messed Up (ATO)[/tps_header]
What It Is: The tenth album from alt-country rockers Old 97’s, who have been doing this longer than you’ve been alive (assuming you were born after 1993).
Why You May Have Missed It: This has received a bit of attention, peaking higher on the Billboard 200 than any of the band’s previous albums and getting a fairly high Metacritic rating. Still, they’ve never been as popular as they should be, and their presumed peak with 1997’s Too Far to Care has resulted in their later, often better albums being somewhat devalued.
Why You Should Hear It: Most Messed Up is the most consistent album I’ve heard this year, with a collection of songs that flow together perfectly and are all pretty damn good. The only problem with this consistency is that it does result in an absence of true standouts.
Highlights: “This is the Ballad,” “Nashville,” “Wasted,” “The Ex of All You See.”
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