Straight from their debut record, Hitchhike to Rhome, the Old 97's reveal their down-home roots. These cuts show them playing with sounds while sticking to what works, with woozy country kiss-offs (“Wish the Worst”), atmospheric folk (“Northern Line”), and even some Tejano (“Coahuila”). But their cover of Merle Haggard's “Mama Tried” is a straight-up reverent nod to the country legend.