Drawing solely from the first phase of the Old 97's career (1994-2001), HIT BY A TRAIN may disappoint fans looking for previously unreleased material, but it succeeds in tracing the Texas-bred alt-country band's history, from the twangy opener "Stoned" to the rollicking desert-rock duet "Four Leaf Clover" (featuring X's Exene Cervenka) to the power-pop gem "King of All the World." Closing with two FIGHT SONGS-era live tunes (the cheeky "Barrier Reef" and the wonderfully catchy "Nineteen"), this well-selected 18-track disc serves as an ideal introduction to the Old 97's, while setting the stage for both of Miller's pop-oriented solo albums and later material from the full ensemble.