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November 1999 Pick of the Month
Like the saying goes, sometimes good things really do come to those who wait. The Seventy Seven's last album of original material was 1995's Tom Tom Blues (1996 saw the release of Echos O' Faith, which was basically a laid-back live album). 1999, therefore, heralds the year that The Seventy Sevens finally released some new songs to their eager audience, even if a mere EP's worth of material makes it only a slight return. Five songs. That's all fervid fans get. Five songs, but a world of promise. If you're looking for fast-moving, full-throttle hits, this EP offers "The Years Go Down," "Unbalanced," and "Blue Sky." All three are as furiously played as anything The Seventy Sevens have offered before, yet still retain their knack for accessibility. With relentless hard-hitting rhythms and bursting with strap-on-an-air-guitar energy, these songs work equally well as future concert favorites or encouragements to exceed the speed limit if you're not careful (the Phantom Tollbooth does not endorse vehicular law-breaking of any kind). The other two songs, "Sevens" and "The Best I Have," are slower in tempo, although neither can be considered quaint ballads. Both feature moments closer to Michael Roe's solo work on Your Boat Ashore, with trademark Seventy Seven flourishes intact. Roe's lead guitar work and Mark Harmon's bass work are both especially full on this release, resonating with impressive rumble in the speakers. This is due in large part to superior album production which has rendered every sonic burst clearly and loudly. The only immediately obvious change to the band's overall sound is the emphasis on Bruce Spencer's drum loops and skin-pounding percussive bits that make powerful embellishments throughout. Otherwise, the EP finds the Seventy Sevens doing pretty much the same as they have always done: rowdy rock and roll with an edge and a gifted sense of melody. Thematically, as a whole the EP
chronicles the bittersweet rise and fall of a troubled relationship. Main man
Mike Roe is no stranger to relational woes, and he upholds his reputation for
creating crafty lyrics on the subject with inspired metaphors such as this one
from "Blue Sky": Saying what you she didn't mean,Hardship; loneliness; frustration; regret; a desire for happiness. These are all universal themes, and Roe deftly handles them with singular wit and suitable weight. He makes you care for his struggles, because he shapes his experiences with real honesty, a strong sense of hope, and a warm sly smile. One of the best songs among the bunch is "Unbalanced," which crashes, bangs and booms its way through contrasting statements about two struggling lovers: I own the blues / You rent the "Color Purple"Fans will find a familiar place in these tracks. Mike Roe and company have neither rested on the laurels of past accomplishments, nor altered their sound into unrecognizable territory. Yet with this much noteworthy new material in such a smallish package, the ringing cries of "More! More! More!" will resound. Steven S. Baldwin 10/16/99
This latest offering from the 77s is another hit. Mike Roe, Mark Harmon and Bruce Spencer have created what sounds like a mix of Roe's "Row the Boat Ashore" and the 77s "Drowning with Land in Sight." These are three guys who just can't put out junk if you held a gun to each of their heads. With this, their 9th album (not including their compilations), it's certainly apparent why they are one of the only Christian bands to ever have an early 80s video on MTV. Roe's voice is stunning as always and crystal clear. He has the passion of U2's Bono and the sarcastic tone of Sting. Roe's subtle intelligence shines through every song. His quiet, lilting voice hypnotizes, then turns on a dime into fits of rage, jolting the listener into an attentive salute. With all this going for him, it makes sense that the only band to eclipse the 77s's critically praised beginnings with Island Records in 1989 was Island's featured album--U2's Joshua Tree (hailed by many as the best rock album of all time). Track number two, "Sevens," is a slightly slower number, with some chord progressions that sound like they were lifted straight from Roe's "Row the Boat Ashore." In this song, Roe tweaks his voice, sounding a bit like the Smashing Pumpkins's Billy Corgan. Roe, Harmon and Spencer mix beautifully in the vocals, as Roe snarls and slithers through his snide lyrics. Deeply emotional words are ingrained in every 77s album and Roe delivers them with power. In "Unbalanced," Harmon and Roe let the guitars soar and intermingle in a fabulous mix with Roe's voice. The mixing of Roe's voice and the guitars is fantastic on every 77s album, and this album is no exception. This song sounds closer to the 77s "Drowning With Land in Sight" style. If the 77s would just sell out to a major label they would be huge. But their relative obscurity in the mainstream music scene despite their mainstream sound has served to increase the loyalty of their rabid fans both nationally and internationally. This is a must-have EP for anyone who even remotely likes U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Bruce Springsteen, Sting or anything from the thoughtful end of rock and roll. Israel Kloss 11/9/99
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