Despite the many things working in their favor, the 77's have never been able to produce that elusive "hit" album. Fans of the early work had high hopes for their self-titled Island release, but U2 stole all attention away from it that year with their Island release, The Joshua Tree. Since then, the 77's have returned to the smaller arena of the Christian marketplace. And while Michael Roe and company produced one album after another proving their technical skill and virtuosity, not one of those presented a combination of pop sensibilities and musical integrity as well as the 77's. Pray Naked and Drowning with Land in Sight both contained excellent songs, but as albums they lacked cohesion; styles ranged from the delicate melodies of love songs to the crunchy guitars of psychedelic rock with few clear points of transition. On the other hand, Tom Tom Blues offered much cohesion; pop sensibilities were abandoned for an album based on the sounds of blues-inflected classic rock. A showcase for Roe's excellent hands on the guitar, this album pleased many long-time fans but failed to connect with a much wider audience. Now, after long waiting, the 77's seem to have the makings of that elusive hit album.
Of course, a hit is somewhat relative when referring to the sub-sub-culture of Christian music to which the 77's belong. Nevertheless, the 77's EP and A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows: Radioactive Singles promise the forthcoming album will be both balanced and exciting, providing pop music hooks not at the expense of musical complexities of the 77's trademark angst. Beyond the combination of atmospheric pop and clever word play on EP, Roe reveals on the interview track of Radioactive Singles a self-conscious approach to the construction of the forthcoming album; in a droll and humorous tone, he describes the new album as pop-oriented with attention to musical arrangements die-hard fans have come to expect. Radioactive Singles includes two songs from their next album: "Related" (in two versions) and "Mr. Magoo." Roe accurately describes these songs as a synthesis of old and new styles. In particular with "Related," the 77's recall a sound on earlier work such as "MT" and blend it with the clever guitars of Tom Tom Blues.
"Mr. Magoo" plays as a forceful version of some of the Pray Naked love (and lost love) songs--very fine jangly guitar rock. The themes evoked by these songs are reminiscent of others treated by the 77's. "Related" visits slightly darker territory: "Every minute angels come / Gonna take away another one I love." However, in this song, Roe manages to find the will to reach out to yet another someone in the midst of the dark uncertainty of this world. "Mr. Magoo" is that strange combination of playfulness and cold reality the 77's seem to find so familiar: "I may be Mr. Magoo but I see through you." These songs suggest that the full-length album A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows will be a pleasant surprise and a fulfillment of hopes many fans held in check since the commercial failure of the 77's. Until then, Millennium Eight is offering Radioactive Singles, which also includes fairly good live recordings of "Tattoo" and "Shotgun Angel" (a homage to another great and relatively unknown band). For fans, Radioactive Singles is a must-have collectors' item. For everyone else, it's a promise of things to come.
3.5 tocks
More from The Seventy Sevens
1991Eighty Eight
2001A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows
20008ighty 8ight / When Numbers Get Serious
2004Fun With Sound
More Miserable Than You'll Ever Be
2002Direct
