Seventy Sevens

Item: Seventy Sevens EP
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

Seventy Sevens EP

(1999)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Fools of the WorldThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

pop rock

Like the saying goes, sometimes good things really do come to those who wait. The Seventy Sevens' 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,
Making like a dairy queen,
Milking me when I was never going to be the king.

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"
I scream for ice cream / You whisper for wine
You do your life / and I do my time

I've got time / You've got none
You know all / and I know some
I fall short / You stand tall
You conceal / and I show it all.

I like playgrounds / You love games
I nail things down / You rearrange
You loved early / and I loved late
You throw the dishes / I just clean my plate.

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.

5 tocks