The first cut off the new 77's album (their second self-titled effort) shows that this disc is going in a slightly new direction. The hard-edged blues guitar a la Hendrix riffs make this direction change obvious within the first 10 seconds of "Woody," which later shows that Mike Roe and Co. have definitely spent a few hours listening to Led Zeppelin records. "Smiley Smile," "Holy Hold" and "Phony Eyes" show that the band hasn't abanded its older pop-oriented alternative leanings, though. Heavy alternative music lovers will dig the wah guitar work on "Deep End." Besides "Woody," the most memorable cut is the one with the censor bar on the back cover (because the name of the song is really "Pray Naked"). It starts off with an answering machine message translating the Hindu dialect of the song title. This song is a fun-sounding probe into praying without pretense--praying naked. While not a metal band by any stretch of the imagination, The 77's are definitely one of the heavier acts in Christian alternative music. One thing they always create is quality music. This album is no exception, yet it's not as consistent as the band's potential.
Other coverage for this album
Syndicate Nov/Dec 1992Reviewed by Arsenio OrtezaA good argument could be made for the pointlessness of getting worked up over a new 77's album. In a very real sense, the 77's have barely existed, no matter how greatly mavens of "alternative" ccm have valued their every release. It's like what Lucy in the "Peanuts" strip says about why Beethoven can't be that great: he was never on a bubblegum card. The 77's have never had a hit where it…Similar sounding releases
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