Search - Poco :: Seven

+ 1/2 stars...Poco Caries On In Style

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While Poco was never the same band after founding members Richie Furay and Jim Messina left the band, they would continue to make terrific music through the end of the seventies. [Yes, they continued to record through the mid-eighties, but by then they'd lost much of their spark. However, Paul Cotton, Rusty Young and George Grantham have kept the band together and released their first CD of new material in 13 years in 2002.] This 1974 release was their first post-Furay album, and like Cantamos which followed later that same year, it's dominated by guitarist Paul Cotton. Cotton wrote half of the album's songs and "Drivin' Wheel" and "You've Got Your Reasons" are highlights. Timothy B. Schmit emerges as a songwriter to contend with, writing three tracks, including the rocking "Just Call My Name." My favorite track, however, is Rusty Young's bluegrassy "Rocky Mountain Breakdown," which features ex-bandmate Jim Messina on mandolin. Overall, this is a solid country-rock album by one of the genre's pioneering bands. RECOMMENDED"

Holding their own

Steve Vrana | 06/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This band could've faltered when founding member Ritchie Furay followed co-founder Jim Messina out the door in 1973, right on the heels of one of Poco's best albums, CRAZY EYES. And some Poco fans were also disappointed with this album because the shift away from the "pickin' and grinnin' music that made you smile" style of their first few albums is pretty well complete by this one. But the group clearly shows that it was always much more than just it's founders. SEVEN has it all; chugging rockers ("Drivin' Wheel," "Skatin'"), bluegrass ("Rocky Mountain Breakdown"), ballads ("Krikkit's Song") and even a "Crazy Eyes" type of epic ("You've Got Your Reasons"). Everyone here does a top-notch job, with Rusty Young particularly shining on pedal steel. All in all, SEVEN boasts an energy and power that is damn near majestic at times; it's definetely one of the best albums in the "country-rock" catagory and certainly one of the best albums, period, from the Seventies."

Brilliant and underrated

Mitchell Howard | Havelock North, NZ | 12/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poco - Seven is in my opinion Poco`s finest album. Seven sits between two albums one of which Crazy Eyes signalled Richie Furay exit from the band and Cantamos which continued the direction derived from Good Feelin to Know and Crazy Eyes, that is slightly Country but with some good rockers, lyrics influenced by the south and the old west. But smack in the middle came Seven a modern album with a modern driving sound. Slide Guitar and greater influence from Paul Cotton and Tim Schmit occur here. Rusty Youn`gs sole track Rocky Mountain Breakdown is the only concession to their previous sound. This is Country Rock more reminiscent of what the Eagles were starting to do on On the Border. Highlights include Angel, You`ve got your Reasons and Krikkits Song. However there are no weak tracks on the album. This was my first Poco purchase and forced me to invest in more Poco. This is the only album in this vein however as Cantamos retreats back into the old style albeit with excellent musicianship and great songs."