Search - Seven Mary Three :: American Standard

Great CD

Peter R. Fischer | 01/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I agree completely that the lead singer sounds close enough to exactly like Eddie Vedder of one of my other favorite bands Pearl Jam. I also agree that even though Scott from Creed trys, he just can't quite make the Eddie Vedder sound. But this guy could be Eddie Vedder (voicewise.) I'm not exactly a "fan" of Creed, maybe it's just because they try to hard to sound like those near perfect grunge bands. But back to this band... I think this is a great album. However, I rated it four stars only because I usually don't listen to it the whole way through. If I were rating any of Nirvana's CDs I'd give it five stars because I can put one of their CDs in and listen from number 1 to the last track and love it all. But with this CD there were one or two I would usually skip. Maybe not because they were bad just not great. I personally love the whole grunge sound. And I do love KoRn, Rage Against the Machine etc. but I'm still into Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Bush, Meat Puppets, hence etc. and now Seven Mary Three. I recommend this album. But don't take my opinion. If you like it you like it if you don't, you don't. Listen for yourself. If you want someone elses opinion though, look at mine. I hope it helps. This is a good band and it's to band the public didn't take to them as well as they should have. Cumbersome may be a great song *and it is, but it's not their only great song."

Bubblegrunge???

Joe | Deep within Pennsylvania | 02/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Forget the term "bubblegrunge" and all that crap. This is a really solid alternative-rock album, and these guys really don't sound like Pearl Jam that much.



The album kicks off with "Water's Edge", which is a story about a murder. The lyrics to this song are excellent. Jason Ross' vocals are gripping in this song, they hold your attention. It's the most intense song on the album, probably should have been a bigger hit, and it's one of their best songs overall. "Cumbersome" is the most well-known song on this one, and it's pretty good. It's one of the harder edged songs on this one. "Roderigo" and "Devil Boy" are both somewhat softer songs, though they both have their louder moments; both are solid alternative songs. "My My" is one of my favorites on here as well, good fast song, good solo (though this song does sound a bit like Pearl Jam... it's not a bad thing). "Lame" is a good acoustic ballad, I really like the end of it. "Headstrong" is the hardest song on here; it really rocks. Ross can yell pretty good, and does it on this song (Note: the bridge of this song is the only other time they kinda sound like Pearl Jam). "Anything" is a good slower song, it's a love song I suppose, but the lyrics don't make sense all the time. "Margaret" is my least favorite song on here, I think it's kinda weak and doesn't add much. "Punch In, Punch Out" is different and cool because it's just a drum solo with vocals. Closer "Favorite Dog" is a different kind of animal; it's long drawn-out verses give way to a harder rocking chorus. This song has a long drawn-out bridge too, it has it's moments of boredom, but it has good moments too. Not surprisingly, it's the longest song on here (6+ minutes).



Overall, this CD is another good alternative-rock CD from the mid 90's. It's got a good mix of harder rock songs and ballads, and for the most part is fairly unique. Only on their harder songs do they sound a little like Pearl Jam; but the harder songs on here are great. Ross' lyrics don't make sense all the time, but that's ok; sometimes they're good too (especially Water's Edge).Overall, I'd recommend this CD to fans of the Seattle bands (you know who they are) and fans of alternative bands like the Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, and Collective Soul. 8/10 for a good CD."

NOT your standard "Bubblegrunge"

Peter R. Fischer | LA LA Land, USA | 07/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to disagree strongly with the Amazon review on this stating that 7Mary3 and this album are just "bubblegrunge." I think that the band shows much more depth and musical ability than many others and actually is more akin to a blue collar REM type sound.Okay sure its grungy and sure its approachable, but its also melodic, diverse, influenced by rock, folk, and southern rock acts. Cumbersome may have been the most popular song on the album, but it is not the best. Song like Devil Boy, Margaret and Punch in Punch Out are great. I've had this album for a few years and just recently I put Margaret on a mix I'm making for a trip.The sound is not complex and it is radio-friendly, but that doesn't mean that its not good. I think that what I actually like most about this album IS that it is simple and approachable. There aren't a whole lot of guitar solos, the bass and drums hold down the rythmes with very steady and solid lines and the vocals are not complex, but very strong. All the instruments sound clear and sharp in the mix and, while there are certainly songs that stand out, there really isn't a terrible song on the CD."