Customer Reviews

7: The Best of Stryper

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Originally posted on www.TheMetalCircus.com

A few months ago I had the chance to see Stryper at one of their Reunion shows when they came to New York. Since I was already a fan, I expected to enjoy myself. Given the fact that this was among the first shows the band had done in 12 years I expected the show to be full of the songs that made them popular. You see, around the time of the Reunion plans, a CD came out entitled "Stryper: 7 - The Best Of". I was very impressed by this release. Now that I have a copy, I can spend a little time on it on behalf of the Metal Circus.

I should clear up immediately that there are more than seven tunes on the CD. One would think there was only seven based on the title. However, this release has a full 18 which is impressive to say the least. I often find myself annoyed with greatest hits issues that have a few choice numbers and a mess of new songs. Stryper themselves have picked the selections and only added two unreleased songs. For that matter the unreleased tracks were played live on the Reunion tour that is to best of my knowledge still going on.

For this release the tracks were all remastered so there is a bigger more powerful sound to some of the heavier tracks. "Soldiers Under Command" is definitely one you wanna crank a little louder on the stereo (I always loved the drumming on that one in particular). "Free", "Honestly" and "Calling On You" also sound crisper due to the remastering. Like I said at the beginning, I was impressed. Since it is a greatest hits compilation there is little more I can say about it. I will add that the interior booklet is nice. Standout colors on the cover and back, interior depicts all the Stryper albums and provides the lyrics to their songs. I love when lyrics are included. Also there is a personal message from the band on the booklet back.

Here is the complete track listing listing:
1.Something (unreleased)
2.For You (unreleased)
3.Shining Star

4.Lady
5.All For One
6.In God We Trust
7.Always There For You
8.To Hell With The Devil
9.Calling On You
10.Free
11.Honestly
12.The Way
13.Soldiers Under Command
14.Makes Me Wanna Sing
15.Reach Out
16.From Wrong To Right
17.Loving You
18.Believe

This reviewer recommends the "Seven" CD for anyone who wants a good (and all album encompassing) scope of the Stryper sound and their career. Should anyone wish to venture further, allow me to make two personal recommendations: "Soldiers Under Command" and "To Hell With The Devil" are my favorites in the Stryper catalog.

You can find out more about Stryper and their goings on by visiting their website at www.stryper.com . You can also purchase the music I mentioned above at the site.there.

"Seven-The Best of Stryper" is the most comprehensive overview of the band's career to date. Unlike the previous compilation, 1991's "Can't Stop The Rock", every song on "Seven" was hand-picked by the members of Stryper themselves. Because of this, "Seven" includes classics that best define Stryper's music and ministry. Most of the band's best known songs are featured here including "Calling On You", "Free", "Always There For You", "Reach Out", "Soldiers Under Command", "From Wrong To Right", "To Hell With the Devil" and their beloved ballad "Honestly". Songs from their lesser-known period are included as well such as their cover of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Shining Star", "Lady" and their 1991 anthem "Believe".
The greatest news about this CD is that it includes two brand new songs recorded by the original Stryper line-up, it's first new material in 12 years! Both "Something" and "For You" display a mature sound and clearly show that even after not playing together for 12 years, the band still can heat it up. I would gladly hand over the bucks for a full-length album of new Stryper material if it's as good as these two new tracks.
"Seven" is beyond a doubt the very best from Stryper, a pioneering Christian Metal band whose influence and impact continues to be felt 20 years later. There is not a single bad song on this compilation. It clearly defines what Stryper was, is and will always be about, "Rocking for the One who is the Rock" (from "The Way" by Stryper).

First, I'll let you know what I agree with in previous reviews: The new songs, "Something" and "For You" do have a more modern, Creed-ish feel to them. Michael originally wrote them for himself, then when this project was introduced, the guys didn't have time to write stuff together. All the guys have matured musically, and the songs stand by themselves as good examples of what Stryper would be about these days. But that's now, this was then.... ;)

Unlike "Can't Stop the Rock," in which Hollywood Records chose the songs, "7" is Stryper's Greatest Hits as chosen by Stryper themselves. All the hits are here; "Always There for You," Calling on You" and "Honestly," plus plenty for the Stryper faithful; "Free," "The Way" and "Soldiers Under Command." I was always a fan of the harder stuff, so I miss "The Reign," "More than a Man" and "Not that Kind of Guy," but I'll get over it. I own the discs. "Believe" should be getting unbelievable radio play right now. It's unfortunate that the radio stations are ignoring it.

The big news here is the remasters. The songs from THWTD were state of the art in recording and mastering in 1986, but even they've been improved. There's more bottom end thump, and the drums in particular have more "air" around them. The vocals are terrific. I was particularly taken with the improvements in the songs from Soldiers Under Command. This title track, "Makes Me Wanna Sing" and "Reach Out" are mixed like the best of them. As far as the mix, the weakest tracks, not surprisingly, are the ones from The Yellow and Black Attack, but I remember them from my (white) vinyl as being really thin recordings. They do have body now.

This is the type of collection that could hook some new fans. Well deserved, too. I hope that Mike, Bobby, Oz and Tim sell some records.

Great collection of the Best of Stryper. The tracks sure bring back the memories. One song I wish they would have included, though, is WINTER WONDERLAND. As far as I know it was only issued as the B-side to REASON FOR THE SEASON. It needs to be issued on CD. How about it Micheal, Oz, Tim and Robert? Please include it as a bonus track if a reunion album is in the offering.

Very well put together, the new songs are great (though not the traditional Stryper sound, they're somewhat Creed-like). Would have liked to see "You Know What to Do" on here, but for the most part I liked the songs they picked. If you're new to Stryper's music, this is a great sampling of their work. Great rock music with a "+" message.

As a compilation, this one is much better than Can't Stop the Rock from a few years ago. It features many of the band's heavier, less commercial songs like The Way and From Wrong to Right. With this cd you also get Stryper standards like Honestly, Lady, THWTD, and Soldiers as well. The two new songs sound more like stuff Michael Sweet is doing alone now, and the lack of guitar solos was very disappointing. From the Expo videos it is obvious Oz has kept his chops up to do them, although I think that decision was probably Mike's. Overall, a great cd. Kudos to the band for including Believe which is as relevant now as it was the first time in came out in 91 when the Persian Gulf war was raging.

A CD that fans have been waiting for since the breakup of this legendary band, this collection certainly holds true to the title, "The Very Best Of Stryper", up to and including the 2 new songs, "Something" and "For You", with the former being arguably one of the best songs the group has recorded to date. Probably the best thing about this collection is that all the songs have been remastered, so the guitars and vocals sound more brilliant than ever. With the reunion and upcoming tour of the band that broke through the MTV charts, cultural walls and generations, this new collection is timely, truistic, and will take you back to the good ol' days of hair and upbeat rock-n-roll.

I purchased this for a friend. He was extremely happy to receive it. It contains all of the Stryper songs he had been looking for.

So there we were,the leather jacketed,earring-ed "BAD BOYS" of the church.Embroiled in yet another debate with our youth group leader on whether or not heavy metal was strictly SATAN'S music.He being a devout Karen Carpenter fan,of course subscribed to the belief that it could be nothing else.We were endeavoring to demonstrate that a plethora of worthwhile topics were being pontificated upon within those grooves..for example,there was..uh..SEX..and,...hmmmm..SEX...and then there was always,SEX....O.K. so we lost that one.So along comes STRYPER..ALL THE RIFFS AND NONE OF THE SIN!! Thundering drums,Screaming guitars,Soaring vocals,and not one lyric extolling the virtues of DE Debil..HE hated them anyway.But we didn't and you won't.This is a great snapshot of their career containing some of the best that the period and genre had to offer.They may never live down the bumble-bee references,but the music is beyond reproach.It would be a sin for you not to own this,Buy It and apologize to no-one!

I have waited so long to see these guys record together again! This is a true Stryper fans dream. The new songs are very cool and all the rest are classics. This CD is a must have for any fan! Stryper still kickin ...