American Standard

Seven Mary Three | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 5, 1995)
• Original Release Date: September 5, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000002JVD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,169 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bubblegrunge???, February 7, 2005

By 

Joe "The Squirrelbender" (Deep within Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Standard (Audio CD)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT your standard "Bubblegrunge", July 31, 2000

By 

Peter R. Fischer (LA LA Land, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Standard (Audio CD)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remember this CD? I do., June 5, 2002

By 

Ross Reynolds (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Standard (Audio CD)

This was one of the last albums of the grunge era. It came along around the time of the "death rattle", so to speak, so unfortunately this band never really got the credit they deserved. That said, this is a great album.

Perhaps some people remember the song "Water's Edge". It was never a big hit or anything, but it was a great song. Very nice grunge ballad, that chilling tale of a murder over awesome melodic guitars. Jason does kinda start to sound like Eddie Vedder a bit, but I think he's a much better vocalist. More ferocious, and with much more range. The good songs don't stop there. "Cumbersome" is just a classic, and I also love "Devil Boy" and "Favorite Dog", but every song is great. You don't get too many good rock albums like this these days. If you don't have it, buy it. The new one's pretty good too.