Customer Reviews

American Standard

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's almost impossible for a new band not to get tossed into a specific genre when they arrive, and Seven Mary Three got stuck with the description of grunge. Of all the grunge bands, many seemed to lean towards other genres as well. Soundgarden was a bit metal, Nirvana was a bit punk, etc. The other side of Seven Mary Three is southern-rock. That's fine with me as I like some southern-rock, and it distanced the band from it's peers in that way. There's no doubt that the big hit here, and their biggest still, is "Cumbersome". But hey, it's a great song. Everything else here is short that hook, but it's good just the same. Some songs really rock, some are slower acoustic tracks, and others tread that middle ground. Chances are if you like and know "Cumbersome", the whole album will please. In fact any fan of anything close to grunge/southern-rock should dig this.

It's so good that "Cumbersome" got the exposure it did. It simply left a trail to a well-kept secret. Seven Mary Three is so much better than that song would ever have let on. I've found that several listeners, myself included, tend to get stuck repeating the first five tracks. I'm left speechless...they're just plain good. I can't compare this band to any other, and I wouldn't want to. You can sing along and get loud, or you can follow the emotion. Whichever you choose, you won't be sorry if you add this album to your collection. Watch out, though, because pretty soon everyone will want to borrow it.

American Standard is one of the best c.d's i have ever heard! I really enjoy it...... the 4 best songs on this album are~ Watersedge, Cumbersome, Devil Boy and My My, the rest of the songs are just as good but these four really bring out Ross's voice. If you don't already have this C.D. you need to buy it!

is the best rock cd ever. Every single song is unique in its own way. And they're all good, wether it's a slow acoustic song like "Lame" or a rocker like "Headstrong." This cd is like no other i've heard, and anyone who appreciates music can understand why this album made 7M3 my favorite band.

i first played this cd, expecting the usual one good song (cumbersome) and then a bunch of not so great ones. i was very surprised when i found that cumbersome is literally the worst song on this album. long after radio has played cumbersome to death, i find myself returning to this album to hear my favorites, water's edge and margaret. american standard truly is a standard in my music collection. i have no problem listening to it the whole way through without skipping a single track.

After "Cumbersome" hit the airwaves Florida's Seven Mary Three was labeled yet another Pearl Jam knock-off just like every other band to come out in the last decade with a baritone lead singer and electric guitars. At this point the band certainly didn't have the musical or lyrical ability of PJ, but 7M3 lead singer Jason Ross admits the comparison was warranted in this case.

However, this stigma doesn't hurt a very good post-grunge record. Despite the lack-luster guitar work Ross carves out a unique "on the edge" vocal style that shines throughout the album. "American Standard" is much deeper than radio hits "Cumbersome" and "Water's Edge". The blazing "My My" is probably the best song on the record while "Roderigo" and "Lame" show 7M3's ability to write strong ballads. "Punch In Punch Out" is a unique track with just drums and the vocals of Ross and the albums closes with the solid mid-tempo "Favorite Dog".

"American Standard" is a mid-90's standout that any fan of good rock music should take a listen to.